Campfire Mystique

What is the fascination that lures people to sit around the campfire? Is it the good conversation that seems to flow so easily or the quiet times when we sit peacefully and stare into the flames? The warmth it provides on a cold evening is always welcome.
Food always tastes better when it’s cooked over the campfire. There is the traditional hot-dogs, marshmallows and potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and set on the hot coals to bake. The hobo pie maker is a device that makes grilled sandwiches over the fire. One of life’s greatest pleasures is a thick juicy steak cooked over the open flames.
Clearing the area, digging a pit and surrounding it with large rocks sets the stage. It takes a great deal of time to cut, split and properly stack the wood. The kindling and logs must be set in just the right place before we can light the fire. The construction and lighting of the fire seems to be a very ceremonial event. Everyone seems to have his or her own specialized technique.
I suspect that lightning created the fires that early man first experienced. Perhaps we are satisfying some innate desire rooted deep in our primeval past. Whatever the reason for our fascination one thing seems certain. There will always be campfires burning when we venture into the great outdoors.

eastcoaster,
We are`nt to cermoniously about the building of the campfire, just who gets the bigger poker stick to be the "fire master",*L*
actually it is amazing the conversation which arouses from one, being if its built in the woods or in the back lot,,

...or in a dumpster at Sixth and Pine.

Well, I'll agree with Raincity, whoever has the biggest poker gets the honors of the campfire. But, usually it's the best firemaker gets the honors. I'm not so "religious" about the campfire experience. It's all in the atmosphere. Just think, if you were covered in smoke and eating hotdogs in your house/apt. you'd be bitching to high heaven. I just think it's the sitting in peace, with the stars and serenity the wilderness gives you that makes the experience. But I grewup having to split the wood and such, so I can't find anything "great" about that, but the actual fire part is ok. I wonder where Eastcoaster is from. It almost sounds like he/she is a literary major instead of an outdoorsman, not that being smart is a crime. Just seems too much depth for just a campfire. Now, if they would've been talking fishing, then that's different........JUST KIDDING!!! It was a good point though, I do digress.

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