[pct-l] Stove Choices

[Montedodge@aol.com]

I own 2 alcohol burner stoves. ( one is a 30 year old sigg ) These are 
no-brainer's to use and about as light as any stove made. Use hardware store 
alcohol or Marine alcohol which is around 7 to 8 bucks a gallon. I have also 
used plain old rubbing alcohol in a pinch which is cheap but burns dirty and 
not as hot. Downside to alcohol is finding fuel in some areas and low 
horsepower. Other stoves maybe heavier but have an advantage in cooler 
weather with more BTU's. Choices 20 plus years ago were few but some are 
still good choices today. The Svea 123 or the optimus 8R are still solid 
performers that burn coleman fuel or unleaded gas ( low octane ) and have few 
parts to lose or wear out. These stoves as well as the MSR models offer the 
BTU's for snow camping or where higher performance is sometimes needed. Jim 
Whitaker's ( First American up Everest ) all-time favorite stove is the 
Optimus model" 00" which is a straight kerosene model. These are only 
slightly more complicated than an alcohol burner with a set screw on the 
filler cap to control flame and sound as loud as a MSR XGK. The only 
maintance is a little oil on the pumpcup each month and a cleaning needle 
down the jet. Many under forty hikers may have not seen these great old 
stoves ( used on Everest in through the sixies ) Again kerosene is spotty in 
some areas of the PCT and alcohol or paste is needed to prime them. If hiking 
the PCT next year and rating lightness above performance, go with alcohol to 
Weldon.  At Weldon trade to white gas or ( blasfamy. canister) then back to 
your alcohol.  Some like the ease and convinience of a cannister stove. Fuel 
cost is of course much higher and depending on the model chosen, cannisters 
may be spotty. Shipping may be questionable as well. I used an Optimus 8R on 
my thru-hike which still works great and would use again. Of course many 
other thu-hikers used different stoves which worked flawlessly for them. Each 
stove has an advantage and a downside. Just a few thoughts on choices
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