[at-l] Trouble with ZIPS?

[Bob Cummings <ellen@clinic.net> (Bob Cummings)]

The AT in '93 was a dry year. so my comments may not be true all years, but neither then, nor since,
have I ever had a problem finding enough dry fuel for my Zip. You quickly learn to take advantage of useful
fuel as you walk the trail.

I would usually collect a pocketful of fuel during the day and it would usually be reasonably dry by the
time I got to camp. Regardless of the weather, you only need enuf dry stuff to get the fire going.
After that wet stuff burns almost as well as dry. Some carry fire starter, but I never bothered. I
would collect bits of birch bark from downed trees along the trail and that seemed to work.

I love trail maintainers who use an axe to clear blowdowns. But these enlightened folks are getting
scarce. Big chips are the ideal fuel. Most of the time I made do with broken branches and such.

There is always all kinds of such stuff, especially if you pick up a supply as your walk along. A
Zip Stove bonus are twigs broken by hiker boots. They ease the fuel burden a great deal.

Weary