If you ever look up the definition of a campfire you may be surprised to learn that a campfire is a fire lit around a camp. (Who ever wrote that must be a fire genius. Okay I need to let the genius continue.) A Campfire can be used for illumination, warmth, a beacon, or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. That preceding definition, I partially lifted from a dictionary, and boy does it leave out all the good stuff. I disagree with a lot so bare with me.
Some technocrat probably wrote that benign stale idea of what a campfire is. Now, for the most part, me and my buddies right after the flames is a blazing away, we just open a bottle of something to share, start a talk smart party and visit, and let me tell you that cures any need for a psychological sense of security. Heck after a few pulls on a good jug; I've seen some pretty mild manner canoer's get full of liquid courage. The twelve ounce brothers and sisters are even stronger.
We put this campfire in a wide variety of spots, sometimes with a lake or river handy, starry nights are preferred over rainy, but we use it in any weather, and in any weather, some of those bottles of shared spirits really take the nip out of a breezy or chilly night and with only one bottle in camp, it sure isn't gonna be used as a beacon. If we go out into the hinter lands all by ourselves, on any given Friday or Saturday night, who in there right mind would want to send a message, hey were over here, come find us?
We only use local rocks to encircle the campfire so we don't haul in any invasive species stones, and we share all campfire glow, smoke, and smells, but not to cook, which in a way, may ward off predators. Cooking would mean something other than sticking long chunks of round meat on a stick. After all week, none of my buddies is in the mood to cook, and if we actually ate something we'd need more fluid to wash it done with. At our age, too much fluid isn't good for us.
And lordy, the book worm description of a campfire has no concept of sparks, coals, colors of wood, not to mention eyes full of smoke and at some point in the evening no eyes are left unwatered.
So while I'm no campfire genius, you go out into some wilderness looking woods in the near future and set one to burning, bring some close friends, don't start till after dark, and after a few glasses, you see which definition comes closer. The trout whisperer
