​Habits Breaking Camp?

[Odyssey]

What is the stance on twig stove use during fire bans?

No open fires of any kind during a fire ban in Ontario. That includes twig stoves if I understand the regs correctly. Fuel stoves are okay. Although it's been ages since we've tripped during such restrictions I've always respected them. In such instances my twiggy would stay home and my Peak 1 would make the trip. I have an alcohol stove that also might be okay.

 

[lowangle al]

On our last trip we had not only the fire box to cook on, but the wood stove in the tent as well!! I don't remember the last time I brought along a gas stove for cooking. Some other people in our group some time do but I rarely use them. I do everything on the fire, that is what I prefer!!

I haven't taken the double burner in years. I never used it anyway, my wife did and that was the beauty of it. It was easy for her on the roll up table and she liked that her hands stayed clean. We've had to cutback on the weight we carry since we're older and don't get out as much. We also plan for easier to prepare meals that wouldn't justify bringing it. The most cooking we do now is frying some eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches, everything else is precooked and frozen or added to boiling water and we do that on a fire.

I would definitely consider bringing the double burner again if I was responsible for provisioning for a large group. There is a lot of energy in a can of gas.

 

[Grandpa Paddler]

No open fires of any kind during a fire ban in Ontario. That includes twig stoves if I understand the regs correctly. Fuel stoves are okay. Although it's been ages since we've tripped during such restrictions I've always respected them. In such instances my twiggy would stay home and my Peak 1 would make the trip. I have an alcohol stove that also might be okay.

There was an open fire ban in Algonquin (2012) and we were told we couldn't use our alcohol stoves unless they had an instant shut off valve.

 

[Odyssey]

There was an open fire ban in Algonquin (2012) and we were told we couldn't use our alcohol stoves unless they had an instant shut off valve.

That shut off policy makes sense I suppose, thanks Grandpa. The next time we trip during a fire ban I'll look into it before choosing stoves etc.

 

[Canotrouge]

I haven't taken the double burner in years. I never used it anyway, my wife did and that was the beauty of it. It was easy for her on the roll up table and she liked that her hands stayed clean. We've had to cutback on the weight we carry since we're older and don't get out as much. We also plan for easier to prepare meals that wouldn't justify bringing it. The most cooking we do now is frying some eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches, everything else is precooked and frozen or added to boiling water and we do that on a fire.

I would definitely consider bringing the double burner again if I was responsible for provisioning for a large group. There is a lot of energy in a can of gas.

But lot can go wrong with the gas stove... Forgot to fill up the can... forgot the stove... Forgot the gas... Have the stove and gas but not the hose.... I forgot to shut the gas off last night so no more gas this morning.... Parts fall off, break down, etc etc... It all happen to us(not me lol) over the years... So if a camp stove is coming on a trip, it is a Trangia or twig stove!! But usually just the fire box, 100% reliable 100% of the time!!

 

[lowangle al]

I would still have my grill if it failed.

 

[Odyssey]

The campsite we stayed on last week had no grill. It wasn't an issue for us because I used my twig stove, but it was the first time that I can recall not finding a multitude of old grills laying around. It got me thinking about another gear item purchase. A grill.

 

[Guest]

The campsite we stayed on last week had no grill. It wasn't an issue for us because I used my twig stove, but it was the first time that I can recall not finding a multitude of old grills laying around. It got me thinking about another gear item purchase. A grill.

Purcell Trench Grill.

http://www.purcelltrench.com/grills.htm

Yes, pricey. Also worth every penny for the last grill you will ever buy. The only question is which model.

 

[Canotrouge]

No Title

Purcell Trench Grill.

http://www.purcelltrench.com/grills.htm

Yes, pricey. Also worth every penny for the last grill you will ever buy. The only question is which model.

I like to try one of them, a stream side voyageur for our family would work great...
Something I cary along on trips for lunch break where the fire box is not needed, is these fire stakes, they work great!! You can adjust the size for different pots...

 

[Odyssey]

Those Purcells look nice, and those fire irons are cool. But for now I'm gonna check my beer fridge for any spare grills. lol

 

[Guest]

Those Purcells look nice, and those fire irons are cool. But for now I'm gonna check my beer fridge for any spare grills. lol

Um, err. . . . .

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1929634/

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101006222456AA9cnlk

 

[Odyssey]

Good to know!

 

[Andy Sz]

I once left a camp chair behind, hung neatly on a tree in its bag. Two reasons I left it behind, first, leaving that day the wind was howling and I didn't want that piece of equipment strapped on my deck. I was paddling a kayak. The other reason was I found the chair to be immensely uncomfortable. May not be to another. As I write this, memory of the day returns. Mike McCrea, took the chair and stuffed it in his boat! This all happened at Assateague on a cold windy day in February many years ago!

 

[Odyssey]

I see a degreased repurposed cut down BBQ grill in my future. That'll be an easy hack. I've never liked cooking things directly on the grill anyway. I'm a pot and fry pan person in camp. Aluminum foil is our luxury (packed out).

But speaking of camp chairs, after our most recent trip our focus is on new chairs...light weight and with legs. Our legless stadium seats are a pain in the you-know-where.

 

[Canotrouge]

I see a degreased repurposed cut down BBQ grill in my future. That'll be an easy hack. I've never liked cooking things directly on the grill anyway. I'm a pot and fry pan person in camp. Aluminum foil is our luxury (packed out).

But speaking of camp chairs, after our most recent trip our focus is on new chairs...light weight and with legs. Our legless stadium seats are a pain in the you-know-where.

We did upgrade from "stadium" legless seating to super light camp chairs with legs... and man I wouldn't go back!!!
We have the Travel Chair brand and they have been really good so far!!

 

[Seeker]

No Title

Aside from the excellent techniques mentioned above, I try to leave a decent pile of firewood (tinder, kindling, and wood; if you need it, you need all of it). If I've been at the site for a day or longer, I usually have a huge pile anyway.

I also like to leave a "Chicken Stick" or Spike Troll... I whittle a lot, and these are stupid easy to make, especially the trolls (really just a try-stick with a face.) I usually leave it in the firepit, usually between some rocks, occasionally stuck right in the middle. Here are two from several years ago. If you get a better fork, the tail comes out more realistically and with a better feather spread.