[pct-l] Will I die using Fuel canisters?

[David Margavage]

This is more good information.  I appreciate your input on the topic.
Thanks

On 1/30/09, ietura at viajarapie.info <ietura at viajarapie.info> wrote:
>
> we all tend to think our gear options are the best. Some may forget they're
> the best for them but maybe not for everybody. Some may despise other
> options for lack of willingness to try new things or even to avoid
> questioning their present choice. We all do that to some degree.
>
> With alcohol stoves there's the freak factor of using something home made
> out of you know what.
>
> I use and like (and dislike) both alcohol and gas canisters. For the long
> distance I usually take canisters and the deciding factor here for me is
> fuel efficiency and the resulting autonomy in adition to the usual canister
> advantages: less fiddle factor (easier to use), cleaner.
>
> So what seems like the big dissadvantage of gas canisters (ressuply) may be
> seen as their big advantage: due to the fuel efficiency, you don't have to
> ressuply so often. Alcohol's higher weight/energy ratio makes you ressuply
> as often as possible to make it weight efficient overall. It's true alcohol
> is easy to find but it's always yet another thing to think about when you
> hit town. With gas canisters, you can forget about it for a good while.
>
> I tried to make the most out of this autonomy thing during my thru-hike. I
> estimated I could hike the PCT with just three 8oz (medium size) canisters
> so I planned for two ressuplies. Having to ressuply only twice on the whole
> trail virtually means you can forget about fuel ressuply. That's something.
> I made this at the expense of carrying two canisters for some time, waiting
> for the old one to be done but that was actually part of the test (I never
> finish my canisters on my trips and I can't take them back with me if I'm
> flying so I wanted to actually finish one! to see how far it could go in
> practise). With what I know now, I'd probably avoid that.
>
> The key thing here is knowing your fuel needs. Weight your canister before
> and after use and the difference is the gas you spent. You can do a pretty
> accurate estimation of how far you will go with each canister but take into
> account factors as wind or cold that may mean more fuel expense.
>
> As fuel efficiency was key for my estrategy, I focused on that. The key
> factors here are: a good windscreen, a wide enough pot, using medium-low
> fire and just heating water. The windscreen was almost weightless (made out
> of a pie pan) and would only cover the flame, not the canister, leaving
> free the breathing holes in the burner base so oxygen is correctly drawn
> in. The pot should be wide enough for the flames to keep under it and not
> spill around (this is a common happening in some alcohol burners at some
> point of the process before they calm down) and a lid is mandatory.
> Medium-low fire is more efficient at the expense of a few more minutes
> wait. Finally, I wouldn't boil the water, no need for that (before boiling
> is hot enough to cook) and I'd only heat the water, then pour it on the
> food bag to let it sit for a while (regular supermarket food, pasta and the
> like, works fine like this). With all this, I could cook (heating the
> typical 2 cups of water) with only 5 grams of gas. I'd only cook dinner.
>
> Average weight wise, gas canisters may come out similar to alcohol stoves
> in a trail like the PCT but it depends a lot on how often you visit town
> and many other factors. I made the math and with the stoves I have, my fuel
> expenses and considering 8oz canisters, gas was lighter (dayly average)
> after 10 days without ressuply. This is certainly not needed anywhere on
> the PCT at thru-hiker pace but the fact that you don't have to ressuply at
> every town stop is not without value.
>
> The list of possible ressuply places for canisters is quite as has been
> stated but it's variable. Some off-town places (KM, VVR, Echo Lake) may
> have them but they may not and I wouldn't rely on them unless previously
> confirmed. Some little town stores (Sierra City comes to mind) have shown
> interest in stocking them in the past but it usually depends on the present
> owners and on the hikers contacting them and asking for it. Small town
> outfitters come and go. So the list is open and it probably changes every
> year.
> rainskirt
>
>
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