[pct-l] Using Alcohol ...for Cooking

[steve_peterson at sbcglobal.net (Steve Peterson)]

Guys, I don't know what kind of pop cans you are using but I've got two stoves 
that weigh 0.2 ounces each. My foil windscreen (heavy duty stuff folded multiple 
times--discard and remake when it falls apart)--weighs 0.2 ounces. The pot 
stand, made from aluminum flashing is 0.6 ounces. I use a foil lid which weighs 
0.6 ounces and is heavier than it needs to be. Weighing it all together, it 
totals 1.8 ounces (the diff being due to rounding).

The foil windscreen is light, but I've had no problems with it in wind. It 
encircles the pot which keeps the windscreen in place.

Rather than take a separate measuring device, I just scratched a line (or two) 
on the inside of the stove and pour in alcohol until I have the amount (relative 
to a line) that I want.

My foil windscreen has been used about 30 times and shows no signs of 
deteriorating, even though I fold it and stuff it into my pot between uses.

--Steve

Judson Brown wrote:
> 1. 1 full film canister perfectly cooks 1 box of mac/cheese if I put the
> pasta in the water from the start. I haven't noticed a lot a variation with
> altitude. About 2/3 a film canister boiled 2c in ~5 min.
> 2. The pop can stove alone weighs 2 oz.
> 3. The pot stand- made of hardware cloth is also about 2 oz.
> 4. Never tried regular foil. I imagine it would be kinda light and hard to
> keep still in a brisk wind. I use the windscreen from my Whisperlite (which
> only gets used for car camping these days).
> 
> I, personally, have had nothing but good experiences with this setup. YEMV
> 
> Judson
> Ashland
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
> [mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Monty Tam
> Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 2:22 PM
> To: pct-l
> Subject: [pct-l] Using Alcohol ...for Cooking
> 
> 
> I've never used alcohol for cooking.  I noticed most thru-hikers, especially
> experienced, do.  How much alcohol (in ounces) does it take to boil 3 cups
> of water?  2 cups?  High altitude?  Low altitude?  How much does the pop can
> weigh?  How much does the pot base weigh?  Will regular foil folded in
> layers work as a wind screen?
> 
> 
> Warner Springs Monty