Hey canoeclaire, that's actually a nice continuation of my stove q. As it is, we cook 90 percent on a stoves, as I HATE scrubbing soot off pots. The only reason I had the backup stove was because the peak 1 is so old, and I no longer trust it.
The new stove will be the only one we take, if something goes wrong and can't use it I'll have to close my eyes, grind my teeth and cook over the fire. Mind you, I do use the fire for making bread and pizza in the back country, which I often do on a quite small late afternoon burned down fire, which is actually not hot enough for cooking with a pot.

As mentioned in the other thread, my crew always brings the Dragonfly/Trangia combo but that said we do also happen to cook some meals on the campfire such as steaks, pizza and the Guinness rabbit stew that we haul out the cast iron pot for usually on those late fall trips where we have few portages.  We eat pretty well out there, some would even say better than at home, ha!  

We're also not fans of scrubbing soot off pots.

@atventure and rpduke, uppa.           if we ever camp on the same lake at the same time we'd have half the bear population come running.......and maybe a hungry kayaker ...

I'm 95% cooking over a campfire. I can only think of one, maybe 2 times that I've ever used a stove. Sometimes I bring a small stove with me, just to be safe, but most of the time I leave it at home and just plan to have dry food (nuts, seeds, protein bars, etc.) if it's too windy/wet to get a fire going. Even with the campfire, I'm pretty basic with my meals... I'll usually bring meat for the first day, but otherwise it's lots of macaroni, pasta, rice, etc. Don't usually bring a pan even when travelling solo, just one pot.

Now I'm thinking of starting a new thread to build on this thread which built on the previous stove thread....

How does everyone manage wood collecting out in the backcountry??

I don't bring any axe/hatchet/saw, I rely solely on twigs and branches that I find on the ground. I like to think I'm pretty efficient with my fires, and I try and be as respectful to the wilderness as I can. But I see videos of people hacking at trees (and I see hacked trees first hand while camping), and it always amazes me how people can just go and process all this wood for a campfire when, with a little bit more time/effort, you can just collect dead branches off the ground.

Great thread.

For me, it's a mix-n-match and all dependant on what's on the menu. I will try and avoid using pots or pans on an open fire due to the soot - that crap gets everywhere

Breakfast: I'm an early riser and I like my coffee within minutes of said rising - so for this purpose, I use a small iso-pro gas stove to boil up some water. If I'm having bacon, I'll make a foil-tray and cook it over the fire. Eggs go in the pan over the stove. Roasted potatoes or breakfast potatoes are wrapped in foil and placed in the coals. Water for oatmeal is done on the stove. Toasting bagels for BLT's is on the fire (obviously).

Lunch is always on the go - a quick salami & mustard sandwich or a wrap of some type - no cooking required and I usually eat while crossing a big lake (I don't like to stop until I've reached my destination - especially if I am targeting a specific / well-known for being awesome campsite).

Dinner goes back to mix-n-match. Steak, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes - all done on the fire. Things like rice or other sides that need to be cooked in a pot is done on the stove.

I am also one of the (probably) very few who travel with 2 stoves. Both use the same fuel and both are ultra-light, but one is slightly larger and more stable. The smaller of the two is strictly a backup because the larger one is getting up there in age and if it failed I'd prefer to have a back up.

I've also messed about with wood-fueled appliances, such as the Kelly Kettle and the Firebox (thanks again MartinG). They do what they're supposed to do, and they do it well - but Martin hit the nail on the head, they're both a little gimmicky and unless I am base-camping, they won't accompany me on an interior trip - the firebox is too heavy and the Kelly Kettle takes up too much pack space. I do enjoy using them though, a lot, and I have specific pots for this purpose (cause I hate soot, remember?) but again, I find it's only useful (to me) when base-camping as that seems to be the only time I can justify the extra weight / bulk.

I'm similar to Bob in that fires are fun - but after a long day of travelling, setting up camp, etc, sometimes I don't feel like gathering or processing wood - sometimes I'm just too lazy or tired to care about getting one going (unless I'm cold or need the smoke to piss off the bugs). In these cases a very small, or no fire is the solution. It's bugs me to not have at least one fire per pit that I visit - but that's not always practical. 

Edit: Are we campin' yet?

Last edited by Peek (2/03/2017 9:03 am)

It's a matter of choice and aesthetics more than anything else. I prefer campfires but back up with stoves. Couple of observations:

1) Last year I brought new (untested) containers for the methanol. They both leaked all over the pack due to a design error. That ended up being a 100% firewood trip during two very long downpours. It's good to be proficient with fire, if for safety only. 

2) Weight of firewood vs fuel is about the same for me as I bring a hatchet. With an axe you can start a fire in any weather - much harder without. But it's a big weight (maybe even heavier). Hatchet/axe may end up being more expensive than a stove (although Fisker is a good option). 

3) Safety. Relying on firewood as the sole means of food prep without bringing a back-up means accepting the possibility of eating raw/unheated food. Which is totally doable, but may not add to the desired experience.

4) The experience. When I started camping by myself 20+ years ago, it was about pushing myself and competing. Distance paddled. Length of portage. Number of days in the bush. There's no question that if covering distance is the priority, you will use the most modern techniques and firewood is not fast or easy or efficient. I also think there's merit to the competitive approach, and there's a great deal to be learned.

But for me, I love the look, warmth, smell and sound of fire. I'd rather sit around for a couple of hours baking bread than put in an extra 15 km,

Estimated weights associated with picture above: Hatchet (850g), saw (400g), grill (100g), 3 silicone mini-loaf molds (75g, pack of 4, from Canadian tire), reflector oven (800g), Primus 3L pot (610g). Having three loaves of chocolate-swirl bread with M&Ms on to for three boys on day 5 of a canoe trip: Priceless! (PS. 6 and 9-year old kids can carry a much larger pack than you'd think). 

Cheers
Marko

PS. Reflector oven is by far the best method of baking, having tried 5 in total (outback oven, Fry Bake, steam and direct coal). 
PPS. If cooking with fire, the Primus pot is spectacular. 

Last edited by Marko_Mrko (2/03/2017 10:21 am)

The chocolate swirl is Robin Hood quick bread, with powdered egg instead of actual egg, and home-made clarified butter:

http://www.robinhood.ca/Products/Mixes/Quick-Bread-Mix-Chocolate-Chip
https://www.amazon.ca/Hoosier-Hill-Farm-Whole-Powdered/dp/B008T9SHRW

The reflector oven is from Canadian Outdoor Equipment. It fits in the 115-L portage pack. It also fits in the 60-L barrel. I do worry it will get bent in the pack, but has not been an issue. 

https://www.canadianoutdoorequipment.com/reflector-oven-by-svante-freden.html

The silicone loaf pans are also really great because they do not stick at all. I've used the larger pans, and pots (silicone and steel). I find the smaller pans require less time and bake more evenly. 

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/silicon-4-piece-loaf-pans-0420982p.html#srp

Cheers
Marko

PS. Three small loaf pans will fit in the reflector oven, but you need to cut off the edges from two of them. This does make them less able to hold a loaf shape, but it's fine. 

Last edited by Marko_Mrko (2/03/2017 11:40 am)

@trippythings. I thought your question regarding how do you manage collecting firewood a good one. It is my experience (over many years ) that you can face a problem finding firewood ( deadwood) in the easier to access lakes. Many sites are chopped clean and picked clean of anything usable, and even going far back into the bush does not guarantee a good supply. Carrying a stove at least gives you a chance to cook your food, even in rainy weather.
I have learned the hard way to rely on what I bring with me, instead of what nature doles out. Nothing more frustrating then finding nothing available on a campsite after a real tiring day. We've learned to see a campfire as an enhancement to the trip, not a necessity, although we always seem to manage smelling like a smokehouse when we come home as we never had a trip in which we had no fires at all.