jspradley
WKR
I've not yet found the spot in Colorado where some bubba won't set up right next to me.
Well.... you gotta do what you gotta do to stay warm...
I've not yet found the spot in Colorado where some bubba won't set up right next to me.
I think I need a better bag. I'd rather carry an extra pound of sleeping bag than 3-4 lbs. of stove that I have to wake up and tend to all night. Correct me if that's flawed logic though.
I doubt I'll venture into late season backcountry hunting. Maybe, but I don't really see it at this time. But one thing I have learned about the mountains of CO is that it can sure seem like late season basically any week after October 1. LOL
How heavy are those backcountry stoves you're toting in?
This year and last year both. I was a few miles out of Steamboat when 10" of snow hit a few days before 1st rifle and the temps were in the teens. Even the locals said that was very unusual.
43 oz. seems like a lot to me. Not sure where I'm gonna trim that much weight out of my other gear. You guys who pack in the backcountry with stoves really impress the heck out of me!
The LO 18" I have is listed at 2.5 lbs, I haven't weighed it myself but it's not bad.I doubt I'll venture into late season backcountry hunting. Maybe, but I don't really see it at this time. But one thing I have learned about the mountains of CO is that it can sure seem like late season basically any week after October 1. LOL
How heavy are those backcountry stoves you're toting in?
It's totally doable solo for a few day trip. Both pack down pretty well, and if you are solo you can get the next size down I think it's the Silvertip. I'm thinking about doing some winter backpacking with the Cimmaron and stove this year just because.I probably need to get used to the idea of having someone else along if I were going to pack a camp with a stove into the backcountry. So the question is do I need the heat or the solitude more? LOL
I sure wish the cimarron had more guyouts for dealing with heavy wet snow. We got 5 inches and walls were just sagging so bag where there werent any guyouts. Obviously we knocked this off and cleared the bottom of the exterior but when it's snowing hard, it just piles back up and in our expierience, the stove (medium) only keeps the wall melted from the halway point up so it was condensation city in our recent snow experience. With the say silnylon sags, you simply cant avoid touching the walls with 2 people, winter gear, a super hot stove you cant touch and a pile of firewood.
I camp/hunt with a notorious lighter thief. I use a 3 foot length of paracord and tape one end the lighter, tie the other end around the center pole of my redcliff. Works like charm. Wake up in the morning, feel around in the dark till you hit the pole, grab the cord and boom...lighter in hand. I also like to have a premade pile of kindling with a Vaseline coated cotton ball already on top of it. Takes about 30 seconds to get the morning fire going.You don't wake up and run the stove all night. You have the bag (and sleeping pad(s)) rated for the temps you're in, because the stove is going to go out. The nights are long; get a good fire going when you get back to dry out your gear, warm up, and cook (if you use it for that). Get a few big pieces of wood in your stove so it'll burn as long as possible, then go to bed. Have extra wood and tinder ready to go for the morning, make sure you keep your lighter in your pants pocket or sleeping bag, wake up and get the fire going while you put on your gear and have a warm drink.
Late season/cold weather backcountry hunting is not the same as early/mid season. It's going to suck to a certain extent, you just bring the best gear for it to lessen the total amount that it sucks. You carry what you have to in order to be safe and hunt effectively. That means drying your stuff, keeping morale high when you're twiddling your thumbs at 8:00PM when it's been dark for 3.5 hours already, and being able to get as much good sleep as possible. Your nerves will be frayed enough by the conditions if you're doing it right.
It's stupid expensive and took years and years, but I have two teenagers of my very own and god damn can they pack in a lot of weight!I probably need to get used to the idea of having someone else along if I were going to pack a camp with a stove into the backcountry. So the question is do I need the heat or the solitude more? LOL