[at-l] smug hiker knowledge

[daveh@psknet.com (Dave Hicks)]

Weary is right on here and the message does apply to the trail.

If you have an "instant" probe thermometer for cooking try the following
experiment:

Put a pot on the heat.  When the first bubbles start to form on the bottom
and sides, place the probe in the center and read the temperature.

For most dramatic results follow Rich's advice.  Use the "largest pot in
your kitchen, not in your gear box, and fill it with water.  then use the
stove that is attached to the house, again not the one in your gear box."

For an reference to use on the trail, repeat with your trail gear and
continue to check (w/o stirring) until the entire pot reaches 190+*.  That
is what your pot should look like when it is safe to drink the water,
assuming it needed to be boiled in the first place.

Far too many think they are boiling water when they aren't.  BTW -- coffee
makers auto drip machines and percolators use small amounts of boiling water
to push much larger quantity of much cooler water up and into the grounds.

Chainsaw


----- Original Message -----
From: Bob C. <ellen@clinic.net>
To: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [at-l] smug hiker knowledge


> "...one TV channel warned one community that the water was now back on,
but that
> the residents would have to boil their water for 20 MINUTES!!! before
using it
> to drink."
>
>  As incompetent as newspapers are, tv news is more so. The claim is total
>  nonsense. Once water reaches boiling point, it's safe to drink. The three
>  minute, 10 minute, now 20 minute warnings reflect worries that most don't
>  recognize a boiling point when they see it.
>
>  A few bubbles is not boiling. Boiling is a full roiling boil. Boil a pot
of
>  water and you will understand the difference. Or heat up some left over
stew as
>  I did today when I finished off the last of the leftovers from the RUCK.
( Hey,
>  I'm a hiker I've eaten older stuff.) When the first bubbles appeared, I
stirred
>  and the stew was luke warm. I waited a minute or two and eventually a
true boil
>  emerged.
>
>  BTW, In the bottom of the pot, I found a ladle that I suspect belongs to
the
>  mansion. I'll return it the next time I go south again.
>
>  Weary
>
>
>
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