db wrote on Dec 27^th, 2010 at 8:17pm:


db, you need to share your fuel-conservation strategies with us. What kind of stove do you have?

I thought mt's one-bottle-for-three-days was pretty reasonable. It's what I'd usually budget for a two-person trip, and Ontario Parks uses it as a benchmark too: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) .

Joe_Schmeaux wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 12:47am:


Quote:

Ok. THOSE people are nuts!  

db wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 7:12am:


That does seem like way too much fuel for 21 days.  I've tried some of the smaller lighter backpacking stoves over the years, but always come back to my Coleman 533.  Like the Peak1, it is heavier, but darned near indestructible and can simmer things for hours on end.  During 11-day August solo, used about 2 pints of fuel--morning coffee every day, 5 bacon/egg breakfasts, couple of fish fries, and boiled water for two beef and chicken stew dinners with hot and sour soup.  Brought in one 33oz bottle and had about 1/2 left at the end.    

For 21 days, I would think you'd need 2 large bottles, maybe three in case of fire bans or lots of rain.  Might also suggest bringing in purifier tabs instead of boiling water for drinking.

pghportager wrote on Dec 29^th, 2010 at 5:43pm:


Funny.  3 weeks ago I bought a blue foam pad at Walmart for about $6.  Plan to make a "cold pack" for my eggs, bacon, pizza stuff using 1 gal frozen water milk jug.  Will have extra now for a cozy.  Thx for the tip.  
 

I think solotripper may have hit this tangential nail on the head again. I never really thought about it but ya, seems to me if flames are licking at the sides of the pot you're wasting limited resources. His other comments brought back some memories as well. Like why can't people work something that has all of the basic directions printed right on it? "so they didn't give a damn" ya, RTFM! Anyway.

This thread is entitled cozies and now that I think about it, the original reason my friends gave me crap about my paddle cozy was because of my stove cozy - that little padded orange sack that came with my first (brown) Peak1. Remember orange and brown being trendy colors for kitchens and/or some friend's mother with the flowered toaster/blender/? cozies and the living room no one was allowed to enter? (Maybe that was a Wisconsin thing.) Anyway, at the takeout Carol spotted my paddle cozy ... It's funny to this day. Too bad me and mine are spending new year's eve at home this year.

I doubt this story has changed much over the years but I know I've told versions of it before. It was two/three trips for us before anyone even considered taking a tarp much less a stove. (We were DUM-dumb but I did admit the tarp was a comfy addition.) A few years later I brought a stove it was like sacrilege. Oooh! And the three FDs - in the original packaging that went with it? Ouch! Every time someone would open the food pack they'd make some smart comment or another. Although I have to admit it was fun as I did it too.

That was a simple, 3x2 portage, base camping trip. Three couples, ten days. Two days in, days out. Botta Bing Botta Bang Botta Boom. Second last day, we packed up in a cold rain that didn't let up and we found ourselves windbound after the third portage. It was miserable and everyone hit their tents but it was way too early for me so I got out and set up the tarp, only to get cold and lonely. Hey, I had a stove in a cozy and the dreaded FD Mandarin Orange Chicken so I made up a batch and coxed my girlfriend out. Slowly but surely, they all proceeded to come out of their tents one by one to what they all say was the best meal they ever had. (Can't stand the stuff myself anymore - too spicy. It did hit the spot that day though.)

Once everyone's spirits were up, we sat under the tarp w/ an extra windbreak around an admittedly smokey fire ... shared the last of the libations ... one of my all time favorite BW/Q memories. We all learned a lot about what it takes to be comfy/happy that day. A little effort at the right time goes a long way. Saving a bit for the rest ... thinking ahead ... that's another good idea.

db wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 11:07pm:


DB,

That's a great story...thx for sharing.  Reminds me of my experiences with my boys 15 years ago when they were barely able to walk let alone canoe...and they still remember it better than I...