Stove for winter camping

Discussion in 'Stove Forum' started by Vegard_Norway, Feb 4, 2019.

  1. moxieman

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    I use a MSR XGK EX for winter camping in sub-zero temps. There are a few tricks that improve its reliability. The pump is left screwed into the fuel bottle, any pressure is bled from the bottle and then it is sealed in a plastic bag and I take it to bed with me to keep the pump warm.

    I use skin oil from my nose to lubricate the end of the fuel line before inserting it into pump in order to avoid damaging the o ring...using saliva can result in things freezing together. Using naphtha for fuel provides consistent priming, low soot and you don't have to carry separate priming fuel.

    The O ring where the fuel line inserts into the pump is the most common sight of failure. Before you leave home, take that O ring out and take it down to the hardware store...buy 3 or 4 for $0.40 each. Once you have returned home, lubricate the pump threads and re-install the O ring. Make sure to do maintenance on the pump and check function before leaving home.
     
  2. IvanN

    IvanN United States Subscriber

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    In winter I also default to an open fire for me (then my fingers work) and stick to a 00 for miscellaneous cooking, not done on a pointy stick. I don't seem to need it for kerosene, but I have a piece of Insulite pad to insulate the stove tank from the snow. Ivan
     
  3. HaakonJ

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    I normally choose the 111 for winter use, but for trips where I need to be a bit more concious about weight, I use my Høvik No. 41 or similar. If «not fiddly» is a criteria of yours, alongside good heat output and fairly light weight, my recommendation would be a Coleman stove like the Peak1 or similar. Great and simple stove to operate! I am not comfortable using white gas stoves in my tent in general (except maybe the Svea 123R), so I avoid the Coleman for longer trips.

    Svea 123 and 8R not only have a low output, but a small tank capacity as well. You would have to refill the tank often, which is a bit of a hassle in the field. Very sub optimal designs for melting snow and cooking in the winter time, imo.

    Good luck with your stove hunt!

    Cheers,
    Håkon
     
  4. Cookie

    Cookie United States Subscriber

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  5. Haggis

    Haggis Subscriber

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    Here, in Northeastern Minnesota, it’s hot tent country in winter, so there is a wood stove to cook on. When hiking in winter I just build a small fire as needed. Drinking water is most likely from a hole in the ice; ice fishing is certain to occur whilst winter camping. Even if a fella doesn’t fish, it’s easier to poke a hole in the ice than to melt much snow...

    Most liquid fuel stoves require some sort of assembling, disassembling, or refueling,,, I’d think a fella would just find his patience limit, and settle there? I like my Optimus 8r, and Svea 123 in all weather, but truth is, at -40, I’ll most likely build a wood fire wherever I stop. Warming me is as much a thing as warming my meal...
     
  6. OMC

    OMC United States Subscriber

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    Thank you Cookie,
    Of course you're right. That was an open question in February, meanwhile more details came in to CCS since then including XGK-EX was used on Colin's trek and a few other expeditions as well.

    In my same comment above I also mention '53 Everest Expedition use of model 210.. true but more details have come in on that front as well:
    Four small [No.210] and eighteen large [discus tank ] cookers were taken, holding 1 and 2 pints of fuel respectively. credit Ross, source thx again omc
    tag @Cookie
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2019
  7. itchy

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    I used an 8R to melt snow while climbing volcanoes in Washington State back in the day. A climbing buddy used his Svea 123. They both worked but were indeed slow.
    Even back then, the trend for the gearheads was to go with the more pricey MSR stoves (back when those were only option for fuel-bottle&hose stoves).

    As is always the case, the best choice will depend on other factors as well. If going solo, I think you'd be ok with the 8R, but a more powerful MSR/Primus/Optimus fuel-bottle stove is generally a better choice today.

    I would never rely on the hope that I would be able to start a wood fire for water and heat if I was skiing or snowshoeing into an area I had not recently scouted and provisioned. I did a hut to hut winter ski trip in Colorado. The huts had wood stoves -- but my 8R still did most of the snow melting and cooking. Finding large amounts of dry wood in deep snow and then getting it back to camp would have consumed more time and energy than it was worth. However, if one has room in the pack, one of the little twig-burner stoves that are now common might be fun since that fuel can often be collected from low-hanging dead branches.
     
  8. Haggis

    Haggis Subscriber

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    Building a fire in the northwoods is not so difficult, I do it literally everyday in winter here,,, once there is snow on the ground, and situations have made it safe... (I try to go for a 2-hour walk in the bush each and every day in winter,,, at 70, I need to stay active...)

    An 11 minute video of me making a tea fire on a walk with a Granddaughter,,, birch bark and twigs...

     
  9. Doc Mark

    Doc Mark SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Howdy, @Haggis ,

    Sweet Bride and I enjoyed your video, quite a bit. Your Grand-daughter looks like she already has a fair amount of woods skills, and that's a good thing. I note, there was very little wind that day, which helped a great deal, I'm sure. What do you do when it's really coming down, with heavy snowfall, rain, sleet, and high winds? I would think shelter of some kind, and a good Winter stove would be a better way to go, in those situations.

    We have used a variety of good stoves in such extremes, and prefer those with more power, rather than less. The few exceptions are the Optimus 81 Trapper, which I found to be in it's element when the wind was howling, and to a lesser extent (experience-wise), the Trangia stoves. I'm sure they would do well, just haven't used them enough in deep Winter to know, for sure. SB and I have used the 81 several times at high altitude, in bad weather, and it's always come through for us. Please note, the thin o-rings in the Safe Fill "can" be a problem if you're not careful with them, at very low temperatures. Other than the aforementioned stoves, we tend to stick with the MSR powerhouse stoves (X-GK, Firefly, Dragonfly), or the Coleman M400, or Optimus 111 family of stoves. With proper maintenance, those stoves have seen us through some very nasty situations, at high altitudes, and in deep Winter snowshoe camping.

    Thanks for sharing your own opinions, and your neat video! Nicely shot, by the way! What camera were you using to film your video? Take care, and God Bless! Take care, and God Bless!

    Every Good Wish,
    Doc
     
  10. itchy

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    @Haggis

    Nice video, looks like fun. I am not saying it cannot be done, especially if you are not up to your pits in snow when you take your skis/snowshoes off. I grew up in Minnesota and did some winter camping before I left, and we did have fires on some occasions. But I also brought my stove for overnight trips (an 8R because that was all I had).

    I just returned earlier this week from an 8-day canoe trip in the BWCA up your way. We had wood fires every night despite a couple of good rains. Still, I brought stoves and all were glad I did. Only one evening meal was prepared on the fire. The way I look at it is that if you are depending on a wood fire for everything, you could spend a hell of a lot of your time collecting wood rather than doing whatever else you planned to do while out there (such as relax).

    By the way, I am pushing 70 and also trying to keep active (and un-injured) -- for canoeing in the BWCA the kevlar canoes make all the difference. I did a couple of steep and rough 180-rod portages (0.9 km, 0.56 mi for non-Minnesotans) this trip and, had it been one of my old dependable aluminum canoes, I would not be looking forward to going again.
     
  11. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I used a bow drill to make an ember yesterday.
    My first friction fire, ever. A cool thing to do ... "I made fire".
     
  12. Haggis

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    @Doc Mark ,,, I’ve got a Trangia 25, 27, and 28-T,,, got a Svea 123 and a 123r, got an Optimus 8r, and a 99,,, got one or more of about every incarnation of Coleman piggyback stove. I do carry them on the odd occasion in winter, but my point here was that for a quick boil up, whilst out and about in winter, and small cooking fire of local wood is no challenge at all. Sometimes it’s necessary to find a place out of the wind for a fire, but again, it’s not difficult to find such a place. I really do like my stoves, couldn’t imagine not having them, and being able to use them, wouldn’t be on this forum if I didn’t enjoy stoves, but small wood fires I think have their place too...

    @itchy Ive been into the BWCA several times this year: May, June, and July, be going in again in September and October... And yeah, I even build wood fires when the snow is knee deep or more... I’ll be 70 in February, so you can bet I have a Kevlar canoe now,,, and that I carry a small white gas stove so I don’t need to build or tend a fire when I just want supper and a cup of tea...



    @snwcmpr Congrats on the friction fire,,, we’ll done sir,,, we’ll done indeed...
     
  13. Greeley

    Greeley United States Subscriber

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    Are those Steger mukluks you are wearing?

    Tom
     
  14. Haggis

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    Yes,,, I’ve a couple of pairs of them,,, pretty important around here in winter.
     
  15. afoton

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    A camp fire in the winter is no option for me, because where I am skiing, there are no woods. This picture is by the way in the middle of may.
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Retro Camper

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    I have used a 123R combined with a Camping Gaz Globetrotter pan set for melting snow for just myself. The advantages are that it is reliable, lightweight and gives off very little carbon monoxide. Disadvantages are that it is vulnerable to wind, could be a little unstable with the pans I used and isn't ideal for more than one person. I was snowholing so wind wasn't a problem but CO would be. Melting snow with powerful stoves can lead to quenching of the flame and lots of CO so something to look out for.
     
  17. Afterburner

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    @afoton I like Tarra for winter camping also. :thumbup:

    111 and 111T are my favorite stoves for winter camping. 111 for outdoor use and 111T inside on the tent.
     
  18. ArchMc

    ArchMc SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I used my 123 for melting snow for several years. It works, but it's slow going compared to more powerful stoves and you have to keep it off the snow. I used a scrap of ensolite pad for that purpose. I doubt any self-pressurizing stove will work well if it's sitting in the snow.

    ....Arch
     
  19. Retro Camper

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    I used a small, thick cork pad to keep the 123R off the snow. Another disadvantage I forgot to add is that the small fuel capacity means refilling is likely during snow melting and cooking. Definitely a one person stove for this type of work.
     
  20. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I reason Larry Penberthy developed the MSR stove was for melting snow for hydration. Not really for cooking as I understand it.
    We used an XGK in the tent to melt water for 2 or 3.