[pct-l] Alcohol Stoves

[Ann Gerckens]

Not all alcohol stoves are sodacan stoves.  I started with a trangia in '94 and 
replaced it with a caldera this year.  Both have windscreens.  While I don't 
doubt that there are hikers who knocked over their sodacan stoves, I've seen 
plenty of hikers have accidents with gas stoves, both liquid and pressurized. 
 And then there are the ones who prime their whisper lights by dousing the whole 
stove (and surrounding area) with gas then flipping a match.  Fummmph!! The 
problem is usually tired and/or careless people, not the stove they use.  And 
sometimes the equipment malfunctions.  An O ring on my campgaz butane stove 
failed in 1988(Virginia AT) resulting in a 6ft blow torch.  I was very thankful 
that I did not set the woods on fire.
 
SPLAT!