Fire Rings

[GloryDaze]

So on my most recent trip to the Current River, we floated 2 days from, Akers down to Round Spring. This section of river, in my opinion is just beautiful- I was fortunate enough to see a Buck swimming down the river, an Osprey hanging out in a tree, several Bald Eagles and a Bobcat lurking the shoreline. I could tell this section of river is floated often by many folks doing overnighters.

However, that scenery and serenity quickly comes to an end when I look on EVERY available gravel bar and see the god-awful sight of 1,2, or even 5 fire rings. Now I know this may sound silly, but I have to ask- when burning a fire on a gravel bar, what sense does it make to gather 20 big boulders to make a fire ring? I mean you are already on gravel so what benefit does this offer you? On top of that, when pepole leave the site, not only do they leave that stupid looking boulder fire ring, but leave all the black, burnt wood along with it. Talk about one darn eyesore after another!

What a way to ruin such a beautiful natural resource for us to enjoy- Am I being too critical here, or is this behavior considered to be accepatable and I just don't agree or completely understand the "leave no trace" efforts?? I try and do my part when staying on a gravel bar to have it look better than when I arrived but it seems so many othere just don't mind.

[OzarksRiverman]

It just goes back to the way people are raised, and what they're exposed to. It's a state of mind if you will. Here's a good example: I waded Beaver Creek with my 15 year old cousin from Bradleyville this summer, we were slayin' em, we probably caught around 80-90 bass in 2 miles. He looked at me like I had three eyes when I turned my first big smallie back. He was confused as to why I wouldn't take the fish home, cook it up and reap the benefits of the fishing trip.

After explaining how the creeks and the fish in them are fragile and scarce resources that we're blessed with in our part of the country, he seemed to take it to heart.

A lot of the locals who were born and raised around the rivers and streams we love to spend the weekend floating and/or fishing don't hold them in the same regard as us.

(This isn't to say that locals are the only one's doing this, this is just my observations around Douglas/Taney Counties)

[jah]

I don't really think it is about how people are raised honestly. I think it is about ignorance, pure and simple. I love fishing, camping and floating, and I had no idea it was bad etiquette to leave a fire ring. I am a very courtious fisherman and environmentalist, but never did I think for one second that leaving rocks in a ring formation in a site where many people camp was a bad thing. If it is frowned upon, then I have learned something new today and will never do it.

[flytyer57]

Why would someone go through the hassle of building a fire ring if there's already one there?

[GloryDaze]

River Man- I'm not sure having a fire ring in an organized campground, or when you are in the woods is a terrible thing. Those seem to serve more of a purpose than building an unnatural looking fire ring from boulders in a location that's already rocks?

I guess if someone has the energy to build one on a gravel bar (for whatever reason) I just wished they would have the energy to tear it down and try and make it look as natural as it was when they got there before they leave.

I'm sure most just assume the next flood will wash it away, but sometimes that can take months.

It almost bothers me as much as people who build rock dams where the tiny spring branches enter the river....

[eric1978]

An elaborate fire ring is hardly ever necessary...a simple pile of rocks or some other obstruction facing the direction of the wind is usually sufficient.

However, we will ocassionally build a ring if a wild fire is a risk when there's a wind factor and a dry environment (if it's extremely high risk we'll often forego the fire altogether). If we do build a ring or any other kind of wind-shield, we always make sure to scatter the boulders out in the most random and natural-looking fashion possible. We also take a stick and spread out the ashes and cover the remnants. It's tough to make the spot look like a fire was never there, but fortunately, the next flood will wash away all evidence of one...as long as you've taken care of the ring. It's more important to thoroughly clean up when you're out backpacking in the forest, but an eyesore anywhere is a no-no in the ethical outdoorsman's rule book.

I don't think you're being too critical GD...it's our responsibility as outdoor enthusiasts to leave nature as it is, as best we can. Nothing ruins a peaceful trip like signs of other people.

[ollie]

Agree with most statements given, but won't the ring prevent the rocks from popping into a tent if it is set up close to the fire? Just asking, not saying it is right. I know 2 years ago a friend of mine and I were camping on the river and I got holes in the tent the next day after putting the tents too close to the fire.

[GloryDaze]

That is true Ollie- I remember one night after my wife just bought me this real nice North Face fleece to wear (she asked me not to wear it camping........... "sure honey, I won't wear it camping," I said). Well, I was sitting by the fire and I'll be darn, looked down and there must have been 20 pieces or rock melted into the fleece. needless to say, the wife was none to happy with me. On the othere hand, I have a new fleece to wear camping all the time- and that fleece now has half the right arm burned off from an unfortunate incident involving too much alcohol and campfire stories.

I see some valid reasons for building a ring now that I never thought of before- but, I'm still hung up on the inability to at least tear it down the next morning. I'm not saying carry the ashes out in a bag and stuff like that, but more of what Eric was talkinmg about. At least make an attempt to leave the area looking somewhat natural.

[jdmidwest]

The fire rings will all disappear on the next rise, that is the beauty of Ozark Gravel bars.

Ozark Floaters are not really the "leave no trace" kinda people. They are just now getting over the age old practice of sinking the empties and carrying out the trash. The original "floaters" on the Current River were the loggers that were floating rafts of timber down the river as they stripped the forest. Honestly, we have made some progress.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, we're making progress. In the whole scheme of things a fire ring is small potatoes, as long as it doesn't have a bunch of scorched beer cans in it along with half-burnt plastic bottles and other assorted more or less fireproof trash. Some people think a campfire is a blast furnace, I guess.

The real problem is that the majority of the human race is basically thoughtless and uncaring of their impacts on other people. They don't stop to think that the fire ring might detract from the experience of the next floater passing by. Nothing wrong with a fire ring, but if you care about your "footprint" on the river, it only takes a few minutes to scatter the rocks and ashes the next morning. Heck, if a person can rationalize tearing up the countryside and gravel bars and river bottoms with unbridled ATV use by saying "it ain't hurtin' nothin'", they will just laugh at the thought that a fire ring should be removed at the end of their stay.