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JakeW
Big Wall climber
CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 17, 2011 - 02:42pm PT
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One of things Jesse and I have been thinking about and focusing on this year, as climbing rangers here in Yosemite, are the impacts of campfires at the base and summit of El Cap(and other climbing spots).
Fires are not allowed, and have very little function, at the base of El Cap. Last September I found a smoldering campfire at the base of the Nose in midday! It had obviously been huge, and wasn’t put out, in the driest month of the year. It could have easily started a fire and burned the entire valley crispy black. This ring has already reappeared, along with another one about 100 feet away that we removed yesterday. There were also bottle caps and other garbage in and around the rings.
Fires are illegal at the base of El Cap and throughout the valley (except in fire rings in campgrounds) for several reasons:
 With the number of people visiting the valley, allowing campfires everywhere would significantly increase the chance of a forest fire.
The forest would also be damaged by the amount of wood collected and burned, which is why gathering wood in the valley is not allowed either, even for the fire at your campsite.
Fires, fire rings, etc. usually scar rocks, boulders, and the side of El Cap. They are very visible and detract from some people’s wilderness experience…remember “Leave No Trace”?
Camping is not allowed at the base, and therefore there is much less reason to have a “camp”fire. It shouldn’t be that cold, and you probably aren’t cooking that many meals.
Having recreational fires, purely for the ambiance of it, is unreasonable and unsustainable in a place as crowded as the valley. El Cap is a great place to go climbing, bird watching, strolling, etc. If you want to go campfiring, there are nearly endless square miles of forest throughout California where campfires are legal (with a permit ) and sustainable.
Building fires at the base attracts people dressed in mostly green. Sometimes they have handsome “flat hats” on their heads, bulletproof vests, guns, and ticket books. They might write you a ticket. Also, other climbers’ might be trying to discreetly start a wall, or just enjoy the evening sans fire, and seeing and talking to a ranger may not have been part of the experience they expected to have, or wanted.
There is also a proliferation of new campfire rings at the top of El Cap. This has prompted a restoration crew (including ourselves) to be scheduled to go up there to remove them, pick up garbage, etc. on June 20th-23rd. We’ll post up about this as the date gets nearer, and discuss the subject more then.
Thanks for reading, and hopefully understanding!
Jake Whittaker and Jesse McGahey
Yosemite Climbing Rangers…often covered in ash.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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May 17, 2011 - 02:44pm PT
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Would this or similar projects be appropriate for this year's Facelift?
John
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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May 17, 2011 - 02:49pm PT
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Thanks Jake. No need to send in the flathats. The last fire I built on top of the Captain was uhhhhh, a really long time ago, and I have been up there several times since then.
In fact, I think I've only built 2 fires on El Cap, and that's over a 35 year period. You guys are always doing great work, and you're absolutely the best ambassadors.
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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May 17, 2011 - 02:54pm PT
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I'm guilty of having a (mostly dried pine needle) fire on the summit when we topped out w/o warm clothes or bivy gear and I was too exhausted to get myself down the E. Ledges or anywhere else for that matter. They serve more of a purpose for many on the top than they do for most in the campgrounds.
But I have to agree that base fires are high impact with little real use and building one at the base of the Nose is an excellent reason for someone to get tooled, IMO. Maybe you guys can post a sign in may languages on the "Carry out your poop" sign?
It would be kind of cool if there was a "no smoking" campground. The valley is nasty with smoke on most summer nights.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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May 17, 2011 - 02:58pm PT
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They serve more of a purpose for many on the top than they do for most in the campgrounds.
Agreed. We had no bivy gear when we topped out on a one day ascent, too late and too thrashed to get down. We had matches, a little water and some psychedelic toast, that was it. That fire was important.
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Roxy
Trad climber
CA Central Coast
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May 17, 2011 - 02:58pm PT
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They serve more of a purpose for many on the top than they do for most in the campgrounds.
That's a good point.
Perhaps a fire ring on the summit might be a good idea.
edit to add: thanks for cooling me in, as one might gather from my comment I have not yet climbed the big stone so don't know what's on the summit...but when I do I'll know what to expect : )
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JakeW
Big Wall climber
CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 17, 2011 - 03:08pm PT
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There are approximately 10.3 billion fire rings at the top of El Cap. That's why an entire restoration crew, plus Jesse and I, are going up there for four days this summer.
Fires are legal at the top, but anything other than an emergency fire is, by definition, unnecessary. If you do have one, use an existing fire ring(required)and please walk to an actual forest to collect dead and down wood so as not to negatively impact the few (now limbless and duffless) trees near the rim.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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May 17, 2011 - 03:17pm PT
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Haven't been to the Valley in a good while, but I was always amazed that they allowed all those fires in the campgrounds in the middle of summer, the smoke trapped under the canopy and the whole place a disgusting smokey mess. Always hoped they'd put an end to the needless fires.
Goes on everywhere these days, even by climbers... 70 degrees out, start a campfire.
Guess the name I've heard for a fire, "wilderness TV" isn't far off.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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May 17, 2011 - 03:52pm PT
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There are approximately 10.3 billion fire rings at the top of El Cap.
Now yer trippin' hard! Ease up on the crack pipe there Jake......
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MTucker
Ice climber
Arizona
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May 17, 2011 - 04:14pm PT
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What a whiner. Sounds like Jake wants to work less and climb more while on the job.
Jake, should you be using Jesse's name?
Sure the fires at the base are from climbers? Try YCS employees getting away from the nightly patrols of their homes and housing areas. Take about invation.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
or some such
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May 17, 2011 - 04:27pm PT
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That'd take a while to draw, wouldn't it?
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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May 17, 2011 - 04:51pm PT
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Tami: “Tootin' my own horn here, why duzn't the NPS in Yos do what the Indian Creek folks did ? Hire me to do illustrations on how to behave in the area...”
What? Around El Cap? Can't wait to see the “please don’t defecate on other’s ropes” illustration.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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May 17, 2011 - 04:55pm PT
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I thought it was funny too Tami. Whats up Bruce.. What happened to your sense of humor?
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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May 17, 2011 - 05:01pm PT
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Which Bruce..Me?
My sense of humor is fine thanks. I thought the 10.3 bill comment was funny, that's why I came back with the crack pipe crack..er..joke.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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May 17, 2011 - 05:03pm PT
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Oops. guess I missed your humor. haha.. scheduling a docs appointment right now to find out what happened to my sense of humor. Anyone find a missing funny bone out there? Roxy ??? Do you have a spare one?
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Roxy
Trad climber
CA Central Coast
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May 17, 2011 - 05:04pm PT
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There are approximately 10.3 billion fire rings at the top of El Cap
Money maker idea...donation plaques for each fire ring. I mean who doesn't like to be remembered?
At a buck a plaque NPS could make a lot of dough. 10.3 billion if my math is correct.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
or some such
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May 17, 2011 - 05:06pm PT
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Yeah, I can see 'em now......piled 26.4 feet deep, fading into the distance.....
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Gene
climber
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May 17, 2011 - 05:14pm PT
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What about a fire on lay lady that's cool right?
Maybe if you haul your ashes.
Fires on LLL are not a good idea.
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Brian
climber
California
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May 17, 2011 - 05:28pm PT
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Just start busting folks and issuing tickets. There is a serious disconnect between how environmentally aware most climbers think they are and how environmentally aware most climbers are.
Brian
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mctwisted
Social climber
superslacker city
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May 17, 2011 - 05:34pm PT
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