Stoves on the AT - why?

[lebeda]

I read these forums and I am always puzzled by why people bring stoves on their thru hikers. Even the ultra-light ounce-counting folks would bring with them 10oz of stove and fuel. I have been backpacking since age 7 and never have carried a stove with me on any of my hikes (with the exception of Brooks Range in Alaska where in most places there just isn't anything around that would burn). Almost anywhere on the AT I can start a fire and boil a pot of water faster than with an alcohol stove. There really isn't a whole lot to it. Dig a small hole in suitable soil, set a pot over the hole keeping the pot handle between two rocks (at least as heavy as the full pot), and feed the fire. Keep the fire small. Water will boil in 5 min. When done, fill the whole with soil, spread leaves around, and nobody can tell you cooked there.

So I am wondering, why does almost everyone use stoves?

[ChinMusic]

Almost anywhere on the AT I can start a fire and boil a pot of water faster than with an alcohol stove.

If you are talking about having to make the alohol stove from scratch at camp I would agree.

Other than that, I call BS.

[Spokes]

If you are talking about having to make the alohol stove from scratch at camp I would agree.

Other than that, I call BS.

1+

You beat me to it ChinMusic.

[Hooch]

. . . .So I am wondering, why does almost everyone use stoves?

Hike your own hike, do your own thing, to each their own, etc.

. . . .I call BS.

Totally!

[Mrs Baggins]

Because finding dry burning material can be impossible sometimes?? Because they want to be absolutely sure of a hot drink/meal and not hope that they can find the right stuff to start a fire? Because they can??

[lebeda]

Because finding dry burning material can be impossible sometimes??

You don't really need dry material. Tiny dead pine branches will easily burn when wet. Once you get those going, the slightly larger sticks will burn easily wet as well - the water evaporates very quickly once in the fire. A lot of people won't believe me - but try it out yourself. Prepare a small bundle of wood sticks of varying sizes from tiny to pencil wide. Dunk the whole bundle in a creek for a minute. Then use it for a fire. You'd be surprised how easily you can get the wood to burn.

Because they want to be absolutely sure of a hot drink/meal and not hope that they can find the right stuff to start a fire?

You may not find enough dry wood right by a shelter, but all it takes is going 50 yards away to collect enough suitable dead wood. You don't need much.

Because they can??

Well, I'll give you that. That's probably the only reason I can think of.

[Alpine Jack]

+2 on the BS.

[4eyedbuzzard]

I read these forums and I am always puzzled by why people bring stoves on their thru hikers. Even the ultra-light ounce-counting folks would bring with them 10oz of stove and fuel. I have been backpacking since age 7 and never have carried a stove with me on any of my hikes (with the exception of Brooks Range in Alaska where in most places there just isn't anything around that would burn). Almost anywhere on the AT I can start a fire and boil a pot of water faster than with an alcohol stove. There really isn't a whole lot to it. Dig a small hole in suitable soil, set a pot over the hole keeping the pot handle between two rocks (at least as heavy as the full pot), and feed the fire. Keep the fire small. Water will boil in 5 min. When done, fill the whole with soil, spread leaves around, and nobody can tell you cooked there.

So I am wondering, why does almost everyone use stoves?

1) Bans on open fires.
2) Bans / restrictions on open fires except in established fire rings.
3) Availability of dry fuel
4) Convenience

[Pommes]

I read these forums and I am always puzzled by why people bring stoves on their thru hikers. Even the ultra-light ounce-counting folks would bring with them 10oz of stove and fuel. I have been backpacking since age 7 and never have carried a stove with me on any of my hikes (with the exception of Brooks Range in Alaska where in most places there just isn't anything around that would burn). Almost anywhere on the AT I can start a fire and boil a pot of water faster than with an alcohol stove. There really isn't a whole lot to it. Dig a small hole in suitable soil, set a pot over the hole keeping the pot handle between two rocks (at least as heavy as the full pot), and feed the fire. Keep the fire small. Water will boil in 5 min. When done, fill the whole with soil, spread leaves around, and nobody can tell you cooked there.

So I am wondering, why does almost everyone use stoves?

Leave No Trace.

[Luddite]

Leave No Trace.

+1

Thats the biggest reason.

Plus, fires get your pots all sooty. And who wants to look for fire wood everytime they want a hot meal?

[lebeda]

Leave No Trace.

The trick is to keep the fire small - no larger than the size of the pot. A hole 4'' deep is enough. When all done and covered with leaves and debris, there is absolutely no trace left.

[fiddlehead]

The trick is to keep the fire small - no larger than the size of the pot. A hole 4'' deep is enough. When all done and covered with leaves and debris, there is absolutely no trace left.

Now i sense a troll.
Covering your fire with leaves and debris.
Yeah right!

[lebeda]

Now i sense a troll.
Covering your fire with leaves and debris.
Yeah right!

Not a troll. I have been doing it this way for 25 years. I, of course, put out any hot embers with water. Then fill the hole with the dirt I dug out previously. Spread leaves around. No trace at all.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Not a troll. I have been doing it this way for 25 years. I, of course, put out any hot embers with water. Then fill the hole with the dirt I dug out previously. Spread leaves around. No trace at all.

Some 4 million people hike some part of the AT every year according to ATC. If only 1 million hike overnight and use your method, that's 1 million more fire scars every year. That's a big "trace", whether it's covered over for visual appeal or not. It's not just about one individual doing it, it's about diminishing the impact of everyone that uses the trail. To do so, everyone needs to cooperate and not make new fire sites, regardless of how small, and regardless of how minuscule their personal opinion of their impact is.

[ChinMusic]

Now i sense a troll.
Covering your fire with leaves and debris.
Yeah right!

He pees on it first.

[LoneRidgeRunner]

He pees on it first.

I'm surprised he didn't beat you to that one..lol...He has all the other answers...lol..

[Wise Old Owl]

Now i sense a troll.
Covering your fire with leaves and debris.
Yeah right!

no look at the number of posts - he's new.


back 50+ years ago - you would be right, make a fire carry a billy can and that was the way on the Govt. Trail. And finding fuel is easier today then back then. Why? before the fire service & having fire towers regular fires would remove all the debris and sticks leaving the trees. Hense the need for a small stove because collecting wood ment the stupid idea of breaking off live tree branches, if you could not find seasoned wood on the ground. Stoves got us all away from that, and the lack of backwoods fires has changed the landscape. Although a stove is part of the big four, It is still considered a big time saver and reduces the chance of setting a forest fire. Although you have a skill for making a hobo fire, many do not, could you imagine the risk if we all did what you do? I don't have a problem at all with what you are doing, but expect some harsh criticism on the AT if you are seen doing it by other hikers. That's my guess.\

It's more about the safety of the environment, so all can enjoy.

[Skidsteer]

...Although a stove is part of the big four, It is still considered a big time saver and reduces the chance of setting a forest fire.

Actually, no, a stove isn't one of the "big four".

Those would be pack, shelter, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag.

[Spokes]

no look at the number of posts - he's new.


back 50+ years ago - you would be right, make a fire carry a billy can and that was the way on the Govt. Trail. .........

Great point WOO. Makes me think the next bit of advice will be to dig a trench around your tent.

Too funny!!!!

[RGB]

The trick is to keep the fire small - no larger than the size of the pot. A hole 4'' deep is enough. When all done and covered with leaves and debris, there is absolutely no trace left.

Unless you wait for it to burn out completely, and then broadcast the ashes, it is still considered a pollutant.