[pct-l] Alcohol stove use

[Brick Robbins]

On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 3:49 AM, Jim Marco <jdm27 at cornell.edu> wrote:
> That entirely depends on the ranger (in the case you get caught) and you (if you are comfortable breaking a law.)<

This statement is completely wrong, and in my opinion is the worst
kind if misleading question, sort of like asking someone "when did you
stop beating your wife" that implies illegal activity no matter how
you answer.

I called the Descanso Ranger district of the Cleveland NF, which is
governs much of the first hundred miles of the trail,this morning,

There are currently NO STOVE RESTRICTION in the area they manage
(except no wood or charcoal, never ever) Call them yourself at
619-445-6235.

The BLM governs much of the land in SoCal too. According to:
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/cdd/fire_page.Par.21055.File.dat/CDD2014-Fire-Restriction-Order.pdf

All of the BLM land "within Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside,
San Diego and Imperial Counties designated as "Direct Protection
Areas" with fire suppression provided by CAL FIRE" is always
restricted to  "Controlled flame devices such as portable stoves
fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed by permit."

USFS stove restrictions mention an on/off valve. The BLM restrictions don't.

I think my portable stoves devices control flames pretty well One
happens to be a soda can with alcohol in it.

It would be nice if someone could find a legal definition of this BLM
term "Controlled flame devices" in this context.

>I think most of the problem is the liquid fuel in an open container, though that is not what is in the "law."<

I think this statement shows the motivation for the misleading
statement quoted above: It shows a general objection to this type of
stove. For the stoveless people there even seems to be a moral
objection to stoves in general.

Fire safety is really important, but all fire is dangerous, no matter
how we package it. I once had a gas stove turn into a flame thrower,
and it made an impressive show as it spun down the side of the glacier
into a crevasse. I hate to think what would have happened if we had
not been on ice.

But lets not fabricate legal barriers when they don't exist, and
respect them where they do.