I have made my own and it works very well, now I would actually like to use it.
What are the current regs for this type of stove in SEKI? Will this stove be restricted only to areas that allow campfires?
Thanks

According to the guide "John Muir Trail: The Essential Guide to Hiking America's Most Famous Trail" ---

... many areas along the JMT are closed to wood fires. They are prohibited above 9600 feet in Yosemite, above 10,000 feet in Ansel Adams Wilderness, above 10,000 feet in John Muir Wilderness, above 10,000 feet in the San Joaquin and Kings rivers drainages in Kings Canyon National Park, above 11,200 feet in the Kern River drainage in Sequoia Nat'l Park, and at all elevations along the Mt Whitney Trail.

If you have a topo map they often mark on the map which areas are no fire zones. Whether a Bush Buddy is considered a wood fire is a question for the rangers. I think it's more a matter of their not wanting the wood to be consumed in those areas, so I'd guess it would be.

Frediver poses an interesting question: Is a wood burning stove (e.g. Bushbuddy, Kelly Kettle, etc.) considered to be a "campfire", at least within the jurisdiction of SEKI? I can't find a definitive answer in the SEKI website. A campfire is not defined. But the adjacent Sierra National forest does offer these words on its website:

"Definition: A campfire is a fire which is used for cooking, personal warmth, lighting, ceremonial or esthetic purposes that is not within a building, mobile home or living accommodations mounted on a motor vehicle. Campfires include wood fires, charcoal fires, and portable gas stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel."

As you can see, my Gigapower would fall under campfire rules under that jurisdiction. And that definition would certainly include wood burning stoves.

And here's another interesting point. In many areas of California (some within Federal lands) a campfire in a legal area is still not legal unless the builder has a valid California Campfire Permit. One of the requirements of said permit is this: "Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires."

So.....at least in the Sierra National Forest, if I'm hiking the JMT and using my Gigapower legally with a valid permit, am I technically required to have a shovel with me??? And how does one define a "shovel"? Does a potty trowel qualify?

Ah, government regulations. Gotta love 'em.

My guess is that six different rangers will give you six different answers to the above questions.

Sorta like the IRS.

Edit: I did some looking around online. It seems as though most areas, at least in California, include stoves and even lanterns in their definition of a campfire. I better start looking for a lightweight shovel!!!!

Overuse of the wood supply could be an issue with a real campfire but not so much with a BushBuddy or KellyKettle. My "Buddy" burns about a cup full of wood chips per fuel load ( about 8-10min ). The amount of wood I might use during a week trip will be less than normal small campfire.
Sparks from a fire could be a concern but so far with my stove I haven't had any, I wonder if this is a benefit of a downdraft design?

Don't make your case to me - make it to the ones who could slap you with a big fine if they catch you using the stove. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> The book suggested taking a stove along instead, but didn't specify gas/alcohol.

Guess I was trying to make a sideways case but I do wonder how the cut is made for deciding the use of this type stove. There is very little logic to many of these
rules.
Different rangers in the same district could give me two different answers.

My understanding is that if you are burning wood you are in violation and could be sited. Some rangers may not site you, but is it worth the risk?

ken

Plus, with all the forest fires already started here in CA this year, you wouldn't want to take the risk, nor be the person to start one, on the JMT...

So why don't they just say that collecting wood is prohibited? Or that any device that generates unregulated sparks is prohibited? Why do we have to second guess the intent of the law? There's got to be some definitive case law here - you just know somebody was cited for using a wood stove already and fought the citation. Anyone have access to a good law library? Then you could photocopy the relative case law and take it with you to show to that LEO ranger who's probably just as confused about what is or isn't a prohibited fire.

The Six Rivers National Forest (North West CA) draws the line between "camp fire" and "stove" at weather or not it has a valve to turn it off. So during fire season Esbit, alcohol and wood burning stoves our out.

if i turned my pot over and dumpd watter on the esbit tab it would turn the stove off !
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

There was an identical discussion last year on BackpackingLight.com about using the bushbuddy in the Sierras during the burn ban. After calling 3 separate officials and explaining how it worked, all 3 said the bushbuddy would be prohibited during a burn ban.