Ultralight backpacking woodshed for stashing dry fuel
This post describes an ultralight backpacking woodshed sewn from Tyvek to store and manage dry fuel sticks for snow camping.
Introduction to an ultralight backpacking woodshed
If you are like me you probably enjoy your alpine areas smothered with snow for skiing, but you still enjoy them in all seasons. Consequently, summer provides an opportunity to make a little ‘stash’ of dry firewood, in an ultralight backpacking woodshed, for winter adventures.
Carried dry sticks or bulky and smelly fire starters will suffice. However, neither are welcome in my ultralight skiing backpack. I do make a concession and carry my DIY ultralight fire starters that are tiny, waterproof, odour free, environmental and cost-free. Although not essential if you have good fire skills, enough dry wood to get the frozen stuff burning quickly will always be welcome. The problems are; where to put it (where you can find it again when the snow falls) and how to keep it dry. My solution is a Tyvek bag sewn with a zipper down the side that can be hung up in a tree where it can be found in winter.
Ultralight backpacking woodshed
I use the dry sticks to start my ultralight blower stoves and ultralight tent stove while skiing and bushwalking. Once started these stoves have such a high heat output that they can automatically thaw and dry frozen or wet fuel sticks with in the fuel feed zones. They also can easily dry other fuel sticks for future use.
Conclusion
Carried dry fuel sticks or ultralight fire starters combined with fire skills can easily start these tiny camping stoves. The heat from the stoves can, in turn, easily dry wood more wood. However, a stash of dry sticks is always welcome. This is especially so when establishing camp after the pleasures of a good day of skiing when the temperature drops and the snow gods buckets fresh snow upon you. This is when a warm tent, drying gloves and clothing, and hot drinks suddenly become the new priority.
Tim
