I rarely drive anywhere without a good stash of water in the back of my car or truck. In the winter though, my water bottles freeze (I usually store water in 2 liter pop bottles). However, I always keep some water in an aluminum canteen of one sort or another, with the idea that if I get stuck on the road in the middle of a snowstorm (a very real possibility here in Michigan), I could melt the ice in my canteen for water.
Of course, another winter solution is to melt snow for water. This is common among winter campers. However, suppose you are just out for a day's hike and need to overnight? Or stuck in a car in a snowdrift for a couple days?
Monty Alford's book,
has some good solutions. I think I first heard about this book here at BCUK, but was recently reminded of it by a friend who lives in the Northwest Territories and spends a lot of time winter camping, so I finally got around to reading it and there is some excellent advice in his book. It's one of those no-nonsense books with simple talk and simple solutions that will keep your butt alive.
One of his solutions is the YuCan stove, an easily made, easily carried stove powered by tea candles that will melt snow when you are stuck in a snow cave or vehicle and keep you hydrated for a day or two, until help arrives.
It's essentially a can inside a can. The heat comes from 2-4 tea candles held in the base. Two holes are cut at the base for air to enter and so that tea candles can easily be replaced. A wire or nail or two are slipped through the can to suspend the melt-water can above the tea candles. A lid for the top and a bail chain and you are good to go.
I also took the lid off a small altoids tin, which I found will slip inside the base as well. This can serve as a "burner" for an esbit cube which will give you a lot more heat, enough to actually boil water and cook with if needed.
Here's some photos:
The two cans I used:
Cut two openings at the base, one on each side, at least 40 mm wide.
Drill some holes to suspend a can above the tea candles. These are place about 38-40 mm above the base of the can.
This is the finished YuCan stove. The lid was cut from the base of another can.
As mentioned above, I think this will make a great esbit stove as well. Just add a small cup big enough to hold a cube, but small enough to slip into the base and bob's yer uncle.
Of course, another winter solution is to melt snow for water. This is common among winter campers. However, suppose you are just out for a day's hike and need to overnight? Or stuck in a car in a snowdrift for a couple days?
Monty Alford's book,
has some good solutions. I think I first heard about this book here at BCUK, but was recently reminded of it by a friend who lives in the Northwest Territories and spends a lot of time winter camping, so I finally got around to reading it and there is some excellent advice in his book. It's one of those no-nonsense books with simple talk and simple solutions that will keep your butt alive.
One of his solutions is the YuCan stove, an easily made, easily carried stove powered by tea candles that will melt snow when you are stuck in a snow cave or vehicle and keep you hydrated for a day or two, until help arrives.
It's essentially a can inside a can. The heat comes from 2-4 tea candles held in the base. Two holes are cut at the base for air to enter and so that tea candles can easily be replaced. A wire or nail or two are slipped through the can to suspend the melt-water can above the tea candles. A lid for the top and a bail chain and you are good to go.
I also took the lid off a small altoids tin, which I found will slip inside the base as well. This can serve as a "burner" for an esbit cube which will give you a lot more heat, enough to actually boil water and cook with if needed.
Here's some photos:
The two cans I used:
Cut two openings at the base, one on each side, at least 40 mm wide.
Drill some holes to suspend a can above the tea candles. These are place about 38-40 mm above the base of the can.
This is the finished YuCan stove. The lid was cut from the base of another can.
As mentioned above, I think this will make a great esbit stove as well. Just add a small cup big enough to hold a cube, but small enough to slip into the base and bob's yer uncle.
