Stoves for Cold Weather

Here’s a common question:  “It’s cold; will my gas stove work OK?”  Well, it depends.  The most common gas stove out there is the “upright” canister stove.  This is the type of gas stove that screws directly into the top of a standard threaded gas canister.  Common examples of upright canister stoves would include the MSR Pocket Rocket, the Optimus Crux, and the Jetboil PCS.

The Optimus Crux, an upright canister stove

The MSR Pocket Rocket, an upright canister stove

They’re light, they’re compact, and… they don’t handle cold weather well.  So, am I out of luck if I’ve got an upright canister stove?  Maybe not — if you use a couple of “tricks.”  First off, sleep with the canister in your bag.  Yeah, sounds weird I know, but think about it.  Cold fuel = doesn’t work = cold breakfast.  That would be bad.  Warm fuel = does work = hot breakfast.  That would be good.  Your choice, but I’ll take a hot breakfast on a cold morning every time — and I sleep with the canister.  For the evening meal, put the canister inside your jacket an hour or so before supper.

OK, great, but isn’t the canister going to get cold as I use it?  Yep, so it’s time for trick two:  with your first bit of gas warm up some water in a spare pan and then put the gas canister in the pan of warm water.  Slightly warm, not hot.  It shouldn’t hurt when you stick your finger in the water.  Truthfully, any water will improve things so long as it remains liquid, but warm water works better than cold.  Do your cooking while you’ve got the canister in the warm water, and you should have pressure throughout.  Stick a foam pad or something insulating underneath the pan of water so the ground (or snow) doesn’t suck all the heat out.  It also helps if you start your trip with a fresh canister and you get a canister with as little regular butane as possible.  Regular butane liquefies at 31F.  If you have a gas stove, you don’t want your fuel to turn into a liquid.  In cold weather, avoid regular butane.  Look for canisters that are a blend of propane and isobutane.  Isobutane is a different form of butane that works better in the cold.

An MSR Pocket Rocket sitting in a pan of warm water on closed cell foam

How well are these two tricks (along with a fresh canister of good gas) going to work?  Well, a lot depends on the exact mix of gas you buy, the altitude, how much wind there is, etc, but just for a working number, I wouldn’t try to go lower than 20F with an upright canister stove and even then you may still struggle.  Oh, and before you place yourself in harm’s way, practice these tricks on a trip where there’s less at stake.  Don’t rely on an untested technique deep in the backcountry.

If you’d like to know a little more about what’s going on with gas in cold weather and what types of stoves will work well in what weather, check out the following post on my blog:  How gas works and winter choices.

Going lower than 20F?  Well, in that case, you’re pretty much going to have to give up on the idea of using an upright canister stove; you’re going to need something a bit more robust.  Again, I’ll refer you to the above post on my blog for general information.  You may want to check out some my other blog posts for specific recommendations for stoves for cold weather use

One final note:  If you’re new to cold weather backpacking, don’t just rely on this article before you head out into cold country.  There’s a lot more to it than just having a good stove.  It’s best to go with someone who’s got experience, and always leave a trip plan with someone you can depend on.  Let ‘em know where you’re headed, when you’ll be back, who you’re with, and all that sort of thing.

Now, get on out there and have some fun, would you?

Possible stranger speaking via walkie talkie to Clementine

Today I am aware inside a short while this website submit will probably be obsolete yet merely swiftly just before it really is comfirmed, which you think the particular unknown person covertly conversing with Clementine from the Walkie Talkie?

 My partner and i imediatly valued Gleen leaving behind the particular party with all the Walkie Talkie inside his / her Chicken wings Automobile (yes, that's my own identify regarding it) My partner and i looked at the particular possiblite which it has been your pet but My partner and i heard the particular words with the unknown person once more researching that to be able to his / her but recognizing just how diverse it really is.

It could not be described as a persona previously came across inside the video game and also it's one more fresh persona who's the particular prospective to participate the particular party. You should go over the considered under inside the opinion package thingy.

Rigging a Prowler Big Game

I've touched on a few rigging bits here and there throughout my blog, though it's quite scattered so it seems like a good idea to try and tie as much as possible together in the one article.

When the kayak arrived it was quite basic to say the least, the seat needed attaching and that was about it. There was a centre cover between your legs when it the seated position, though it actually offered very little in the way or storage, it was ok for a few smaller items. A point to note is that it's not officially watertight so I'd not recommend putting car keys or mobile phones in there.

 

The first thing I tackled was the anchor system. A trolley system was to be fitted to the left hand side (purely as I'm left handed) utilising as many of the existing fittings as possible. A lot of surfing on theinternet was done picking the brains of other folk. A couple of pulleys and carbine hooks were purchased, along with several metres of black cord and a short length of bungee cord. Time was taken, using masking tape to position the trolley, several options were tried before I finally settled on a design.

The photos below show the general layout, with a loop of bungee cord at either end to help absorb some wave action, making the 'ride' somewhat smoother. Each loop of bungee was attached to a stainless pulley. The pulleys support the actual anchor trolley which is made from strong cord of around 4mm. A carbine was fitted to the trolley to allow my anchor set to clip on and off quickly and easily, and to position the anchor as required, i.e fore or aft.

A zigzag cleat was also fitted to allow the trolley to be locked inposition when anchored, in order to prevent potential slippage of the trolley which could be dangerous. Towards the front of the trolley, though still reachable from a seated position, a standard cleat was fitted to allow recovery of the anchor, a plastic one was originally fitted, though this was later updated to an alloy item.

Anchor Trolley System 

  
 
 
 

The anchor itself is a simple affair, a 1.5kg grapnel anchor with a metre of chain attached to the main line of a 'ratchet type' dive reel with a buoy threaded onto the main line. A short length of rope attaches the reel to the anchor trolley system with the use of another carbine. This is clipped to the carbine that already exists on the anchor trolley. The chain is permanently attached to the bottom of the anchor, whereas a weak link is used at the top. Should the anchor get stuck, a firm pull causes the weak link link to snap and the anchor to be recovered inverted. Sometimes the anchor is so badly fouled you wont get it back despite the use of a weak link!.

Should there be a requirement, the anchor can be un-clipped from the trolley and left in the water, thebuoy will always float enabling the dive reel and attached rope to be easily recovered and re-clipped onto the trolley. This is a valuable feature should you wish to pop back to shore for a moment, retrieve something that you've dropped and is floating away, or to assist another kayak fisher for one reason or another.

how to choose the perfect stroller!!

With so many stroller options on the market choosing just one can seem overwhelming. the stroller you choose has to fit with your lifestyle, so knowing what you want your stroller to do for you is key. what works well for your friend or sister may not be what will work well for you. a big part of determining the best stroller choice is knowing the type of terrain you will be pushing your stroller on. let’s face it, the climate in Saskatchewan is a bit harsh so getting out with baby can be challenging at times.

good questions to ask yourself to determine the best stroller for you are:

1. where will i use the stroller primarily? at the shopping mall, at the dog park, at the lake, in the city to my local coffee shop, traveling?

2.  do i want to use my stroller and car seat together as a “travel system”? if so what brand of car seat do i want/have?

3.  will i have more than one child using the stroller at the same time (siblings close together in age)?

xxx TYPES OF STROLLERS + THEIR BENEFITS xxx

+ BABY JOGGER VUE

LIGHTWEIGHT WITH COMPACT FOLD // great for travel, shopping malls or smooth (snow free) sidewalks. this type of stroller will be easy to fold up and put in your vehicle for outings and trips. this type of stroller typically will not take an infant car seat, so there is no “travel system” option. the wheels will be small so it won’t be great for pushing on rougher terrain.

+ BRITAX B-READY

URBAN HYBRID // this type of stroller typically has multiple options for seat position (facing in or out) and an option to add a second seat to it for 2 children. it will also accommodate an infant car seat for the travel system option, an additional purchase of a car seat adapter may be required. the wheels will be bigger than those on a lightweight stroller allowing for easier pushing through rougher terrain. the size of this type of stroller will still allow for easy use in stores but will take up a bit more space when folded in your vehicle.

+ BOB REVOLUTION SE

ALL-TERRAIN // if you want to be able to get out of the house and walk in all weather conditions, this is the stroller category you should be looking at. this type of stroller will have a 3 wheel design with larger wheels, as well as a suspension system. this will allow for ease of use on rough terrain. most will accommodate an infant car seat for the travel system option with the purchase of a car seat adapter. there will be an option to lock or swivel the front wheel giving the option for easier maneuverability (front wheel swivel) or the ability to push through deeper snow or sand (front wheel locked or fixed). this type of stroller is going to be heavier and take up more space when folded.

+ BABY JOGGER SUMMIT X3

JOGGING STROLLER // a jogging stroller will give you all the same options as an all-terrain stroller but with a bit a few added features. a “true” jogging stroller will have a hand brake on the handle bar. the wheels will be large so that the stroller is easier to push while running and track straight. the wheels will have a rubber tire with an inner tire tube, which will require a bit more maintenance than a foam tire. depending on the model of jogging stroller you go with, the front wheel may have the option to swivel or be fixed, but some jogging strollers just have a fixed front wheel. if this is the case, maneuverability in tight spaces will be difficult.

we do have several other options within these categories. come down and chat with one of us. we’d be more than happy to answer all your questions!