[pct-l] Alcohol as a fuel

[CMountainDave@aol.com]

I must confess that I don't really see the advantage of using an alcohol 
stove over a traditional gas stove, especially when it comes to availability. 
I can see that an alcohol stove would be far more reliable than a gas one. 
I've seen several whisperlites erupt into flames and actually kicked one I 
formerly owned across a meadow in frustration when it kept sputtering out. (I 
later discovered that dirty gas is the main reason for reticent 
whisperlites). And I would much rather spill alcohol in my pack than gas. But 
it seems to me that unless you mailed it in a package, alcohol would be 
harder to find in towns and resorts along the PCT than white gas, which I 
found to be stocked in most places. I switched to a wood burning Sierra zip 
stove last year after watching one in action by a thru hiker. I love it to 
death, and ain't ever going back to my $#&%@* whisperlite!! Any thoughts on 
this? Mountain Dave
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