[at-l] "Stoves" and thruhiking --- LONG

[m_factor@hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

Can't argue with anything Jim wrote in his stoves write-up...  But, the 
analysis might look different done from a solo perspective...

For example, on the AT, I only cooked one meal a day, and that was just to 
boil 2 cups maximum of water.  I also didn't cook during town stops which 
can be quite frequent on the AT.  Turns out, I only cooked about 70 - 80 
times total on my hike...  no breakfasts or hot drinks and fewer hot meals 
during the incredibly hot and dry summer of '99.

FWIW, I have no problems bringing two cups of water to a rolling boil in 
less than 8 minutes (needs a windscreen) with Esbit tabs which  continue 
burning another 7 minutes or so.  I would continue to use Esbit tabs on long 
hikes where I had maildrops but they aren't commonly available en route so 
are impractical unless you do have mail drops.

I do have an MSR XGK II at home but no longer see a reason to use it except 
for true winter hiking/mountaineering.  I don't have nearly the experience 
with the other stoves that Jim commented on so won't offer any practical 
experience/advice there.

Mara
Stitches, GAME99

>From: "Jim and/or Ginny Owen" <spiriteagle99@hotmail.com>
>Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:21:40 +0000
>
>I came down with a terminal case of “dead time” this afternoon, so I’m 
>gonna
>talk about “stoves” – for a thruhike.

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