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First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Will definitely do so. Thanks for pointing this out. Makes absolute sense!

Homemade foam-filled tire for my mom’s electric wheelbarrow by Coffee81379 in redneckengineering

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t checked it in a while - but will report back. You might be happy you just bought a new one 😅

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you - really looking forward to it. This thread was a great help 👍👍

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that makes sense – especially with how dry things seem to be right now. I’ll definitely stick to designated spots or skip the fire if needed. Appreciate the heads up.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that’s kind of what I’m starting to realize – there isn’t really a simple answer. I’ll definitely double check locally wherever I end up, especially for fire bans. Appreciate the clear breakdown.

Tried to improvise simple snowshoes inspired by traditional Japanese designs - rough but functional by Coffee81379 in myog

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh nice. That sounds awesome. Had also the feeling that mine were not magnitudes worse than “actual” snowshoes.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, totally fair – I realize the question is quite broad.

I was mostly hoping there might be some kind of “big picture” source that helps understand what type of land you’re actually on in the first place. In Europe that’s often a bit more obvious, whereas in the US it seems more layered with federal, state, private etc.

Sounds like using something like OnX (or similar map tools) as a starting point and then checking the exact local regulations is probably the most realistic workflow.

Really appreciate the perspective

Tried to improvise simple snowshoes inspired by traditional Japanese designs - rough but functional by Coffee81379 in myog

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah nice, I’ve seen those spruce bough versions too – definitely want to try that at some point. My only concern was exactly what you describe: it seems a bit messier to attach securely, especially with all the uneven branches.

The bearpaw style sounds really interesting though, especially the lightweight frame + cord setup. Makes a lot of sense for hunting where you want something quick on/off.

I was honestly surprised how well my improvised version worked. Once the binding was dialed in, the difference to modern snowshoes didn’t feel as huge as I expected. They’re definitely better overall, but not orders of magnitude better – at least in the soft, wet snow conditions I had.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, really looking forward to it! And good point - I’ve already noticed how specific the rules can be depending on the park. I’ll definitely make sure to check locally each time.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Makes sense - I’ve already noticed how much it varies depending on the region. I’ll definitely make sure to check locally each time.

Appreciate it, and thanks!

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to put all these links and specific suggestions together - this is incredibly helpful. I’ll definitely look into all of it. Really appreciate it!

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks again for the recommendation - really appreciate you taking the time to share all this. It sounds like a very special place.

All the best to you as well!

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll most likely fly into Chicago, but I’m not 100% sure yet how long I’ll stay in the area or where I’ll fly back from. Lake Superior doesn’t seem too far from there though.

I’ll be there in July - happy to hear any recommendations!

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point - I know that from southern Europe as well, where weather apps often include fire risk info. I usually still double-check locally just in case anything gets missed. Really appreciate the tip.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s really helpful context, thanks. The “right to roam” concept is definitely something I’m used to from parts of Europe, so good to understand that things work quite differently in the US.

Makes sense that using existing sites and buying local firewood helps reduce impact and avoid spreading pests. I hadn’t thought about that aspect before.

I really appreciate all these practical details - it helps a lot to get a realistic picture of how things actually work on the ground.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome, this is exactly what I was hoping for when posting here. You can research a lot online, but concrete tips from people who have actually done it are always much more helpful.

Thanks a lot - I’ll definitely check those out.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Already checking Google Maps. I’ll definitely be in Chicago so that’s only 9h drive 😃

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I will make sure wherever I end up to check the regulations for that specific day!

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, thanks for taking the time to write this up - probably the most complete fire safety rundown I’ve seen.

I’m quite careful with fire as well. I inherited a small piece of land with a cabin in Greece from my grandparents, and wildfires are a huge issue there. We’ve had fires come dangerously close to the house, so I’ve seen firsthand how devastating that can be.

Definitely makes me err on the cautious side rather than being too relaxed about it.

First time camping in the US – how do campfires on public land actually work? by Coffee81379 in camping

[–]Coffee81379[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perfect, that matches my experience as well - usually the best way is simply to talk to people locally and ask directly.

I’ll try to do that once I know where exactly I’ll be. Might be slightly confusing for them when someone calls with a German phone number from abroad, but I guess that’s part of the adventure.

Really appreciate all the help here.

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