Motherhood, Apple Pie, and Campfires

[hedgehopper]

On a recent trip in our "new" 2002 Northern Lite and Dodge dually, DW and I camped in a beautiful canyon with a river running through. We are enjoying the camper we have wanted for years.

In the canyon are a number of National Forest campgrounds, some with electrical hookups. My Golden Age Pass got us a site with electricity for $15 a night. What more could we ask?

The only problem: When I stepped outside, my eyes were soon itching and I was sneezing. The problem was most severe in the evening when campfires were prevalent and least severe early in the day.

No, I'm not going to suggest that campfires be eliminated. For many folks, camping wouldn't be camping without a campfire. I understand that. Campfires are right up there with motherhood and apple pie.

On the way home, for more than twice the price, we retreated to an RV park where campfires were not to be seen. Unfortunately, neither was the beauty of the canyon. Fortunately, there was a river. And without symptoms I walked along the river.

So here's my question: How do others of you with respiratory sensitivities deal with campfire smoke? Sleepy, I know, avoids the problem by avoiding campgrounds. But I hesitate to give up beautiful places like the canyon where we camped for the better part of a week.

[MKish]

My kid gets asthma with some campfires--depends on the wood burned I guess. So yeah, that was me running the kinda loud nebulizer after quiet hours a few years ago. Now he's old enough to use an inhaler...

The drought and ban on campfires have been helping a lot. 🙂 But kids like fires too. Luckily not all wood triggers my kid's asthma so we can use Duraflame type logs. Cut 'em in half and they go just long enough to satisfy marshmallow needs. We need to try the propane faux campfires out.

[hedgehopper]

mcc272 wrote:
DW has asthma and gets a big allergic reaction to campfires. We have had success in campgrounds with the Northern Lite shut up tight at night and the AC running. Rain in the evening helps too! LOL! We are trying Recompence in Maine this week with our fingers crossed. We are always prepared to bail out if it becomes a problem.

Jim

I'll be interested to hear how you do.

[mcc272]

DW has asthma and gets a big allergic reaction to campfires. We have had success in campgrounds with the Northern Lite shut up tight at night and the AC running. Rain in the evening helps too! LOL! We are trying Recompence in Maine this week with our fingers crossed. We are always prepared to bail out if it becomes a problem.

Jim

[hedgehopper]

profdant139 wrote:
Hedgehopper, since you have an excellent TC, maybe try boondocking? We rarely see or hear other people or smell their campfires, except in a campground.

JiminDenver wrote:
Hedgehopper

So if you are up to it, check out the boondocking here. There may even be some in the area you are talking about. There are plenty of people here that would be glad to help you make sure your rig was up to it. There are also ways of finding out where the good spots are too. we tend to like to be on top of a ridge, with views all around and no one around for miles.

One of the reasons we gravitate to campgrounds is that we like to walk. Campgrounds often have good places to walk. Have you found good places to walk when you boondock?

[Buzzcut1]

hedgehopper wrote:

Buzzcut1 wrote:
You might try an N95 respirator mask to filter out the irritating particulates. They are readily available and come in different shapes which allows to to find one that fits your comfort level

Do they do anything to protect your eyes?

for that you need goggles, but they do make some really cool looking ones these days

[hedgehopper]

Buzzcut1 wrote:
You might try an N95 respirator mask to filter out the irritating particulates. They are readily available and come in different shapes which allows to to find one that fits your comfort level

Do they do anything to protect your eyes?

[trailgranny50]

Taylor Park is indeed a neat place. We camped there a couple years ago and pulled our Polaris Razr and did our touring and fishing with it. We camped across the road from the paid State Park campground on National Forest land free. Went up to Tin Cup, over passes we might not should have and wouldn't again in Razr. Truck camper of any kind not advised in many spots. Above Mirror Lake at the summit we had to wait for pass to open after the authorities cleaned up debris from folks that went over the edge. Snow up there made it wide enough for 4x4 vehicle but only one at a time single track. Scary. Hancock Pass a bugger, only look at that one again from the air, all in all pretty neat. Never had a campfire smoke issue. Another neat and more scrabble but little used area is on down the road east of Gunnison, barely noticable sign in the right. Out thru pastures, and 2-3 huge gates that you must open and close for wildlife management, down the canyon, thru the low water crossing up into a valley with a beautiful Lake. And yes, trout. No services, definate boondocking. Been by there alot in years past visiting kids at Created Butte and never knew it was there. Beautiful.

[JiminDenver]

Hedgehopper

At night the campgrounds tend to get a haze from all of the individual campfires. The canyons are even worse because the smoke settles if there isn't a wind to move it along. It's one of the many irritants of staying in campgrounds.

Then again, this is Colorado. There is so much boondocking that we have been doing it for a quarter of a century and have only once used the same clearing twice. We are never close to anyone and certainly not close enough to smell their campfire.

I saw that you mentioned full hook ups. Those can be avoided in exchange for some of the most incredible sites you will ever camp in for free. We can stay out for a few weeks at a time and our only sacrifice is that we take navy showers daily. Other than that we have all the comforts of home including air conditioning.

Interestingly enough when the rest of the state has a fire ban, campgrounds with fire rings are still allowed to have them. I actually prefer it when there is a ban because I've seen the fires people will build on a windy night. It's crunchy dry up there in ban years, you have to wonder what people are thinking.

More and more I enjoy the propane fire pit. Real fires take water to put them out and then I worry that it is out. Half the time I get a fire going and after a half hour honey is ready to go in. Sitting out there alone watching the fire burn down just isn't that much fun. The propane pit just shuts off if that happens or it starts raining, gets too windy, etc.

So if you are up to it, check out the boondocking here. There may even be some in the area you are talking about. There are plenty of people here that would be glad to help you make sure your rig was up to it. There are also ways of finding out where the good spots are too. we tend to like to be on top of a ridge, with views all around and no one around for miles.

[profdant139]

Hedgehopper, since you have an excellent TC, maybe try boondocking? We rarely see or hear other people or smell their campfires, except in a campground.

[rickjo]

Gunnison National Forest calls it "Taylor Canyon". One of the most interesting sites in that canyon is the WW II airplane crash site. There is a geocache there that can help locate the site. It is a STEEP climb, but if you are in reasonable shape, the metal remains are truly interesting.

And yes, lots of camping in the canyon and at the reservoir.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmug/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=71849&actid=29

Rick

[JoeChiOhki]

Ah, it definitely is full summer time now, the yearly allergies vs campfires post has been made :p.

[hedgehopper]

Naio wrote:
I want to know where this canyon campground is.

The canyon runs northeast from Almont CO. There are a number of campgrounds, some with electrical hookups and some without.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Johnnybgood wrote:
I don't know how true it is but my brother has told me on more then one occasion that using any milk products actually instigates allergies. Note: I still drink milk and eat cheese, but I am willing to put up with my allergies.

Most of my allergies are the nasal/sinus kind; and many came on when I was in my 20's. Not sure how dairy would play into all that?

But the smoke allergy - ooooh - that one's been a lifelong treat (not!) As a kid - I was guaranteed to barf in either my folks'; or my grandparents car about 5 blocks into a trip. It wasn't until I was 13 and rode with my best friend's parents (who didn't smoke) and I didn't get sick - that I made the connection between cigarette smoke and car sickness.

[Johnnybgood]

I don't know how true it is but my brother has told me on more then one occasion that using any milk products actually instigates allergies. Note: I still drink milk and eat cheese, but I am willing to put up with my allergies.