[pct-l] Permanent Campfire Ban on PCT?

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I don't think that is workable. First of all, it has not been  
determined that a PCT hiker's campfire caused the fire. Second, PCT  
hikers aren't the only people hiking the PCT. There are hunters,  
scouts, weekenders, and others. I suppose you could deprive the whole  
world of the enjoyment of a campfire to quell the carelessness of a  
few but that seems rather harsh. Not to mention that careless  
campfire people are going to have campfires no matter what anybody  
says about it and there's about a grand total of zero rangers out  
there to enforce anything.

On Sep 14, 2012, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Message: 10
> Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:23:59 -0700
> From: harwoodcreek at gmail.com
> Subject: [pct-l] Permanent Campfire Ban on PCT?
>
> Given the documented irresponsibility of some (e.g the catastrophic  
> 2012
> Chips Creek fire likely caused by a PCT hiker), I favor a complete  
> campfire
> ban along the PCT.  This should be enforced through a tip line  
> along with
> occasional ranger patrols.
>
> I see no need for campfires in the wilderness environment.  Water  
> can be
> boiled on a stove; insect repellent, bug jackets and tents repel  
> insects;
> and adequate clothing and sleeping bags provide warmth.  Thru  
> hikers with
> no sense of civic and wilderness responsibility should not be able  
> to get
> away with saving a couple of pounds maximum, skipping the fire  
> ignition
> site incommunicado, and causing millions in damage lasting up to a
> century.
>
> Isn't it time for the next important step in trail protection?