With the fire ban in Colorado this year, I am leaving the wood stove at home. I have a kerosene stove but it's not designed for packing, anybody have any suggestions on what works good for general purpose cooking and heating a big tent other than wood? It's gotta be tough and easy to pack on a horse.
Leif

Are you any relation to Cliff Wold who does BWCAW outfitting?

Leif

are you willing to pack in propane? If so one of the 2 burner coleman/optimus stoves might work. We use ours sometimes to heat a 8X16 plywood shack we use in Canada during the moose season.

There are also those propane "heaters" that can double as a one burner stove/toaster. I've used them in canvas wall tents in the bush in late fall and early spring in Canada

regards
RH

[ 07-26-2002, 15:59: Message edited by: rockhead ]

The very first thing that came to mind was "buffalo chips."

Hey, worked for the Native Americans. You asked.

Russ

I wouldn't be so quick to give up on wood burning stoves, I see no hazard with them if you have a proper fire screen on the chimney...and it's the only stove that will work in cold weather in a wall tent...and wood is the only decent fuel if your packing in on horses...

Unfortunately, the USFS made the decision not to use the wood stove for me. Maybe they will lift the fire ban prior to the opener.
I don't know the outfitter, lots of branches on my family's tree, tho.
Leif

Leif,
The USFS does this evey year about this time, but they will lift the ban if at all possible..I cannot remember when they held it through hunting season in Idaho, Colorado or Montana..Open campfires yes, but not stoves as I recall...or you can wait until you get a light snow then they will lift it for sure....I could be wrong on this, but like I said I don't recall closure.

Every year hunters die in their sleep from propane stoves, catalitic burners and even charcoal briquits in closed tents, so use a bit of caution here...

Were I in a position of not being able to use a wood stove then I would not pack in, at least not very far. I would prefer to camp low and perhaps set out a spike camp farther in with a propane or kerosine cook stove only (not for heat)..but a Kerosine latern or two will heat a small tent to a great degree..

On second thought I'd just wait until it snows a bit, besides I don't hunt elk until I have a tracking snow....

They make a hot air "furnace " that burns propane out side the tent,one of these could be adapted to fit and work on a Coleman white gas stove.If Ed and I ever get a quiet afternoon shift together,I'll make one.A lot more compact than a tin airtight.I rather hunt than chop wood.

I'd rather pack an axe or a chainsaw than 10 to 20 days worth of propane, I don't have enough horses.

Good advice Ray, I'm taking the young 'uns with me this year, so I have to make ethical choices. (Not saying I always don't).
I love my ammo can stove, it's quite a piece of work.
Leif