CAMP STOVES AND FIREPLACES

IN THIS discussion the terms "camp stove" and "fireplace" are used to designate the two groups of units which are used for cooking, warming, and lighting purposes. These terms are not synonymous. There are times, however, when it is difficult to differentiate between a camp stove and a fireplace.

In some types which are easily convertible from a fireplace to a camp stove or a camp stove to a fireplace, the unit may be designated as one or the other. There is usually a difference between the camp stove and the fireplace. The stove is that unit which is used primarily for cooking purposes and has a definite solid plate for a cooking surface, and in which the draft is ordinarily controlled by a damper in the door or in the chimney, or both. The fireplace is that unit which is used primarily for light and warmth, and also for cooking. It is usually constructed with a grate over the firebox and sometimes with a removable plate; but no provision is made for the control of the draft by any door, or in the chimney. The fireplace is ordinarily used on the picnic area and seldom used on the camp area except in combination with a camp stove. On the other hand, the camp stove may be used on the picnic area as well as upon the camp areas. In all camp stoves and in all but the very simple types of fireplaces, the firebox is lined with fire-clay brick. Campfire circles (pl. XX) are a type of fireplace although they are usually constructed only for warmth and light.

In designing a unit for any campground or picnic area, the first step is to determine whether the maximum use of the unit will be in connection with picnic activities or in connection with campground activities. The person who comes to a campground usually remains during a period of days or weeks and he desires during this period to be provided with three meals a day and therefore to have reasonable convenience in the use of any cooking facilities. The camp stove is the unit which provides this kind of convenience. The picnicker is on the picnic area for a matter of hours only, and during this time it may be necessary to prepare not more than one meal. As a little inconvenience does not annoy him and in fact may add to the thrill of "roughing it" and of being "in the open" for this short period, he is quite willing to accept a certain amount of inconvenience.

In general it is more desirable that camp stoves and fireplaces be in fixed locations in order to avoid unnecessary destruction of natural vegetation and forest ground cover. If these units are moved indiscriminately over the recreation area, the natural vegetation is soon destroyed and the area loses much of its attractiveness.

In some picnic areas, especially those in close proximity to large centers of population the only practical solution in the use of the area is that of providing movable units (pl. I, fig. 6A) for cooking purposes. On such areas there may be an intensive use by hundreds of picnickers on one day and on another day the same intensive use may be concentrated upon some other area. In the meantime one of the areas is very little occupied. For occasions of such intensive use it is, therefore, essential to provide a considerable number of units of a movable type to meet the requirements of this intermittent intensive use.