This is a great article on building the right kind of fire ring and exposes a danger I've witnessed personally... exploding stones.
Camping at Panamint Springs once we had a fire ring that exploded and a piece hit me right under my eye. Others popped and landed on my tent melting holes into it. VERY DANGEROUS to use any type of river rock that may have moisture locked inside.
Nevermind this shot of camping in a wash. Can you say flash flood?
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