Help! My Canister Stove Won't Work!
So, you've taken the dive into winter backpacking and things are lopoking great; the views are spectatcular, you have the trails to yourslef, you've found some amazing UnNew gear to help you through like a winter rated sleeping pad and some down booties to help keep your feet cozy. Now, you've finally landed on a camping spot for the night. You're nestled between rocks and trees to block out wind, and the landing is flat. And now that you're cozy and camp is set up, you begin to make a well desereved dinner...but wait....the stove isn't lighting! Why is this happening you might wonder frantically, and what do you do?! Today, we're here to talk all about it.The Why
Many fuel camnisters we pack along with us are comprised of either Butane, Isobutane, Propane, or some mix of the three. This is important to know because each liquid fuel requires a different temperature in order to vaporize and produce the nessecary gas to start a flame. The boiling point of each are: Butane = 31°F Isobutane = 11°F Propane = – 44°F When temps drop (typicallyin the evening/early morning when you're getting ready to cook), the liquid is at a temperature so low that it cannot boil and thus, cannot vaporize to emit the gas needed for burning. But there are solutions out there!Solutions
Don't panic! You're not SOL. The quickest and easiest thing to do if you're already winding down at camp is to warm the casiter with your body heat or any sort of hand warmer you might have with you. **Use the hand warmer methond slowly and carefully as to not over presurize the can; the can and will burst if overheated.** When you're finished cooking for the night, be sure to place the canister in your sleeping bag or down jacket overnight to ensure it's ready to go in the morning. If you're readying this prior to actually embarking on your trip, finding a camp stove that will hold the fuel canister upsidedown will also ensure proper functionality. When the liquid fuel is help upsidedown, then the actual liquid is what fuels the flame rather than the vapor. Alternativley, finding a fuel with a higher propane or isobutane percentage will also help ensure your fuel stays useful as these have the lowest boiling points.Winter trekking/backpacking can be a real challenge when you add in the cold, but fruitful and worthwhile nonetheless. If the thought of cooking in the frozen backcountry has been keeping you from doing it, we hope these simple tips can change your mind to get you out there. Have fun, be safe, keep your cans warm, and we'll catch you out there!