[pct-l] Stove canisters

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Carbon monoxide, for one.

Steel-Eye

On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 5:57 AM, Bastian Schlagowsky <
bastian.schlagowsky at web.de> wrote:

> I have never heard that burning alcohol is producing any toxic substance;
> except maybe things added in heet...
>
> --
> Bastian Schlagowsky
> +49 (176) 20646551
> Bastian.Schlagowsky at web.de
>
> Am 10.12.2009 um 14:40 schrieb CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>:
>
>
> 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?
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>> Trail Journals, Google Trail Maps, Forums: http://postholer.com
>>> Pacific Crest Trail Photo Atlas: http://postholer.com/photoAtlas.php
>>>
>>>
>>>
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