[at-l] thru-hike question: Stoves

[adufresne@carnegiehall.org (Dufresne, Aimee)]

i remember some of the class of 2001 talking at the gathering about small
pill-like fuel source (?!?!) or something, being a new useful reliable fire
gadget.  is this the pellet stoves you're talking about?  can you use pellet
fuel (or whatever it is) in tin can stoves?

-----Original Message-----
From: W F Thorneloe [mailto:thornel@attglobal.net]
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 3:19 PM
To: gwright@connix.com
Cc: AT-L@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [at-l] thru-hike question: Stoves


There are all sorts of good and bad points to each stove. Alcohol doesn't 
make a very hot flame, may be somewhat harder to adjust and time, and 
leaves one with a nasty burn if it spills or you do something stupid with 
it. Alcohol is available along the trail, but the cost and way it is sold 
may be less convenient than other options. It is very light and one can 
replace a stove for pennies, as well as carry more than one for very little 
trouble.

Canister stoves are much hotter and only a bit more heavy. If you do 
something stupid (like surround it with a wind shield and overheat it) it 
can leave one with a nasty explosion. The canisters seem to be very 
available and increasingly common. They are light and convenient to carry 
two, finding a way to mark to one in use and save the new one (I simply 
leave the cap on the unused one). They have some problems in cold weather, 
and appreciate staying in your sleeping bag along with your water when it 
is below freezing. There are few parts to break or repair.

White gas is hotter and very reliable. It will burn after Heck freezes 
over. White gas can be found everywhere, but the stove and fuel storage 
adds up to much more weight. Stupidity, leaking bottles and old gaskets can 
result in spectacular fires and injuries. One can carry a repair kit and do 
field service easily.

Then there are choices like Esbit and other pellet stoves, Zip stoves that 
burn twigs and leaves, solar heat collectors and other fascinating
technology.

OrangeBug

At 02:54 PM 12/14/2001 -0500, gwright@connix.com wrote:
>The stove+canister weight isn't bad at all and it really
>pours out the heat and can even be used to simmer.  I'm wondering
>how available the canisters are on the trail though.

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