Campfire Cooking

The mention of campfire cooking brings up memories of hotdogs on sticks, and potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil. Ultralight backpackers don't usually carry potatoes or hotdogs though, so this is about using fires in place of a stove. It is just another way to reduce weight, but it is nice to have a fire anyhow, isn't it?

Some areas won't allow you to have a campfire, so be sure to check before you head down the trail without your stove. Having a campfire for cooking isn't always an eco-friendly practice, but there are places where a small fire will do no long term harm. A beach, below the high-water line, for example, or on sandy soil, or on a frozen stream (this is fun, and the fire won't usually burn through for an hour or more), or in a designated fire pit, of course.

Always have enough matches or a couple lighters. Having at least two ways to start a fire is good practice for all backpackers, even if you aren't planning to have a fire. You may need a fire in an emergency.

Safety note: Be careful about using rocks from a wet area for a fire-ring. I have had rocks explode from heating, and it can be very dangerous. (Water trapped inside can't escape fast enough, causing the rock to explode, and throw sharp pieces at you.)

As you hike, collect some dead pine needles, dried moss, etc., so you will be ready to start a fire when you stop for the night , even if it is a bit wet by then. You can also carry a fire starter or two, to make it easy. Pieces of cardboard soaked in candle wax work well, even when wet. Keep the fire small, so you can handle the cooking pot easily. If used wisely, campfire cooking can make ultralight backpacking even lighter.

Every chapter has tips for lightweight backpacking and wilderness survival.