Ti-Tri Caldera Cone Stove in Alaska's Tongass Rainforest

People say that relying upon a wood stove in wet, rainy places is a fool's errand. This video demonstrates otherwise. If you can start a small fire (that's on you) and use the right stove, you can do it just about anywhere. Here in wettest woods of North America (SE Alaska's Tongass National Forest, here in the Medvejie Valley on Baranof Island), using semi-wet tinder, I cook nearly a liter of cold stream water over the Ti Tri Caldera Cone Inferno Stove. The thing works, watch for yourself.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ti Tri
• Caldera Cone
• Trail Designs
• wood stove
• Alaska
• Tongass

[lemmiwinks820]

So you used sticks from the bottom of a river bed? Like, with moving water over the top of it? Or from near the river?

[RainForestTreks]

@lemmiwinks820 No, not from the bottom of the riverbed, just among the rocks on the stream shore. In the rainforest most dead wood begins to rot almost immediately (making it difficult to burn without cutting down to the center), but sticks will often fall into rivers & streams, get washed ashore and (at least partially) dry out there, making them decent for burning. That's where I tended to find the best fuel. Anything buried much below the surface though was completely waterlogged.

[lemmiwinks820]

@RainForestTreks

Cool, thanks. I got an alcohol stove (gram weenie pro) to replace my pocket rocket, and I am wondering if I shouldn't have gone with a caldera cone or similar. I guess I can always make a wood burner. Cool blog/site too, it's cool to see someone open about chronic disease and not let that get in the way of living life to the max. Inspirational for sure for someone who has to deal with that stuff.

[RainForestTreks]

@lemmiwinks820

Personally, I'd stick with your alchy stove for awhile... you can't beat the simplicity and ease of those (I carried one on that trip and used it occasionally when I didn't feel like building a small fire). The main benefit of a wood stove for me was the trip's duration... being out 15-20 days saved me pounds of fuel not having to pack it all. For shorter trips though, I still routinely use my alcohol stove for its ease and simplicity.

[FlorinSutu]

At the moment 2:18 he spilled alcohol from a bottle, then probable he also thrown a tablet of solid fuel. So much for the "ignition" with one piece of paper, as he bragged.

[RainForestTreks]

@FlorinSutu

Not the case at all. I stated early in the video (if you listened to it) that I would use a few drops of alcohol to get it started since reaching the paper with a lighter is tricky. No solid fuel tabs at all.  I did exactly what I said I did, no misleading the viewer at all. You obviously don't pay very close attention.

[FlorinSutu]

Sorry. And yes, I had to turn off the sound while viewing, in a certain moment.

[ArcaneLogic]

I live in BC and have personally found that making feather sticks is the most reliable way to get a fire going. I've been successful with them after two weeks of solid rain, with wood collected in the rain, sopping wet on the outside. I find sticks about 1.5cm in diameter, 10cm long, "skin" them (get the wet outer layer off, usually most of the bark and the thin layer under that), then make a fire stick with what's left. Kindling is the same sticks split open to varying degrees of thickness.

[russdog44]

What a wonderful place !

Nice to see the cone in the rain forest. Nice job ! Thanks !

With sticks the size you were using one has to stay right on it to not loose the fire.

We pack a small saw so we can make larger chunks, much less feeding. Russ