Sierra Stove on CT

imported
#1

I plan to thruhike the CT this summer. I want to use a Sierra Stove, which burns small bits of wood (deadfall) rather than liquid or gas fuel. The fire is small and contained. Is this a good or a bad idea. Thanks.

Bruce Renfro

#2

Bruce, I have a sierra stove and I love the concept, but… The truth is that on a long hike, using it usually becomes a hassle. It also is not that lightweight or simple, circuits can be smashed etc… If a wood stove is your thing, I urge you to consider building this simpler and lighter weight design: http://wings.interfree.it/html/nomad.html so you can reap the total benefit of going without manufactured fuel. Now you don’t need to worry about batteries either… But unfortunately, wood collection, storage, camp selection etc. may still become a hassle. Not to mention that last year in particular, all wood fires were outlawed in the national forests of Colorado. If a ranger happened upon your camp and saw the stove, you may get chewed out if wildfire potential is high. I know it’s small and contained, but not as much so as other stoves. I suggest you seriously consider carrying a different stove for the CT. Alcohol soda can stoves (found on the same site I gave as link) work well for example. -Matt

Sweeper

#3

Sweeper once again has it right. Even if fires are allowed this year through the CT, I bet many people will get very uptight after last year’s devestating blazes in CO. Even my soda can stove got lots of comments in towns. Peolpe would ask me out front how I cooked my food. They all lost or almost lost their jobs, houses, forests. I would definately stick to a non-wood burning stove. I would also not plan on having very many campfires. We had 0. It’s very touchy there still, I hear. My v-8 can stove worked fine, despite the high altitudes and some sub-freezing nights. You do nee a little extra fuel, I found. But we managed the whole trail with 32 oz. of denatured alcohol b/tween 2 of us. We did have about 5 nights where we didn’t use it at all. I hope you enjoy the new data book, as I collected all the new data for it. If anything doesn’t jive, please let me and the CTF know. Even in a horrible drought, CO was bad to bone. You’ll have an amazing adventure!

THA WOOKIE

#4

Thanks Sweeper & Tha Wookie, what you say makes good sense. I love wood fires, even little ones, but CO evidently isn’t the place for that, esp. in light of the recent forest fires. I’ll turn my attention to other solutions, perhaps the little alcohol stove you mention. The Sierra Stove is an interesting idea, but it sounds like it would cause ill will, and God knows, we Texans don’t need any more bad press in CO. Thank you both for your sensible comments. Best, Bruce

Bruce Renfro

#5

I live in Breckenridge and wil be hiking the CT this year. Last year the fire ban guidlines were limited to “devices with and on/off switch only” Even though we have been getting a lot of snow there will be restriction again this year. We are currently at 110% of normal thanks to this weeks snowfall, but even with 150% of normal for two years we would still be in a drought.

I may be doing the trail with a Llama ($850 rental) and let him carry nearly everything…has anybody dones this?

~Fever

PackerFever