[pct-l] update: Chips Fire explodes

[Jeffrey Olson]

I find it astounding that people build fires while hiking the PCT in any 
but extreme emergency cold/wet conditions.  To me this shows a 
combination of cluelessness, lack of common sense and selfishness.

Leave no trace hiking sets a high standard.  It's easier and easier to 
hike the trail with all the different written and online guides and 
proliferation of people offering support.  That doesn't mean principled 
hiking gives over to a slacker mentality.

No one is ignorant out there about the potential destructiveness of 
fires.  Why not be rational and act on this knowledge?  I just don't get 
it...

Jeffrey Olson
Rapid, City, SD
> Almost exactly two years ago when Piper and I were hiking this bit of the PCT we met some Thrus in Beldentown who were going to head out that evening up the climb out of Belden ahead of us. The next morning we heading out early. We got to an old campsite with a big fire ring and a still very hot fire. Since there was no water nearby (which may be why the campers/Thrus didn't put it out) we grabbed some utensils hanging by hooks on trees and did the best we could to cover the fire with dirt and put what little water we could on the fire. It didn't look like the fire could get out of that fire pit but you never know. Having lost my home (along with 600 other homes) to a human caused fire in Santa Barbara in 1990, I am overly cautious.
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