River rocks can be great for cooking, fireplaces and under sleeping spots…you just have to crack them first like a nut. In a fire, away from everyone else, arranged around the fire ring they mostly won’t explode
I left out the detail of “move most of the coals over to the other side of your area for the overnight fire.”
Also, if the ground is wet, dig even deeper narrow drainage channels on both sides of that shallow trench. The fire will dry out the ground you’re about to sleep on, and the channels allow for runoff. Luke from Outdoor Boys does exactly this in Alaska, even after digging down to the ground through feet of snow, that’s how I know about it.
I was being pretty stupid once and heated up a rock with a blow torch. The thing was glowing red and was super hot. I’m honestly surprised it didn’t explode…
Probably better to use hot rocks unless you’ve got good ventilation, otherwise carbon monoxide poisoning
I feel like being outside would blow away the small amounts of CO produced by coals (instead of an active fire).
CO is a product of incomplete combustion. Specifically, it is created by ventilation limited partial combustion (i.e. not enough oxygen to make CO2).
So, coals would actually make a lot more CO than a roaring fire would.
Fascinating! Thank you.
Depends on how you build your shelter, really.
Don’t put rocks near fire, especially wet rocks, they can explode
edit: I love that there’s some crying piss-ass following me and downvoting all my stuff. Whatever I said to hurt your feelings: GOOD!
River rocks can be great for cooking, fireplaces and under sleeping spots…you just have to crack them first like a nut. In a fire, away from everyone else, arranged around the fire ring they mostly won’t explode
I left out the detail of “move most of the coals over to the other side of your area for the overnight fire.”
Also, if the ground is wet, dig even deeper narrow drainage channels on both sides of that shallow trench. The fire will dry out the ground you’re about to sleep on, and the channels allow for runoff. Luke from Outdoor Boys does exactly this in Alaska, even after digging down to the ground through feet of snow, that’s how I know about it.
I was being pretty stupid once and heated up a rock with a blow torch. The thing was glowing red and was super hot. I’m honestly surprised it didn’t explode…
River rocks will if you get them too hot too fast, because they have water inside, and it boils. Drier rocks are usually OK, they might crack though.
The BIG sleep.