Stumbled on a campsite in Shenandoah where someone left a full propane tank sitting on the fire pit

I was hiking near Big Meadows last weekend and walked past this site that looked totally normal until I saw a green 16 oz propane canister just chillin right on the coals. Like, someone actually packed it out but then thought that was a good spot to leave it? I grabbed some sticks and knocked it off before anything popped, but seriously people. You think rangers check those things or are we just lucky nobody got hurt?

2 comments

2 Comments

mitchell.wade1mo ago

Oh come on, you really think that little green canister was gonna pop off like a firework? Those things have a pressure release valve specifically so they don't turn into bombs. I've seen people throw whole empty propane tanks in their campfire for fun and nothing happens except they hiss a little. And you grabbing sticks to knock it off? That's probably way more dangerous than just leaving it alone, you could've sparked something or tipped the whole fire pit over. Honestly, the rangers probably appreciate having a full tank left there, saves them from having to carry one up themselves for their own coffee. It's just a piece of metal with some gas in it, not a ticking time bomb.

haydenburns1mo ago

Ngl Mitchell bringing out the "pressure release valve" like he's a certified propane engineer was comedy gold.