Tiny snowflakes fall from fir trees, shimmering like diamond dust in the moonlight. The taunting winds and stinging snows of the day have been usurped by a clear evening stillness and cold moonlight. Dug into our snow kitchen, we seem close to the earth; more like hibernating bears than winter campers. A wood fire burns on the hard stamped snow 'counter' of our kitchen, melting snow for water to make our dinner while providing a bit of warmth. Cooking with a wood fire also makes the experience more primitive, but in a strangely familiar and comforting way.
Mountain trips in winter offer a dramatically different and rewarding experience. While the generally predictable and mild weather of summer makes for easier, safer and lighter weight travel, it limits your mountain visits to three or four months per year. Wouldn't it be enjoyable to have the skills to travel mountainous terrain in any season? Winter's harsher weather, unpredictable storms and avalanche risk make a more challenging experience.
However, winter's challenges come with the rewards of solitude, newness and the chance to learn new skills. In the winter, the mountains are yours alone. Their changed appearance will renew your enthusiasm for places you've already known in more pastoral conditions. Winter travel offers the opportunity to master a set of skills that elevate your abilities far above those of the fair weather traveler.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- An Introduction to Winter Travel
- Why Bother with Wood?
- Systems for Cooking over a Wood Fire in Snow
- The Open Fire
- Contained Fire "Stoves": The Caldera Cone and the Bush Buddy
- Challenges of Winter Wood Fires
- Pots
- Conclusion
# WORDS: 2200
# PHOTOS: 4
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Discussion
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Companion forum thread to:
Reducing Winter Pack Weight: Wood Fire Cooking in the Snow
Paul wrote:
"Average fuel usage: 3.57 ounces by weight of white gas per day, or just under 1.8 oz per person."
I work it out by time. I figure that I get four hours of full flame on 1 liter of white gas. That is roughly 8 ounces per hour consumed. So, I simply think in terms of how long it takes to boil and cook, and I can estimate the amount of white gas needed.
White gas is a lot cheaper than other fuels, except for wood twigs. For groups or for lots of snow melting, that might be important.
–B.G.–
Kevin…..did we ever set you up with the Inferno version of the Ti-Tri. For wood fires, works much better than the standard Ti-Tri.
Rand
Yes. It worked well but I didn't care for the sharp edges on the screen. If the screen could be reworked to have smoother edges AND fit inside of the plastic tube it would be a better system.
Got it….assuming the "screen" you are referring to is the "grate"…..should be no problem. As to fitting in the tube….it is kinda designed to fit in the pot…..depending on the pot/mug size, some will go in the Caddy…..
Rand
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