Cooking at high elevations - What do you use?

[smlobx]

Hi folks-

We just came back from an epic trip to Colorado and Utah exploring the high country and places not so high in our newly built Jeep Gladiator (trip report soon hopefully..) and we ran into a slight problem one night…

We were camping at Little Molas Lake just outside Silverton at an elevation of 10,960 feet. It was cold (~30 degrees) and sleeting. We deployed our awning and got to work making a nice warm dinner but to my surprise and dismay we were not able to keep the propane stove lit. Now at the time I seemed to recall something about propane and higher elevations not playing nice together but coming from the East Coast it was never really a concern. So we ended up eating sandwiches and going to bed early.

The next day when we were in Silverton, and had cell service, we did read how propane doesn’t perform well above about 9000 feet.

So the question for those of you that venture that high what do you use when cooking above 10,000 feet?

 

[Vic Harder]

Backpacking stoves use isobutane, seems to have a higher tolerance for elevation and cold

 

[AWG_Pics]

Get a JetBoil, which uses isobutane/propane fuel canisters they work well for us from below sea level (Death Valley) to over 10,000 feet in hot to cold weather. Not very good for frying, but works well for dehydrated backpacking meals.

 

[JaSAn]

I will use a propane or isobutane stove up to about 7000' or 20ºF. Higher and/or colder I switch to a white gas, hand pump pressurized stove (MSR XGK or Coleman 2 burner).

 

[ski3pin]

We have camped at 11,000 feet and had no issues using our built in SMEV propane stove. We have camped many many times above 10,000 and had no issue with the stove or furnace. With chainsaws the fuel/air mixture has to be adjusted as you go up in elevation - and remember to readjust when you get home. Modern vehicles with computers and fuel injection work around the issues with high elevation. We were recently parked at 12,500 feet. I should have tested the appliances. I will do so next time.

Good reminder on this issue.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

I've never had my camper or other propane appliances that high in elevation. Backpacking trips I use white gas stove which offers a good adjustable flame. The popular fuel canisters apparently are difficult to simmer but are outstanding for boiling water which is the main thing that backpacker are usually doing. When I do end up going to White Mountain trailhead I need to remember to bring the white gas stove..

 

[craig333]

I've never had an issue with propane at altitude.

 

[Bigfoot Dave]

I wonder if coming from the East coast there was a higher percentage of butane in the propane tank? That causes issues in the cold round here in Minnesota.
Good luck, Bigfoot Dave

 

[JaSAn]

Just the opposite. Butane is added to propane and gasoline to raise the vapor pressure in cold weather (i.e. the propane more readily vaporizes to a usable pressure).
The only issue I am aware of is: it is the main cause of lower gas milage in winter blended gasoline.

 

[OutToLunch]

I have had no problems at that altitude or higher with any of my propane stoves (ATCs, old Coleman or my backpacking stove).

is Avalanche brewery/pizza still open in Silverton? Haven’t been to Silverton since COVID.

 

[Bigfoot Dave]

Several years ago I bought one of those tabletop butane stoves like they use in resturants figuring it would be helpful at a picnic table. It works fine in the summer but as it gets cooler it's hard to get much of a flame out of it. If I have a warm cartridge it works fine for a while.
Years ago we filled a 20# tank down in Florida at Easter time. As we headed home and the temperature dropped I had a difficult time keeping appliances running. Switching to another tank solved the problem. The next summer the FL tank worked fine in the warmer temps. The propane folks explained that they used more butane down south and that was the problem in the cold.
I'm no expert but that makes sense to me. My backpacking stoves use a propane blend to help in the cold too.
Where was your tank filled?
Happy flames, Bigfoot Dave

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

During my Scouting days I used Bleuet stoves, preferring the simplicity to white gas Svea/Optimus stoves. But the pure butane was finicky at colder/higher elevations. The advent of propane/butane mixes took care of that issue. Even with straight propane I’ve never had temp/elevation issues. Diminished flame/heat…perhaps, but never non-operational. I recently bought a propane space heater to warm our cabin (7200’) which is being renovated. Running off a 20# tank it turned our smallish space into a oven!