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Which
type of camping stove is best, gas or propane?
Both fuels make
good stoves. The best one for you depends on your preference and the type of
camping you plan to do. The white gas stoves will product the most heat of any
camping stoves. It burns cleanly without any odor or effect on food taste. If
you spill the fuel it will evaporate very quickly and will not leave an odor.
Propane does not give out as much heat as the white gas stoves, but propane
stoves are much easier to use. The propane comes in bottles that are screwed
into the stove, not poured into the tank through a small filler spout. All you
need to do to start a propane stove is turn on the gas, and light the burner -
just like home. There are even propane stoves with built in electronic starters
- just like home. This feature makes the transition from cooking at home to
cooking at camp easier for most people.
I
have trouble getting my campfire going. How should I go about this?
Start the fire
by building a small teepee of dry sticks or twigs, and igniting it with a match.
If you can’t find very small twigs, add some tinder under the teepee.
Newspaper and birch bark make excellent tinder. As the fire gets going, add
larger pieces of wood until the fire is the size you want.
Can
I use gasoline to start my campfire?
Never use gasoline or Coleman Fuel (white gas). These are explosive and
can result in great injury. Flammable fluids like charcoal lighter fluid and
kerosene are used by some campers. However, always apply the fuel before
lighting the
fire, and never add fuel to hot coals or after the fire has been lit. Flames can
travel up the stream of fluid and into the container causing a very dangerous
situation. It is always better to take your time starting the fire with small
twigs and tinder, and thus avoid any need for a flammable liquid fuel.
How
can I be sure my campfire is out, before I leave the area?
Never leave a
fire unattended, and always have water readily available to extinguish the fire
properly. Extinguish all fires by pouring water on them, stirring the ashes and
pouring more water. Ashes should be cool to the touch before you leave the site.
If you have used a prepared fire pit at a campground this will be sufficient.
However, if the fire was built on fresh ground, a fire can burn into the soil
debris without being detected – until it breaks out when no one is around to
put it out. Many forest fires are started by these campfires that someone
thought were out. Putting out a campfire built on fresh ground will require lots
of water to assure that the ground beneath the fire is thoroughly soaked.
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