RE: [pct-l] alcohol stove fuel

["David B. Stockton" <davstock@tiac.net>]

Ron --
	"Dry gas" is a liquid winter fuel additive that one uses up North to help 
ensure that water-ice doesn't form in the car's gas line.

	Actually, I was thinking of "Annie and the salesman" 's post, because they 
said that they used both alcohol (in the form of what they called "gas line 
antifreeze") and Esbit tablets.  So I was confused, and apologize for the 
confusion it may have caused you and anyone else.

	I've always thought that unleaded low-test was the most readily-available, 
and thus the best, fuel for the PCT.  I've always filled-up "at the pump". 
 But if  dry-gas / gas-antifreeze is ok, together with hardware store 
denatured alcohol, then alcohol is a real candidate for me because of the 
stove's lightness.  I'm sure a bit of technique handles the difference in 
heat output.  Since I'm trying to follow Ray Jardine's principle of 
substituting judgement and technique for gear, your stove and 
Annie-and-the-salesman have me thinking.

	As far as MSR unreliability, mentioned in other posts.  Not at all for me. 
 I've used them (XGK, WLite Int'l) for 15 years now all over the world in 
all kinds of weather with Coleman, unleaded, and kerosene and have a lot of 
affection for the taste of unleaded at the end of that little pipe that 
makes the water hot that makes the food tasty that makes the belly full and 
the chill retreat.  But don't mix kero and wgas, even the little bit left 
over -- apparently it makes varnish (read soot everywhere). I learned to be 
sure I rinsed with the fuel I was changing to.

	Would Annie or salesman mind commenting on the "gas line antifreeze"?  Is 
this the same as "dry gas", at 60 cents a bottle?  Is it pure alcohol?  Any 
noxious fumes?

-- Dave

-----Original Message-----
From:	Ronald Moak [SMTP:ronm@fallingwater.com]
Sent:	Thursday, November 04, 1999 9:09 AM