Erik Gerharter
TVWBB Member
hey y'all, just got my wsm in july after the lenexa bbq contest. i live in flagstaff arizona at 7000 feet and i can't hold a temp as well as i could in kansas. any suggestions for high elevation smokes??
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Smokin at 7000 feet elevation
- Thread starter Erik Gerharter
- Start date
Todd Randall
TVWBB Pro
No experience here, but it's just from the lack / lower quality of O2, right?
Maybe investing in the stoker / guru to force in the air would be worth it?
Door prop mod to get more o2 in there? Start with more lit?
Todd
Maybe investing in the stoker / guru to force in the air would be worth it?
Door prop mod to get more o2 in there? Start with more lit?
Todd
Erik Gerharter
TVWBB Member
thanks for the suggestions todd. the thin air is what i'm blamin it on. more practice i guess.
B Lauchnor
TVWBB Member
You can also try starting with more charcoal in the chimney and make sure you let it get good and hot. I've found this can make a huge difference in maintaining temps.
The way I understand the whole elevation & fire thing is this.
Since oxygen is thinner at higher altitudes, one requires more "fire" to achieve the same heat as at lower altitudes.
Don't assume there isn't enough oxygen in your cooker to fuel to fire though... it's more likely that you simply need more FIRE to get the heat you want. I'm sure at high heats there might be a point of oxygen deprivation in your smoker, but at low temps you should have no issues.
To oversimplify the point, I might be able to start my cooks with only 10 lit briquettes but you may need 14 to get to the same temperatures.
Since oxygen is thinner at higher altitudes, one requires more "fire" to achieve the same heat as at lower altitudes.
Don't assume there isn't enough oxygen in your cooker to fuel to fire though... it's more likely that you simply need more FIRE to get the heat you want. I'm sure at high heats there might be a point of oxygen deprivation in your smoker, but at low temps you should have no issues.
To oversimplify the point, I might be able to start my cooks with only 10 lit briquettes but you may need 14 to get to the same temperatures.
Erik Gerharter
TVWBB Member
A+,,, thanks scooter.
I recently came back from a holiday to Peru where I spent some time at altitude of 10-12,000 ft. If they can roast chickens up there (and they were darn good too!)I think you can easily smoke at 7,000!! haha
That said I've never felt so out of breath in all my life. Just standing I was ok, but if you tried to go up stairs or even just talk while walking you would have to stop to catch your breath.
That said I've never felt so out of breath in all my life. Just standing I was ok, but if you tried to go up stairs or even just talk while walking you would have to stop to catch your breath.
Dan H.
TVWBB Pro
my elevation isn't far below you. i've responded to a few elev. posts in the past and havn't quite understood how it works, but assure you that i've always had an easy time of it. I would guess that it may be amount of fuel your using like others say. What i mean is I just agree with the above cause i cant imagine anything else being the problem. Dont worry you will get it going like you use to.
Must be the low O2. The concentration of O2 in the air is exactly the same (~21%), but since total pressure is less, the pO2 is lower (basically the mass of O2 per volume is less). Since the heat given off is directly proportional to the amount of O2 converted to CO2 and H2O, with a lower amount of O2 available, my guess is that with the same vent settings there is less combustion and less heat generated...so.....Open the vents more!