Disappointment about campers

[us71na]

We just spent 9 days camping at a state park in central PA. During that time we saw a disturbing number of campers (residents and non-residents) that brought in firewood from other areas. Pennsylvania has lost nearly all of it's Ash trees to the Emerald Ash borer and now we are threatened by the Spotted Lantern Fly. Yet people are still transporting wood long distances. Please folks, let's stop helping these pests spread across our country.

I realize that purchasing wood wood locally near campgrounds and the quality may not be good, but the damage being done to our environment is much worse.

I also saw many campsites that had campfires burning all day long even when no one was outside and sometimes the campsite was vacant. These smoking campfires made the visit less pleasant for those that were down wind from the fires. The mists that came up each evening and lingered until late morning, held the smoke down in the valley where the campground was located.
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[THE MEEKER]

I have been semi-retired for the past couple of years. If you are able, I suggest camping Sunday through Thursday. It's usually very quiet and peaceful (July-August might be more of a nuisance with people on vacation).

If I have to camp during the weekend, I set my expectations for a relaxing experience low, very low.

[JFlightRisk]

I know THE MEEKER is aware as we are, and probably many other New Yorkers, the state parks here only allow you to transport firewood no more than 50 miles, for the same reason. There's even a private campground near us that doesn't allow any wood to be brought in. A good friend that camp along with us brings a propane firepit for campfires. If we do need firewood, we buy it at the campground, or very nearby. More than not there's usually someone close that sells bundles from their front yard.

I joke with the DW about how many places around here are called "Camp Wood". One house near the water up north sells "Fishin' Wood". Must be different......

[boxerrox]

We also try to camp during the week. Twice this year we went out over a weekend due to work schedules. Between constant golf carts, E bikes and our neighbors next door burning trash all day to save walking 20 yards to the dumpster. It had me considering putting a for sale sign on the camper.

[RoadrunnerII]

Seeing more and more private campgrounds with no wood campfires
Propane firepits are fine but no wood

RoadrunnerII

[Jagiven]

I would say most people at the Minnesota State Parks are fairly good about wood. Not everyone. It is also hard to say where the wood came from. Bundled wood is easy to tell where it came from and what county. But unbundled wood is harder. We are allowed to transport and use, NON Ash, and wood harvested within the same county as the park. We are also allowed to burn construction lumber, as long as it is not painted, no metal. We also cannot burn pallet wood anymore (I'm assuming due to all the nails).

I have seen park staff take a full five gallon bucket water to put out a smoldering fire. Our park fire pits are very slow at draining out water, so the campers must not be happy.

Burning of trash is one of my pet peeves.

[sirrealone]

One of the biggest impediments to this is the often ridiculous cost of low-quality wood sold at the campgrounds themselves. You can be charged $8 for a bundle of wood that is made up of half a dozen sticks that are so unseasoned, they might as well have been from trees cut down earlier that day. Many campers want to do the right thing, but will give up if they're feeling like they're being price gouged.

[gypsmjim]

I share your concern and I am as passionate as you about the issue. Nevertheless, all the rules are probably not well founded. It's all a matter of time. It will spread no matter what people do or don't do.

Our last house had 31 mature ash trees. Our property was the gem on the street. We only moved away because of a growing family and we needed a bigger house. The trees are all gone now. I pity the poor family that owned the house now because the cost to remove them must have been huge.

Foreign vessels brought zebra mussels and gobies to the great lakes. They are now in lakes that don't even connect. My beloved Erie canal is filled with invasive plant species. You just can;t stop it all.

If you observe people disobeying the rules, report them to the campground management.

[stevenl]

Absolutely the best time.

[Mr Bee]

Originally Posted by sirrealone

One of the biggest impediments to this is the often ridiculous cost of low-quality wood sold at the campgrounds themselves. You can be charged $8 for a bundle of wood that is made up of half a dozen sticks that are so unseasoned, they might as well have been from trees cut down earlier that day. Many campers want to do the right thing, but will give up if they're feeling like they're being price gouged.

With the constant price increases and site lock fees webring our own. All cut locus, proper dry and no bugs. 8 bucks a bundle when a bundle last an hour or 2 Max is ridiculous. Call me what you want but I bring my own. Camping has become just another corperare greed issue.
The last 2 nights we have had to listen to the campers a few sights away that think everyone wants to listen to their style music.

[gypsmjim]

Our last campout was 1986. Then we bought an 11 acre parcel, spotted the trailer and she hasn't moved since. Best $3K I ever spent. NOBODY bothers us. We spend a few hours cutting downed trees every Spring. I have a lifetime of free firewood.

Yeah, yeah, we go to the same place every year. Nevertheless, I long for every Friday and hate to see Sunday evening come along.

We happily left cigarette smoke, loud music and crying babies behind. Plus, I never found a campsite that had its own private rifle range.

[JudyB]

We have been using a product called Speedy Blaze. It’s USDA approved for all over the US, has a zero C02 footprint.

[dbahn]

We live about five miles from a firewood kiln drying business (Colton Enterprises, Pittsfield, Vermont). The kiln drying process allows them to certify the wood as pest-free, and we carry a certification document with us.

I don't know how common kiln dried firewood is, but we have at least two of them here in Vermont, and some of those people bringing their own firewood may be perfectly OK doing it.

[Tony from NJ]

There’s a new generation of campers, and it’s not like us old timers. I’m in my sixties and have camping my entire life. The common courtesies are gone as well as respect for fellow campers. Times are changing and the entitled generation has bred. Remember, “everybody gets a trophy.” Another part of America slipping away.

[wiscampsin]

Originally Posted by Tony from NJ

There’s a new generation of campers, and it’s not like us old timers. I’m in my sixties and have camping my entire life. The common courtesies are gone as well as respect for fellow campers. Times are changing and the entitled generation has bred. Remember, “everybody gets a trophy.” Another part of America slipping away.

X2

[us71na]

I'm just astounded that people who claim they love the outdoors don't do anything to protect what they enjoy. In PA, we nearly lost all the oak trees across the state to Gypsy moths that moved hundreds of miles so quickly they had to be transported, followed by the emerald Ash Borer beetle that has wiped out the ash trees across the state. And, now the Spotted Lantern fly is moving hundreds of miles in a single season. All of these pests have been transported on firewood.

[spark of insanity]

A lot of state parks are under staffed but I know if Michigan catches you? You need to burn it on site. All I can say is this. Some people got their brains from the sears roebuck catalog.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by THE MEEKER

I have been semi-retired for the past couple of years. If you are able, I suggest camping Sunday through Thursday. It's usually very quiet and peaceful (July-August might be more of a nuisance with people on vacation).

If I have to camp during the weekend, I set my expectations for a relaxing experience low, very low.

2nd that!

[Captnjimk]

Y’all
The previous “posters” seemed to discuss tree diseases caused by firewood. Nobody mentioned the smoke that we all inhale by fellow campers’ wood campfires. Or the wildfire threat from blowing embers. I have one of the oldest propane camp fires and love it. Light it, love it and turn it off. No smoke and no embers. Can even use it under your awning. Save a tree and save your lungs.

2017 Alante 26X
2021 Jeep Wrangler

[Frosty42]

Maybe try California? I hear they require an exhaust hood over all campfires. But if you are in New York, be sure to fire up that generator to power the electric cook top.

Yes I am being sarcastic. Stop worrying about what others do.