Bringing own firewood.

When we travel to local campgrounds we tend to bring our own wood as their prices are a bit high. When we do buy wood we have run into the issue of their wood being a bit green (not seasoned).

We have never had a campground check to see if we brought our own wood. If we have leftovers we would bring it home with us. In some cases we gave it to our campsite neighbors who were usually very happy to take it.

When we travel to National Parks (NP's) we never bring our own wood. We will buy it there locally. Most NP's sell wood. But sometimes outside the park are locals who harvest their own wood and sell it. Cheaper than buying it from the NP.

 

It is usually no out of state firewood.

 

I only camp in my state, and many times I camp where there are no hook ups or campfire wood sales. I bring my own, and take what is left home with me. I have bought wood before, and usually buy from someone nearby as it is better quality and more affordable

 

That's the basic rule we follow!

 

Due to the ash borer and other pests, transporting firewood across state (sometimes county lines) is prohibited in many places. Certified wood is permitted.
We have never had a wood fire, so haven't had to deal with it. I don't remember seeing an inspection at any campground, but have heard reports of people being told to make sure to burn all wood they brought with them.

 

Here in Washington State, we have several different "climate zones" and the idea is to burn wood that is harvested in that particular area. I have no doubt that there are lots of people who believe that they are special enough to ignore these rules, even though they are there for good reason.

 

You've never had a wood fire ?

 

Va state park advisory... http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/firewood-quarantine

 

Nope - I can make one, it's just not our thing. As a kid, I learned to make wood fires in the stove at our cabin, and outside to cook. It's just as well Courtenay and I didn't get in the habit of fires here in the SW - there are bans much of the time. Plus, I have to retreat to the inside of the TT when the smoke (campfire or wildfire) gets too bad, due to my asthma and slight lung damage from pleurisy 3years ago. [My pulmonologist, a self-avowed city boy who doesn't understand camping at all, suggests I wear a mask when there is campfire smoke. I hide instead.]
We do have a small propane campfire (Little Red Campfire), which is nice on some cold weather trips.

 

Hard to believe, but when I back packed we seldom made fires because it killed our vision to see the night sky. Paddled the Rio Grande thru Big Bend once and oh my gosh. That night sky knocked it out of the park. Probably lots of reasons to not make a fire like smelling like you and all your gear just came out of a smoker.

 

Here in Michigan it's illegal to carry firewood across county lines. That leaves most people at the mercy of the parks and the locals. Wood quality can range the gammit from seasoned, dried hardwood to green softwood slabs. The state is trying to implement a new policy where the only firewood allowed in state parks is kiln dried. They are having a hard time lining up suppliers and distributors. I am lucky enough to work for a truss manufacturer and have access to an in-exhaustable supply of scrap 2x4 and 2x6 that comes from all over the US and Canada. This wood is exempt and I can carry it anywhere in the state. Unfortunately, this kind of wood is no good for the type of grilling I like to do so we use it for the nightly fires and burn locally sourced hardwoods for our grilling.

 

I usually take my own, never across state lines or the Mackinaw bridge. Now the wood I take is bark free and no signs of bugs. For the most part Im too cheap to buy firewood. Easy enough to cut and split.

 

I do not usually have a fire in the summer, but love one when the weather cools down. I keep any hardwood that I cut down when trimming trees here on the farm. I stack it and let it season well, I always take my own and I have found a 50# feed sack will hold enough for a night. I have bought the firewood from the park and it usually is green and mostly gives off more smoke than heat. I usually stay at Fl. State Parks and have had no problems bringing my own wood.

 

HERE are Minnesota's firewood restrictions.

 

I buy my own wood at the park/campground I go to unless I found a place selling certified heat treated firewood. I've seen the damage the pests we're trying to stop can do. Heck in one campground I went to they lost hundreds of trees due to the ash borer alone. So I'm doing my part to help prevent the spread. I want to still have trees left in my lifetime and the kids. Even if it means I buy expensive firewood or greenwood at the campground i will not transport firewood. If I have any extra firewood I just keep it in the fire ring or give to my neighbor.

 

Yea, I'm pretty sure that when I'm on my death bed I won't be worrying about that $20.00 I spent on firewood that one time. I got 99 things I'm cheap about but camping ain't one of them.

 

I usually carry enough firewood for the first fire. Then I will get firewood locally to satisfy the local rules...

If you want to see what the ASH BORE bugs do just drive up on top of Smoky Mtns in TN. It just makes one sick seeing all of those used to be most beautiful forest now almost all barren...

Just about all of our Earth is slowly going to the worse - Won't be long we humans will be looking for new place to survive...

My luck the future will be a big jar of a shelf somewhere and we all do our thing with thought power... Go anywhere Do anything and never leave the Jar. A robot will be taking care of all the family jars in one cave location somewhere... (Saw that on STAR TREX one time)

Roy Ken

 

I have been accumulating kiln dried lumber to avoid any issues with the emerald ash borer.

 

That's what we do as well. DH is a cabinetmaker so we have an almost endless supply of off cuts. Burns great!