Re[2]: [at-l] Cooking in a Stephenson Tent?

[tmcginnis@ucclan.state.in.us (Thomas McGinnis)]

: Re: [at-l] Cooking in a Stephenson Tent?
Author:  Snodrog5@aol.com at ima
Date:    8/12/99 4:19 PM


In a message dated 8/12/1999 9:13:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
thornel@ibm.net writes:
     
<< Regardless of what the instructions say, please don't cook in _any_ tent.  
>>
  Winter hikers and mountaineers have been cooking and melting snow inside 
their tents for decades. I wonder what they are doing thatI've used my esbit 
inside the vestibule dozens of times, but it sits on the ground ( or mud, or 
snow ), on an aluminum plate.
 What are those mountaineering/winter folks doing to be safe? 
TJ < has no plans to cook in his tent, but is wondering how the 'pros' do it


Sloetoe answers....
SHORT ANSWER: What the mountaineers are doing is breaking their backs.

SLIGHTLY LONGER ANSWER:
1) Pitch tent such that wind/venting forces internal flow *out* the door.
2) Clear area inside front of tent. Leave sleeping pad next to intented 
stove area. Leave sleeping bag at foot of pad with opening facing front of 
tent. Arrange food items near corner of door. Water in pots stays outside.
3) Ignite stove, steady operation place near door of tent.
4) Enter tent, enter sleeping bag.
5) Roll on belly, scooching knees under hips, hunching so that your back 
never contacts the tent roof, bring lit stove into tent. Leave door open.
6) Remaining hunched, place cook pot with water on stove; heat.
7) Carry out all cooking operations without once a) tipping stove; b) 
spilling scalding water; c) humidifying tent interior; d) burning food 
because you're too scared to stir unstable pot; e) painting cheese-covered 
spoon across tent floor; f) ruining meal because in your crouch you rushed 
and forgot to unfold the cooking directions all the way, and left half the 
ingrediants in your pack.
8) And now that your back is screaming from the GodAwFul position you've had 
to maintain during all of this, Bon' Apetite!

Sloetoe
(who, it seems, remembers well enough
the joys of in-tents culinary efforts.)



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