Isle Royale Forums

I just finished some reading on the park site and it seems that most sites do not allow campfires (and none of the sites I was looking at staying). Does anybody know why this is? I've never been to a park where I can't light a fire, and we usually spend 3 hours a night starring at one. I'm sort of bummed out about this ... what do you do at night if not sit in front of a fire *LOL*

The prevention of erosion I think is the main reason.

The regulations are that only completely fallen dead wood and drift wood can be used for fires in designated areas. Even so, this takes its toll on the material available for decomposition. The topsoil is very thin in many places. In many popular campgrounds one would be hard pressed to find any "legal" dead wood within several hundred yards of the campsites. I'm surprised there is not yet a total ban on fires.

Fire wood cannot be brought to the Island due to the dangers of introducing new parasites or diseases.

So what are the top ten things people do after dark instead of sitting around a camp fire? I have a couple of suggestions.

1) On clear nights, find a clearing, lay on your back and marvel at the darkest sky and brightest star shining short of being in the middle of the ocean.

2) Sit quietly and hopefully listen to the wolves howling.

3) Find your way back down from the Greenstone Ridge after watching a beautiful sunset while hoping your flashlight batteries hold out.

4) Make S'Mores on the camp stove? (OK, OK I just made that one up. Never done myself but I bet others have

5) ??

~Ed

I was given a freshly cooked s'more at Siskiwit Bay in '06. It was cooked at a campfire at the fire ring near the dock.

5) I've seen shooting stars when at Lane Cove back in '07, in addition to the bright lights of Thunder Bay off in the distance.

HI everyone
I was on the island in 10,09, and 08.I talked with the park ranger and they actually told me that when they used to let people have campfires, it was on an honor system that people would only use down wood, then the park rangers started finding trees cut and damage to others. This is why. I had also asked why you could have a fire at island mine and not by the shore. they said there was more down wood available. hope this helps.

MW Ed's suggestions are very good. I like campfires as much as anyone else, but now pretty much limit having them to family car camping. I've come to enjoy sitting quietly at night just listening to nature's sounds and sky watching or if there is a good moon to light the roots and rocks, taking mini hikes.

After working my butt off all day looking for enough down wood to have a good fire is way too much work for me. Last year we cooked in our fire pit at Belle Isle and had salmon....it was excellent but it took 4 guys an hour to get enough wood to cook the fillets

The last time I stayed at Island Mine (quite a few years ago) you had to walk through the surrounding woods a good 200 yards or so to find downed wood.

Bob

Got to believe that Island Mine allows fires because of the lack of underbrush and the area is just packed dirt. Nothing to burn and start the woods on fire.

I enjoy fires and I like to go to the communal fire rings. But I also like that I and my gear do not smell like smoke.

lewiada wrote:I just finished some reading on the park site and it seems that most sites do not allow campfires (and none of the sites I was looking at staying). Does anybody know why this is? I've never been to a park where I can't light a fire, and we usually spend 3 hours a night starring at one. I'm sort of bummed out about this ... what do you do at night if not sit in front of a fire *LOL*

Well, we usually have Happy Hour. Cocktails in the Wilderness can't be beat!

rgalloway1,

I'll drink to that. I've only had beer at Rock Harbor. Maybe I need to adjust my agenda.