[pct-l] Stove canisters

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning,

I agree – mostly – with Postholer regarding the usefulness of solid-fuel
stoves.  One of my differences in opinion is regarding the fuel type:  I’ve
used most of the fuels commonly available but I prefer the Army surplus
trioxane fuel tabs.  Ounce-for-ounce they have the same energy as Esbit, but
trioxane leaves the bottom of the pot very clean rather than coated with
black gunk.  Trioxane is readily available from surplus outlets, and it
costs about 25% of what Esbit costs.  Some hikers don’t like trioxane
because the fumes are said to be “toxic”, however I won’t breath the fumes
from any fuel.  They are all “toxic” as far as I'm concerned.  Besides, I
cook in the open air rather than in a tent.

My solid fuel stove doesn’t weigh 3.25 oz. it weighs between 0.2 and 0.7
ounces.  That’s because I use the same stove for solid fuel as I do for
alcohol.  I just turn the cat food or pop can alcohol stove over and put the
fuel tab on its bottom.  Everything else is the same.  That way I can use
solid fuel or alcohol interchangeably. If you want to be even lighter, use
three tent stakes to support the pot, and put the fuel tab on a small metal
lid on mineral soil.  See http://zenstoves.net/SolidFuelBurner.htm for an
interesting discussion of solid fuel and stoves.

I won’t disparage any type of fuel.  I have used – and probably will again
use – most of what's available, including a campfire.  As always, it’s not
the “thing” that’s the problem, it’s the care and responsibility of the
people using the “thing” that’s important.  The S. Cal. deserts were very
dry during my last two PCT hikes, and I chose to not cook rather than risk
touching a flame to any fuel.  That was my personal choice, and it worked
out OK because I adapt well to no-cook food.

Steel-Eye
Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 9:40 AM, Postholer <public at postholer.com> wrote:

> As a devout Esbit user, you'll find these problems don't exist. You can
> ship
> ground, not air. I kept all my fuel, 120 tabs, in my bounce box. It was
> always there when I needed it. I'd carry about 10 at a time. At 50 cents
> each, $60 dollars easily covers the entire trip, compared to $20 for
> alcohol.
>
>  If you're doing simple cooking, hot water, rehydrating, etc, it can't be
> beat. The stove (3.25 oz) with 5 fuel tabs weigh 6 oz.
>
> For more elaborate cooking I understand canister stoves are the way to go.
>
> If you're a pyromanic and like walking through charred moonscape-esque
> landscape, by all means carry a pepsi-can alcohol stove. While you might be
> an icon of safety with an alcohol stove, I PROMISE the hiker next you may
> not be. No stove has done more damage to the forests along the PCT than the
> home made alcohol stoves.
>
> In the west where fire season is 365 days, alocohol stoves are a trend that
> need to just go away.
>
> -postholer
>
> >>>>
> It is my understanding that the folks who control the shipping rules have
> made it illegal to ship yourself - via USPS or UPS or others - stove
> canisters.  My experience is that they are quite limited in finding in
> stores along the trail. For those contemplating using a Jet Boil or other
> canister stove on the PCT, where can the canisters be purchased?
>
> ------------------------------------
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> Pacific Crest Trail Photo Atlas: http://postholer.com/photoAtlas.php
>
>
>
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