Know How CAMPCRAFT | TECHNIQUE | FOOD | EXPERT TIP | GEAR
[ Food ]
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire I
magine the implications of a “new” type of camp stove, the fuel for which is not only free
but readily available at every campsite. No more guessing how much fuel is left in a sealed can- ister, no more trips to the hardware store to re- supply, no more leaky bottles in the food pack and no more carrying around weeks worth of fuel or fretting over dwindling supplies. If not liquid fuel, then what do these new
stoves burn? Wood. The recent availability of two compact, wood-
burning camp stove models signals a renewed interest in an old idea. These stoves use a mod- ern design and battery power to burn wood ef- ficiently. Campers can enjoy their morning brew minutes after modest wood-gathering efforts. The WoodGas Campstove, available from Os-
trom Outdoors, and the Vital Stove, made by Sol- huma and distributed by Eureka, are leading the back-to-wood movement. Both models use small wood tinder for fuel, no armloads of firewood necessary. They work by employing fans to feed
NEW WOOD-BURNING STOVES ADD OPTIONS
the flames so they burn hot enough to turn the combustible smoke given off into a second heat source. The results are extremely efficient stoves that can kick out up to 20,000 BTUs in minutes. Wood stoves may offer a lighter and more
convenient means of cooking for those who avoid campfires or trip in areas where open fires are sometimes banned for fear of forest fires. Though the particulars of fire bans differ in each jurisdiction, the case can be made that these self-contained stoves are as safe as the gas stoves widely permitted. Though the units themselves are heavier and
larger than most gas stoves, the fact that no fuel supplies are necessary makes them easier to pack than their gas-powered cousins for trips of more than a day or two. They are well suited to small groups and those who have found tradi- tional stoves finicky. Enthusiasm aside, the stoves do have disadvan-
tages. The battery packs which also serve as the fan control units on both models should be kept
[ expert tip ]
Hump it with a Tump USE YOUR HEAD FOR SMART PORTAGING
F
or too many, carrying a canoe means suffering through grinding shoulder discom- fort and aching arms held high to balance the canoe. Make carries easier by adopt-
ing the tumpline method used by Aboriginals and early explorers. Set up your tump by attaching a leather or nylon strap to either end of your centre
thwart. For most canoes and carriers, the tump should hang to almost touch the bot- tom of the canoe when on the water. Use your normal method to hoist the canoe so the centre thwart (rounded for com-
Ready for the long haul. PHOTO: ANDREW FERGUSSON
22 SUMMER/FALL 2009
fort, if possible) is resting on your shoulders. Position the tump over your forehead with one hand so that the weight pushes down with your head and neck in a com- fortable position. The tump becomes a cushioning leaf spring that takes much of the weight off your shoulders and sends it straight down your spine, where it belongs. The tump may take a few portages to tune and get used to but it will take you to the good places: canoe, pack and paddle in one trip. » ANDREW FERGUSSON
The Campstove (left) and Vital Stove (right).
dry. The fan motors appear rugged, but as with all things electronic, hard impacts are a danger. Solhuma claims the Vital Stove will run for
eight hours at top speed on two AA batteries. Packing spare batteries is a good idea; there should be plenty of room in the pack that you used to use for extra fuel. » HARLAN SCHWARTZ
PHOTO: HARLAN SCWARTZ
PHOTO: IAN MERRINGER
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