An Alternative, Alternative Fuel

Last trip I was wind bound for D A Y S. Some of it rainy. My standard stove has been a twig stove, with a butane canister backup. On the promontory I was camped, something unusual and unexpected happened: I ran out of forest litter. Then there was the wind, which I dealt with in the usual manner, then came torrential storms. I used my pocket rocket for a meal (boiled a pot of water), but subsequent attempts with the PR were fruitless. The fuel would not come out of the can. I could feel it wasn’t empty (it had weighed full before leaving). This was particularly frustrating when the sticks were used up. So I never was in love with those canisters, but a full canister weighs significantly less than white gas, so that became my backup. What fuel sources do you use and how do they do on size, packed weight, durability and fuel availability? My pocket rocket seems durable enough, while my old dragonfly required maintenance, field repairs and heavy fuel. Not in love with the cans though.

I used to use a twig stove and started out using forest litter and small twigs and found that I had to be almost constantly feeding it. I found I got better burn times using wood I processed for that purpose. It was a fraction of the work that it would take to process wood for a campfire because of the small volume of wood needed. For example, a dead branch three feet long and 3 inches in diameter cut into short lengths and split was enough wood to cook more than a couple meals. So, for just a little effort processing wood your twig stove will be more efficient. I also carried a small stuff sack (about the size of a coffee can) full of that processed wood in my pack so I didn't have to rely on finding wood when I got to a campsite. The smallest folding saw available is all you the equipment you need, you can baton the small wood easily with a knife.

Wood would still be my preferred fuel source in that situation. There have been plenty of times where I've processed mini-wood for my twig stove. It's usually pretty easy to find some dead limbs or dead standing saplings that are 2-3" diameter. I cut these into 3-4" sections and baton them into smaller pieces with my knife. It's quick and gives you a supply of dry wood for the twig stove that will give a longer and more even burn. It also gives me something to do when it's too wet and windy to paddle.

I often save some extra pieces of this, along with dry tinder, and put it in a zip-lock baggy in the food barrel. This gives me some dry fuel for 1-2 cooking fires in the twig stove on a rainy day. Or I can just use the dry stuff to easily start the fire and then keep it fed with wetter wood.

I carry an alcohol stove for backup and a minimum of fuel. On one big trip I went through a lot of wet and windy weather and continued to cook with wood because the alcohol stove was my emergency backup and it wasn't an emergency. I didn't break out the alcohol stove until over 30 days into the trip when I was fed up with the rainy weather and decided to cook in the vestibule of my tent. It was a real treat and completely changed my mood.

There is something to be said about starting fires in prolonged rain. It helps build confidence and feels like giving mother nature the finger.

Alan

Just to be clear about the issue, is that a butane canister or a butane/propane canister? Also what were the ambient temps like?

Alan Gage said:

Wood would still be my preferred fuel source in that situation. There have been plenty of times where I've processed mini-wood for my twig stove. It's usually pretty easy to find some dead limbs or dead standing saplings that are 2-3" diameter. I cut these into 3-4" sections and baton them into smaller pieces with my knife. It's quick and gives you a supply of dry wood for the twig stove that will give a longer and more even burn. It also gives me something to do when it's too wet and windy to paddle.

I often save some extra pieces of this, along with dry tinder, and put it in a zip-lock baggy in the food barrel. This gives me some dry fuel for 1-2 cooking fires in the twig stove on a rainy day. Or I can just use the dry stuff to easily start the fire and then keep it fed with wetter wood.

I carry an alcohol stove for backup and a minimum of fuel. On one big trip I went through a lot of wet and windy weather and continued to cook with wood because the alcohol stove was my emergency backup and it wasn't an emergency. I didn't break out the alcohol stove until over 30 days into the trip when I was fed up with the rainy weather and decided to cook in the vestibule of my tent. It was a real treat and completely changed my mood.

There is something to be said about starting fires in prolonged rain. It helps build confidence and feels like giving mother nature the finger.

Alan

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On my trip in BWCA last year, we had a lot of rain. All of the available wood was soaked 2-3" blowdown. I used the same process for feeding our campfire for cooking, but in longer pieces. I've carried a Pocket Bellows in my fire kit for a few years but that was the first time I really needed it. That piece of kit made all the difference in bringing the fire to life.

Alcohol stove as backup makes a lot of sense to me, even when using canister as primary. Thanks for bringing that up.

I don't know what could have gone wrong with your canister stove Black Fly but I still think it would be a good alternative. In a recent video from Jim Baird covering a 22 day barren ground trip, I was surprised that he used a canister stove as he usually used a single burner white gas one. He did almost 100% of his cooking on it and he was cooking for two people.

Cruiser said:

Just to be clear about the issue, is that a butane canister or a butane/propane canister? Also what were the ambient temps like?

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This is my question as well. To the OP, if this happens again, put your canister inside your coat or jacket to warm it and the contents up, then try again.

I've never had an isobutane stove fail me. But when temps are going to be much below freezing and especially at high altitude, I bring the white gas and MSR Whisperlite stove. That thing always always works. It does take some maintenance though.

I've never seen a canister fail like that in all the years I've used them, many times with as many as 4 individual stoves being used at once on group trips. I've seen many that had slow leaks after their first use, frozen up, or with bashed threads, but never one that refused to empty. All I can think of is that it might have somehow got scuffed in the dirt or other contaminants that plugged the coupler.
In above freezing temps I prefer one of the various butane mixes because it's lighter, less fussy, and safer- no pools of liquid fuel to ignite, both release vapours, though butane is carried away almost instantly by any breeze while gas will continues to create vapours as it evaporates.
Below zero I prefer naptha because cold isn't really a factor until you get to around -30, when it becomes hard to light without preheating, at those temps butane mixes refuses to evaporate at all- butane will not "boil" below -1C/ 30F and even the more esoteric mixes produce little pressure below about -10C (14F), although in my hot tent I often use a small butane lantern, and a butane stove as backup or perking coffee because the ambient temp is around 15-25C (60-80F).
Although I enjoy cooking over a wood fire, I rarely do because the extra weight of a saw and axe or hatchet is less enjoyable, as is the knowledge that I'll need to spend an entire afternoon after the trip cleaning all the carbon off my gear. Unless I'm car camping where I can use nearly all cast iron or grill cooking, the tradeoffs just aren't worth it to me.

Conventional fire works everywhere but extreme desert.

ppine said:

Conventional fire works everywhere but extreme desert.

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I guess you would call Craters of the Moon extreme desert. There was no way we were going to cook over an open fire at -10f and with 30 mph wind. Even the charcoal grill was a no-go. Lacking a windbreak, I even had a hard time lighting the Whisperlite. Maxed out, it did get the water boiling in reasonable time though.
What were we thinking?

Almost all my use is with an MSR Reactor stove, I usually buy Primus 1lb canisters, if only because they are the lowest price available. They also make a Winter Gas version (a couple of Dollars more), usually this means there is a higher propane content, the Primus also promotes their internal paper structure which assists in evaporation. This type of fuel is much better in cold weather although as you get further below 32f even it packs less of a punch. Unfortunately not many places carry the winter versions and most retailers won't ship them

It's you only have regular fuel, an insulated cozy will help, best way to safely warm the cylinder is to wrap your hands around it (easier with the large cylinders) just be prepared for "frozen" fingers. It was suggested to me to use those chemical hand warmer packs under the cylinder. Climbers at altitude keep the cylinders in there sleeping bags at night and inside their down suits during the day

The wrapping of hands thing also works in somewhat warmer conditions to get the last drops of fuel out of a cylinder.

I always carry at least 2 fuel cans. Possibility of the check valve failing and leaking all the fuel warrants that. I did have my MSR Pocket Rocket deluxe fail me when the grate fell out of the burner. The grate and mesh need to go back together in a very specific way or you get a crappy flame. Also theres no way in the field to get that tiny tube back on the igniter so you’ll need a lighter or ferro rod to get a flame. So my stove hasn’t been 100% reliable for me.

Usually a campfire is my primary cooking method with the stove as a backup. Handy just to quickly heat up some water for a cup of coffee or something. When backpacking I just use a twig stove. Can’t imagine not finding adequate twigs to burn in areas I camp.

Steve in Idaho said:

I've never had an isobutane stove fail me. But when temps are going to be much below freezing and especially at high altitude, I bring the white gas and MSR Whisperlite stove. That thing always always works. It does take some maintenance though.

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I've wanted to kill my Whisperlite a thousand times.........

Keeled Over said:

I've wanted to kill my Whisperlite a thousand times.........

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It can be fussy if you don't have the startup routine down. While on the subject, I'll mention that mine is old - I bought it back in the early eighties (maybe late seventies?). When the pump started to fail a few years ago, MSR had me send the whole stove in for a rebuild and upgraded pump...for just the cost of shipping to them.

I made on of these. It can burn twigs and sticks and splits an 1” in diameter and up. Last trip my friend put a big knot in it and that burned quite a while. It collapses down to about 8”x1”x1” if I remember correctly.


Jim

That looks really nice Jim. What are the dimensions when it's set up, and does it have a double bottom?

Yes it does have a double bottom and I think you can find the other dimensions here
Since three sides are solid with no air holes I found it very useful for heat/flame control. I was doing a bannock and wanted a low heat to cook it slowly. If it was too hot I spun it so the back was to the wind, too cool spin again so the breeze goes right in. The box was on the fire grate in the BWCA so it was easy to rotate.
Jim