[at-l] fuel for esbit stove

[Mara Factor]

The real answer to your question is to call the airlines and ask them 
whether you can take the stuff on board.  But, I suspect if you mention 
"fuel," their knee-jerk reaction will be to say "no, it's not allowed on 
aircraft."  Perhaps you can do some research with the FAA and find out for 
certain?

That said, the stuff is a lot less flammable than paper and unless they ban 
all paper products, I don't think it should be banned.  It gives off no 
flammable fumes (it's the liquid that burns once melted) and can be blown 
out with one good puff of air.

FWIW, whether accidentally (I always forget I have a tablet in my emergency 
kit) or on purpose, I've flown with the stuff in my checked luggage quite a 
few times without any problems.

I do believe postal regulations allow it to be mailed (once again, check 
with the post office) and if you can't or won't fly with it, you can mail it 
to yourself at a post office near where you intend to get on the trail and 
pick it up before you start your hike.  I used Esbit tablets for my entire 
thruhike and had them mailed to me in my maildrops.

These days, those wanting to fly with stoves often send them ahead to be 
picked up near the trail.  They send their fuel bottles ahead, too, to avoid 
situations where the bottles get tossed because of potential fumes.  This is 
mostly true for white gas and other non-alcohol stove users.

Those with alcohol stoves, especially homemade ones can usually get away 
with them in their luggage as they just look like mangled soda cans and 
won't attract attention.  Denatured alcohol can easily be bought at the 
destination and since alcohol is best carried in plastic bottles, there's no 
need to try to carry a special bottle.  Just buy a beverage in an 
appropriately sized plastic bottle once you get there.  (I recommend making 
sure this bottle is shaped differently than any bottle you'll be using for 
any on-trail beverages.)

Hope this helps,

Mara
Stitches, AT99

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>From: Gammara2 at aol.com
>Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2006 22:54:00 EST
>
>are we allowed to transport on a plane. does the bomb detector equipment
>smell it? if we cant transport it, how do we get it to the beginning of our
>hike? jim in florida

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