{"id":6706,"date":"2022-09-20T06:02:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T06:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asnes-academy.com\/uncategorized\/firing-up-the-stove-in-winter\/"},"modified":"2022-12-21T21:08:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:08:45","slug":"firing-up-the-stove-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asnes-academy.com\/en\/mountain-and-safety\/firing-up-the-stove-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Firing up the stove in winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kKoZLIg0MMk<\/div><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n

Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Get out of the wind: save fuel, be efficient<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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If you fire up in the tent, ventilation is paramount!<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Crush snow\/ice before you start melting \u2013 the larger the surface, the faster it melts<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Always reuse hot water for something \u2013 fill a flask, use as a hot water bottle<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Drink! Cold temperatures reduce thirst \u2013 but get your fluids<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gimme shelter<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Strong winds can make cooking difficult. If you fire up the burner outdoors, take shelter in the lee of huts, boulders or large trees. Or find your shovel and build a windbreak from snow.<\/p>\r\n

Many of us would say: \u201cI\u2019ll cook in my tent, thanks. That\u2019s what tents are for.\u201d But the manufacturers of tents and stoves would say you should keep your stove well away. Check the instructions \u2013 cooking in your tent is totally prohibited.<\/p>\r\n

You can see where they\u2019re coming from. You can burn your tent down. Injure yourself. Put your life in peril.<\/p>\r\n

Sometimes, however, there\u2019s simply no other option. If it\u2019s possible to cook outside your tent, you should probably do that\u2026 but if you have to cook in the awning, you have to really know what you\u2019re doing. Be familiar with your burner. And start with these safety rules:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n\u2022 Start by digging a snow-hole in the awning.\r\n\u2022 Make sure there\u2019s good ventilation.\r\n\u2022 Keep a constant eye on the flame.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The vast majority of us who spend time in the mountains sit inside the tent when we have to melt snow and cook. Many people, however, think that it\u2019s not crucial to get the Primus itself out of the wind \u2013 which is missing a crucial trick. The windbreak has another important function: it prevents heat from dissipating from the ring, keeping it concentrated around the pan. This helps to reduce both melting and boiling times. You use a lot less fuel this way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The same applies when it comes to lids as well. Always keep the lid on the kettle. Wasting energy is not just slow. It\u2019s a waste of planet. Let\u2019s not do that!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Stove-tray<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A flat stove-tray to put your burner on is a must. It helps to keep everything steady and straight on the snow, which makes using your stove a bit safer. You can use anything flat, or make one from plywood if you can\u2019t find anything; plywood\u2019s easy to get hold of and easy to cut to size.<\/p>\r\n

You might want to make it little oversized \u2013 this gives you somewhere to put down a boiling kettle without immediately cooling it (or melting a groundsheet\u2026)<\/p>\r\n

Ventilation in the tent is perhaps the most important thing to talk about here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Stove-plate and ventilation \u2013 two important factors for firing up the stove in winter.\r\nPhoto: Crister N\u00e6ss v\/ \u00c5snes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

CAUTION!<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The process of simply covering the flame with a pot serves, effectively, to cool it. This can contribute to what\u2019s called \u201cincomplete combustion\u201d \u2013 a process that contributes to the production of carbon monoxide. This is an odourless, and pretty deadly, gas that we don\u2019t want in our tent. Ventilation\u2019s absolutely crucial. If there\u2019s no wind outside, you can simply leave the door open. If the weather outside\u2019s bad, bes sure to ventilate every five minutes: open the door long enough to replace the air inside the tent.<\/p>\r\n

Carbon monoxide alarms are easily available, luckily, for some extra security. They can warn you when things get a little too poisonous. We\u2019ve used these ourselves on longer expeditions, or when we\u2019re responsible for several people. We have enough to think about without poison gas in the mix.<\/p>\r\n

Carbon monoxide\u2019s heavier than air, incidentally. It\u2019s not a good idea to lie down with the door closed, waiting for the snow to melt, or to lose yourself in a good book. For obvious reasons to do with being poisoned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A badly ventilated tent increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.<\/p>\r\n

Fatigue, dizziness and headache are the initial signs. If there\u2019s more than one of you in the tent, keep a close eye on each other. If you\u2019re alone, then you should really know what you\u2019re doing if you light a stove inside. Avoid it, preferably; but if you must, be rigorous.<\/p>\r\n

The first signs of high carbon monoxide levels are usually your flame beginning to pulsate and \u201cbark\u201d. With the burner placed in a hole, this effect will appear even earlier due to the lack of oxygen. This is potentially a life-saving indicator. If the pulsation and \u201cbarking\u201d increase, make sure to ventilate properly. Open the doors to the tent. Ventilation is your best friend.<\/p>\r\n

Lightweight tents are made of synthetic materials, all of which are highly flammable. So you must be sure that the stove\u2019s stable (standing on a plank or a tray) and that nothing flammable (seating mats, down jackets, sleeping bags, and so on) are nearby.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Good ventilation when you fire up is vital.\r\nPhoto: Crister N\u00e6ss v\/ \u00c5snes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How much fuel should I take?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Another question that commonly arises is that of how much fuel you should take with you. How much does a person spend per day on a winter trip?<\/p>\r\n

As a good rule of thumb, 2.5 dl per person, per day.<\/p>\r\n

This is more than enough for melting and cooking and a little to spare as a reserve. The exact amount depends on the type of stove, the outside temperature, and the time you spend cooking. Our recommendation is based on the fact that we\u2019ve never run out of fuel when we have had a minimum of 2.5 dl per day \u2013 ever!<\/p>\r\n

You can buy petrol for petrol burners in sports shops, mostly in 1 litre bottles. You can also buy it at petrol stations in 4 and 5L canisters (4 stroke environmentally friendly petrol, the same type used for lawnmowers). Fuel labelled 4 stroke has no added oil<\/strong>. It\u2019s what you want to avoid getting soot everywhere and the risking of damaging your burner in the long run. Larger quantities work out cheaper if you get through a lot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHOT TIP\r\nSave energy and keep warm<\/strong>:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\r\n\r\nOnce you\u2019ve boiled water, don\u2019t throw any away. Pour it into a flask or food container. You can later use it to make your next meal or hot drink.\r\n\r\nYou can also use the flask as a hot water bottle to keep you warm overnight<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>Keep it by your feet or around your groin.<\/div>\r\n
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Drinking is essential in low temperatures. We don\u2019t just mean a nice mug of warming hot chocolate. It\u2019s about fluid intake. When it\u2019s cold, thirst is reduced; it\u2019s easy to drink less than you need. But your body needs to be protected against dehydration. In turn, this also prevents the risk of both frostbite and hypothermia.Despite all these risks and stuff to bear in mind, winter tours are very rewarding. I love them. Nature\u2019s more intense. There are fewer people. It\u2019s like clearing out the brain. Give it a go!\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n