We started out with the notion that only girly-men used stoves. That "roughing it" mentality lasted maybe 7 years or so. I know I caught hell the first year I brought a stove. That was the year a fly, that stove and the same 3 pristine packages of freeze-dried everyone made fun of for a week, avoided what would have otherwise been a miserable night. They all came out of their soggy little tents after a little prodding only to rave about freeze-dried Mandarin Orange Chicken and the stove.

These days I cook over what works best for the situation and dish. If half the meal is prepared over the fire while the other half is on the stove all at the same time, that works just fine for me. It's more a question of the right tool and mood.

Coffee? Fire makes much better coffee but the stove is easier. If the last pot was made over a fire, I know it'll have one more great tasting brew left in it for the camp stove or even my electric stove at home.

I seem to recall this from somewhere... and one of you may likely be able to dispute it...but I think that from an environmental standpoint, burning ISO butane or propane is actually more environmentally friendly that burning wood for a campfire meal.

Counter intuitive, I know. (and I could be full of loon crap).

The Beaver

For the past 5 years at least I have used a propane 2 burner stove to cook.  It is so much easier than finding firewood.  Sure, we have to carry the canisters and stove.  Each canister lasts 2 days. 

If we want a night fire , then we go find wood.

In my opinion part of fun of camping is having a fire to set around and talk about the days events and any other topic that may arise.  So you might as well cook on the fire as well.

Solus wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2009 at 4:43pm:

That's an interesting point. So what about a wood fire considering that same Carbon will be released by burning or rotting anyway, no?