I went with the stove cause fire bans are common in the summer in Northern Ontario (Where I camp the most) so decided to get the stove. Plus easier to light a fuel based stove then look for wood after a long walk.

Dimitri

That it is. Wood can be somewhat of a pain if it is damp. I hate to have to dig down to the bottom of a pile of wood or brush for anything dry enough to burn.

Cary

Before I decided that roughing it means Motel 6 I did a canoe trip where we used the Fist Need for water filtration. It was great, really easy to use. I was able to use the thing with my broken arm and had no problems. We also used the small peak one when we couldn't us the wood for a camp fire. Having the filtration system is easier than halling the bleach which if too much gets into the water it gets nasty.

Kindof on the topic. Do you guys bear bag? When I was on the never ending canoe trip we did and found that it worked great for keeping bears out and was really entertaining watching the chipmonks get to our bagels. If it worth trying to bear bag or hope that they just don't get to it.

You'd think I would considering I camp in a area with ALOT of starving black bears, but I never did it.

By the way you shouldn't judge the outdoors on a single bad trip. Should try it out again but this time perpare yourself alittle better.

Dimitri

Cary...I'm a camp fire gourmet cook...Just a lot of the places I go with or without horses demand No open fires. Ever seen douglas firs burning out of control or tree topping fires...?

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By the way you shouldn't judge the outdoors on a single bad trip. Should try it out again but this time perpare yourself alittle better.

Didn't say that it was after that trip. It was a really fun trip. Try canoeing with a broken arm and a banged up knee, puts it in a whole new light (the injuries were pre trip). I had camped from the time I was little, first deer hunting trip I was still in my mommy, so it's been a long time for me. I just stopped camping when all of my injuries caught up with me, around my freshman year of college. When your 19 and falling apart you tend to decide that Motels are best. Sleeping on the ground I end up with so much pain that I need a vacation from the vacation. As for prepaired I could more than likely set a tent faster and start a better fire than most. If it don't start with one match you did it wrong.
I do miss camping but then days like today hit with the wind and all those old stupid pains start to bother me where getting out of bed even hurts to make me think twice about doing it again.

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Ever seen douglas firs burning out of control or tree topping fires...?

Not in person but have you ever seen a Palm Tree go up. Really pretty but doesn't last long.

Fire bans in Ontario and the BWCA is why I started to use gas stove also Dimitri.

I can light a fire with one match too tinker, so, since I know that I can, I tend to light fires the old Indian way, with a little gas for starters.
Which reminds me of when my Wife and I were engaged, I took her on a canoe trip. I was starting a fire for the evening, and she, being the "old girl scout" told me to start it with "tenders". I said that I start fires the old Indian was and proceeded to put a might too much gas on it.
I think that this was the first time that she called me a "dumb ass"

Eric

Singe the ol' eye brows a bit did ya?

Well the one match was when the other parents and kids were around. In the morning a little white gas and dad's very small lighter/blowtorch is what worked best. And the one match started when we only had 5 matches for a weekend trip.

I have never figured this...I know how to make or build a survivers fire, but why? I have matches. I have a bit of gasoline, diesel or my Coleman two burner white gas stove and a fireplace lighter. So why bother? Maybe if I need to I will...

I have used the "proper" way to start fires, but mainly use the method Eric discribes as the Indian way, although I'm sure I dont use as much gas as he does. Considering I use a medium sized lighter fluid container for a few days worth of fire starting.

Dimitri

It was July 4th weekend, and the weather was hot and humid.
The gas fumes kind of spread out on the ground, and when I lit it, we had a circle of blue flame around us.
Luckily, I didn't set Washington Island on fire that day.
The only reason that I was out camping at all in the middle of summer with heat, bugs, and the walleyes not biting was over active hormones.

Didn't even get lucky that weekend. Dang Italian girl had "morals"

Eric

ElyBoy wrote:

Didn't even get lucky that weekend. Dang Italian girl had "morals"

Well you did marry her so you couldn't have been that upset.

Anyone ever try those magnisum fire starters ?? I think they are the biggest waste of time in the world. The energy taken to scrap off enough to start a fire in my opinion is too much especially for the "survival"/"emergency" situations your supposed to use them in.

Dimitri

ElyBoy wrote:

Didn't even get lucky that weekend. Dang Italian girl had "morals" Eric

She would be the first...

ElyBoy wrote:

I think that this was the first time that she called me a "dumb ass" Eric

I'm wondering if the 2 are related.....