[pct-l] IDEAS on what stove to use when cooking for 4

[Ate Tuna]

Charles,

It seems that I'm the one that was directed to, but that certainly wasn't my
intent.  I related the closest trail relationship I had, but I did not
demote your family to that of my trail friends.  Please do not put words in
my mouth.  In any case, I don't see how the closeness of any relationship
makes a hiking style more similar.   If anything, that closeness should be
more understanding of the need for each person to hike at their own pace
throughout the day for the health on each person and for the happiness of
the group.  If your group finds that being together at the beginning and end
of every day at a minimum is not enough, and needs to be in walking in
lockstep together all day every day no matter what, then that's fine because
everyone hikes their own hike which can include an inseparable group.

I did recommend an interim solution before committing to a group cooking
solution, but to answer your question more directly, take a look at
Backpackinglight.com.  They have a few fuel usage comparison articles and
threads.  I would look them up for you, but I don't have a current
membership.  For the quantity of food that you're planning to cook at one
time, you might actually be better off with a really good white gas stove.
 Supposedly the new Soto Muka multi fuel stove is supposed to be the hottest
stove on the market, and unlike certain MSR white gas stoves, the Soto can
actually simmer.  Even if it weighs more as a system (stove/fuel/cookware),
the benefit of being able to cook a bigger meal more quickly might be worth
it.

On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 2:06 PM, Eric Lee <saintgimp at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Charles wrote:
> >
> Thanks, Gary. You get it. I was having trouble wrapping my head around my
> family being demoted to "trail friends."
> >
>
> You sound like we've insulted you, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't anyone's
> intent.  The advice you're getting is good advice for any group of people
> planning to hike 2,650 miles together, regardless of whether they're
> friends
> or family.  Even a family has to make choices when some of its members
> can't/won't go on.  Just browse through trail journals of previous years
> for
> examples.  The members of this list have been encouraging you to keep your
> options as open as possible, but if you already know that your choice will
> be, "We all stick together no matter what, if one quits, we all quit," then
> do what works for you.  No need to feel insulted.
>