[pct-l] Fires on the PCT

[Edward Anderson]

Hi Cris,
 
Well said.  I'm glad you posted.  I feel strongly that It would be better for all PCT users if alcohol were banned on our trail. Too many fires can be traced to the use of liquid fuels with alcohol stoves being the most often the cause. You can neither see the flame nor is there a way to shut off the fuel supply. There is already a ban on "open flames" - the alcohol stove flame falls into that category.  When a careless PCT user srarts a fire it looks bad for all of us.  I well remember the 2008 Apache Fire north of Fobes Saddle. The hiker who started the fire was also smoking and it was windy - bad combination!   I had decended, riding my horse, to the Fire Station - the captain there was understandably
 upset that PCTers  had started another one. He was not friendly to me although I had nothing to do with the fire - but I WAS a PCT user.
 
Now, I realize that there are experienced users of alcohol stoves who are very careful.  But that description does not apply to all.
 
I was also very satisfied with my Jetboil stove.  Before buying it I had researched its efficiency rating ( the REI ratings) compared to other stoves. It was exceptionally high. It is very easy to use - no problem lighting - has a valve so you can simmer or shut off the flame - and you can SEE the flame. I used it for nearly six months on the trail. 
 
MendoRider
--- On Sun, 5/9/10, Cris J <cj5w4wd at live.com> wrote:


From: Cris J <cj5w4wd at live.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Fires on the PCT
To: pct-l at backcountry.net, maxsands at hotmail.com
Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010, 1:25 PM



I wanted to send my thanks to Capt Bivy for his bold and appropriate action at Fred Canyon, putting a stop to to "stupid" being committed by a thru having an illegal fire.  Too much ignorance of why this is a problem in So CA.  Maybe the PCTA can attach something to the thru permits that gets the message across since they don't seem to believe what the campfire permit trys to convey.  



And on the subject of cannister vs alcohol stoves (yes, I'm just a sectioner, and yes, I've use both)  I weighed my alcohol setup for 10 days vs my JET Boil setup with small canister (I boiled 2C AM, 2C PM and even washed my clothes in the Bear Can twice, 10 days near Yosemite-Echo Lake).  JET Boil was only 2.5 oz heavier!  Alcohol is not worth it, IMO because of the dangers of spillable ignited fuel that you cannot see.  






Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 18:55:16 -0700
From: <maxsands at hotmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] PCT Closer Saddle Junction to HWY 10
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <SNT117-DS9C261A625F48704507890D0F80 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original

All,

I just retrieved a broken cell message from Captain Bivy (from Friday 
evening). If I understood him correctly the PCT has been closed by the 
rangers from Saddle Junction to HWY 10. This was due to fire clean up. 
PCTer may have to hitch from Idyllwild to hwy 10.
                          
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