Wind? Dry grass? Campfires, anyone?

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

I thought this was an appropriate anecdote for the Sitting Around the Campfire forum:

10:25 PM Friday night. The book I'm working on about our park host experiences is writing itself for me. Where have I been on this windy night? I've had to go tell a group of people that open fires are not allowed in the park. What? Where does it say that? Well, Rule #11 is where it says that, in bold print. We have winds blowing at 10 - 15 MPH, with occasional gusts of 21 MPH. And you thought an open fire was a good idea? Seriously?

(Note: I'm not really writing a book, but I am keeping a journal. If I were still teaching, some of the things the campers do would go on their permanent records. Anybody remember the "permanent record" threat?)

Carolyn

[Art-n-Marge]

Fortunately, it was written down. Common sense is not always written down and you'll get an argument from the no-common-sense types.

A similar story... I've had many an argument when backpacking deep in the wilderness and trying to convince others NOT to feed the wildlife no matter how cute they are and it's not worth the picture moment they are seeking. I hate when they do this. The worse thing that happened to me is when I got woken early one morning as I got sniffed in the face by an adolescent bear and was able to chase it away. The next morning I found the the day prior other campers thought it would be fun to feed it. IDIOTS!!! I had to report this to a Park Ranger because now the bear looks to people as a food source and will probably get itself killed hanging around people too much.

[ole dude]

Sounds like you are still teaching--just an older group of children.

[Steve and Susie]

Was thinking, if a bear makes his way inside the Monty to sniff and lick my face-----he can have it, I'll leave--lol. Happy Trails, Steve

[Art-n-Marge]

I guess I should have emphasized, since I was backpacking, I had a tent set up, but the night was so great I slept in my sleeping bag on my air mattress and the stars overhead and kept the tent stowed in my pack. The Monty was not involved.

Nowadays, when I backpack if I take a tent I use it no matter what! Same with the Monty. If it's there, I'm sleeping in it.

[DQDick]

In Yellowstone once I saw a bear put his paw on the side of a slide in truck camper and then just extend his claws right thru the skin and pull the window right out. He was after a sugar bowl left on the window sill with the window open so he could get a good smell. It's easy to do dumb things in bear country without trying to feed them.