[pct-l] 2 person stove setup

[Robert Bellingham]

As newbie hikers last year we had the same dilemma.
Ended up getting the Caldera Cone with 1.3 ltr titanium pot.
We used it the whole 5 1/2 months, Campo to Manning Park.
We only wanted to boil water for cooking rice, noodles and generally rehydrating dried food, not cooking meat/baking etc. 
+'s
- lightweight and compact it all fits into the pot with matches/lighter.
- we used Heet that was pretty much available everywhere.
- can also use Esbit cubes or wood.
- pot and lid strong and still looks new although blackened from fire.
- cone design gives pretty good wind protection

-'s
- took a few days for non-hiking "gumby" to get proficient. (I had ordered it online and picked it up at the kick-off party so no chance to play around with it pre-hike, we ate luke warm cous-cous the first night)
- 1.3 litre too deep and sits too close to flame, you need to use titanium pegs through side of cone to give it air space.
- a full reservoir will just boil 1 ltr of water, you need to add more fuel to simmer. 

Recommendation:
No hesitation in using this type of stove again, but I would use wood for fuel at every opportunity and keep Heet for other times. In the Sierra we planned our days as best we could to be below 10,000 ft to legally be able to light a wood fire. Sometimes we had our main meal of the day any time we dropped low enough if we new we'd be camping high that night. We had no luck with the Esbit cubes but I've read that others have used them without problem. For a solo hiker boiling only a pint, this would be an ideal stove as you could boil and simmer on one fuel fill-up.

This stove worked well for us, but at times I did envy those with gas stoves that boiled quickly.
You're going to love PCT

Bob
(Slow and Steady - PCT 2010)
www.trailjournals.com/BOBandBARBOn 14/01/2011, at 8:37 AM, Mike wrote:

> So I am torn up on what stove setup to bring..  Since there is two of us
> hiking, my soon to be wife and I.   I cant decide on an alcohol stove or a
> canister stove..   I would love to take an alcohol stove but I cant find
> one  or find a design that holds enough fuel to bring 4 cups of water to a
> boil..
> 
> The only reason I really don't like canister stoves is because you never
> know how much fuel you have left.. and if you are starting a section but
> have a half empty fuel bottle.. you still need a fresh one but will have to
> take the half empty as well to use it up.  With alcohol I like that you can
> start each section with a set amount of fuel and no half empty fuel
> bottles..
> 
> Any thoughts?
> Anyone know a good 2 person alcohol design?
> 
> Thanks
> Thumper and Stumbling Goat
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