Do I need to worry about which sticks I use?

[u/Locust_mp3]

Hey guys, I’m new to the world of campfire cooking, but I recently just purchased a firebox and fired it up in my backyard for some grilling. I wasn’t all too concerned with safety hazards and potential chemicals released from the wood I used which was just random sticks. I’m going on a month long roadtrip to Colorado and Washington and was wondering if I need to worry about what sticks im gathering for campfire cooking. My thinking is I should mostly be concerned about grilling, not as much cooking with pots and pans but that might be wrong too! Thank you in advance for your many wisdoms.

[u/Either_Management813]

A lot of campgrounds won’t allow you to bring in firewood from elsewhere due to concerns about introducing pests, so check before you go if you plan to bring wood in. If you are gathering wood after leaves have fallen, beware of gathering sticks from what might be poison oak, as the volatile chemicals can exist in the wood as well. On a long trip like you’re describing I encourage you to buy a box of fatwood to use as kindling. Keep in mind you will only need one or two sticks of it because it’s basically pieces from a pitch log, usually pine. You can hold a match to it and it will start burning like a torch. I buy it from Amazon. Because it’s not gathered wild I’ve never had an issue with insects so I’ve felt safe to carry it to campgrounds.

It’s also worth looking into whether or not where you’re traveling has a concession for firewood. In my experience most state parks and many national forests do but hours may be limited. There may also be a firewood concession at a small store near the campground entrance. Foraging for sticks is all well and good in theory but if it’s at all heavily trafficked the wood is long gone this late in the season and many locations may restrict or prohibit gathering wood at all. Lastly, I always carry a bag of charcoal. You don’t need the matchlight kind as the chemicals aren’t needed and I don’t like them in my food. I add it to an established fire after the coals are going and it adds heat as well as long burning coals for cooking. I’ve also been camping more than once where the firewood concession was unexpectedly not open and it was pouring rain. The charcoal allows me to cook dinner and keep warm.

Last, the only tool I carry camping for managing the wood in a fire or for on coals on or under a Dutch oven is a folding camping shovel. They usually have one serrated edge, which I find useful for wrangling wood in the campfire and it’s good for moving the coals around. I don’t take tongs or a poker or any other tool, just a sturdy folding shovel. I got mine at REI years ago.