Peter K. wrote:
After a thunderbox and a small fire ring I tend to see degradation rather than improvement.
I agree, and I have no problem hauling a portable wag bag toilet system along, whether required or just personally convenient on heavily used site. Or even skipping a fire, especially when solo.
I have no problem with a hewn seating log near the fire, although I am more likely to use it as an ottoman and a place to set things out of the dirt and duff. Hell, on a near backcountry site if there is a picnic table I’m gonna use it, although I’ll set the tarp up elsewhere as weather appropriate.
I would rather not see a collection of old fire grates that someone managed to haul in but not out, raggedy assed plywood “shelves” or nails in trees, typically with six inches of triple granny knotted yellow poly cord still attached someone couldn’t get untied and elected to cut and leave behind. Gee thanks, just what I wanted.
I caught holy hell for saying this here once - I was somehow presumed be destroying precious First Nation artifacts (on lower Susquehanna River sites that see campers every day from April through November) - but a heavily used site with a half dozen poorly situated stone fire circles is a pet peeve.
The last thing I found on a site that disturbed me was a cunningly constructed shelf, built chest high between two trees, using two found wood laterals and several dozen 12 inch long dry wood branches, tied and intricately woven to make a platform. It was quite sturdy, and must have taken hours to construct, and the downed wood part was almost attractive.
Except that it was woven together with found bits of twine and cord, and was unnatural ugly as sin.
Made for great dry fire starter wood though, and I carried out the fugly twine in my trash bag.