[philmont] Disposing of gas cannisters

Dave
 
Taken from the Philmont Advisor's Guide, an unofficial publication of Venturing Crew 1519.
 
If you want a copy of the entire guide, let me know.
 
Stoves
 
When Coop first went to Philmont in 1958 as a crewmember, all cooking was done over an open fire. Backcountry cooking changed a great deal since then (so has Coop!!) and stoves have become an essential part of crew equipment. We typically bring our own stoves from home. This way we can ensure that they have been thoroughly checked out before hitting the trail. However, most airlines will no longer accept stoves, fuel bottles, and butane lighters as baggage and you will have to send them via parcel post or UPS to and from Philmont.
 
One crew in Coop’s 2000 contingent did not heed this advice and wound up having their stoves and fuel bottles confiscated at the airport during baggage check-in and had to buy new ones when they arrived at Philmont! Before packaging up your stoves and fuel bottles, they must be completely empty and as fume free as possible. If you are bringing a Peak 1 stove or any other type of stove that has a built-in fuel tank, empty all fuel from the tank and relight the stove. This will burn out any residual fuel that may be left in the bottom of the tank and in the generator. Once the stove goes out, pump it up again and let air perform a final purge of the system. Make sure that all fuel bottles have been washed out with Camp Suds and rinsed with water and have had a chance to air dry. Rinsing your fuel bottles will ensure that they contain no residual gas. Remember that you will have to perform these same procedures when you come off the trail in preparation for your trip home.
 
The last night on the trail, combine the leftover fuel into one bottle and begin washing and airing out the other fuel bottles. If you can wash and rinse the fuel bottles on the trail and give them an evening to air out, you will have fewer hassles when you arrive back in base camp. Once you arrive in base camp, try to find an outgoing crew that needs fuel at the Welcome Center, Logistics or Services. If your crew comes off the trail late, go to Packs and Gas to turn in your extra fuel. Once the fuel bottles have been emptied, wash and rinse them out and begin air-drying. DO NOT TRY TO BURN THE FUMES FROM THE BOTTLE. Package the stoves and fuel bottles, but DO NOT TAPE UP THE BOX. The Post Office at Philmont will inspect the stoves and fuel bottles (or smell them) and will seal your package after they have been aired out completely. They will then ship your stoves and fuel bottles home.
 
Philmont recommends that one stove be carried for each four crewmembers. However, because we use 4-quart pots, we only use two stoves, but carry a third for backup. MSR Whisperlite white gas stoves seem to be the most popular at Philmont, but Peak I, Coleman Apex, MSR Dragon Fly, and Coleman Exponent Powermax butane/propane cartridge stoves have also been seen in the backcountry. White gas and Powermax cartridges (introduced at Philmont in 1998) are sold at all commissary stops so you need not carry eleven days of fuel. If you use a white gas stove, we recommend that you bring along a Coleman filter funnel to reduce the possibility of getting dirty fuel. Be sure and give it to the commissary personnel to use when they fill your fuel bottles. Please note that Philmont does not rent stoves and that no canister fuel except Powermax is sold at Philmont.
 
Whatever stove is chosen, it is important that you are familiar with it before you leave home. In his book, The Complete Walker IV, Colin Fletcher says that most of the trouble with backpacking stoves comes from stupidity and neglect. Stupidity isn’t readily curable; neglect is. Check your stove before you leave home and know how to safely operate and maintain your stove on the trail. Stoves demand your crew’s respect and care.
 
Use a wind screen (store bought, natural protected area, or packs and people) to keep your stove lit in windy conditions. Make sure that your crew tops off the stove’s fuel tank before starting a meal. It isn’t easy to interrupt meal preparation for a refill and it can be dangerous with a hot stove. Make sure that your crew does not overfill their stoves. Both Peak 1 and Whisperlite stoves need an air space that can be pressurized when the stove is being pumped up. Beware of large pots. They spill easily and can entrap enough heat to cause your stove to explode. Fill your stove away from your cooking area so that any spilled fuel will not be ignited when you light your stove.
 
Should your stove flare up, have a pot ready to place over it to snuff out the flames. Never use a stove in or near a tent. Never open the fuel cap of a hot stove. Always let a stove cool down before refilling it or packing it away. Stow fuel bottles and stoves in a pack’s outside pocket. Make sure that tops are on tight and check (before you hit the trail) that the gaskets are not cracked and do not leak. Use a funnel or pour spout when filling a stove. Always empty your stove when storing it; old fuel can separate and gum up the generator. Carry a maintenance kit for your stove with you and KNOW how to use it. Better yet, give your stoves a complete check up before you go to Philmont and make sure they are ready for the trail.
 
The first rule in lighting a stove is not to light it until something is ready to be cooked or boiled. Likewise, never leave a stove burning with nothing on it. Crews waste gas by lighting the stove and waiting for someone to find the pot and get the water. The second rule is to make sure that the fire circle is established. When the cook crew starts working, everyone seems to migrate to the fire circle, drooling at the mouth with cups and spoons in hand.
 
If someone walks through the fire circle, he can easily tip a stove or a pot over, scalding the offender or innocent bystanders and wasting food. We know of a crew leader who had to come off the trail in 1999 because he was inside the fire ring and was burned by hot water. As a rule, once the stoves are lit, allow no one in the fire circle other than the cook crew. The penalty for the offender is that he gets to do the dishes.
 
A question that is often raised involves the amount of fuel is required? IF 4-quart pots with tightly fitting lids are used for heating, and IF dish washing is performed as described in this booklet, and IF stoves are never lit until the pot is ready to be put on the stove, and IF the pot is taken off the stove immediately after the water reaches a boil and then the food is mixed in, two 32 ounce fuel containers is all that is required for the entire trip. However, we typically carry an extra bottle just in case. Similarly, four or five Powermax cartridges should be sufficient. In 2005, Mimi’s crew used two Coleman Exponent stoves with Powermax cartridges, and needed a total of three cartridges during their trek. Gary’s 2005 crew scrounged extra cocoa for their cold morning wake ups and needed almost five canisters. A suggested crew equipment list is contained in Appendix D.
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: dave-s@pacbell.net
To: philmont@troop47.com
Sent: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 10:52 AM
Subject: [philmont] Disposing of gas cannisters

Two years ago we took 2 white gas stoves to Philmont, which worked fine. Since we were flying in, I shipped the stoves by UPS, and bought the gas at Philmont.
 
This year, the scouts are talking about wanting to take cannister stoves. Some questions:
 
1) Which type of cannister does Philmont sell at the backcountry trading posts?
 
2) Will the staffed camps accept empty cannisters as trash?
 
3) Will headquarters accept empty cannisters as trash?
 
4) Can we ship full or empty cannisters, or check them on the airline as luggage?
 
I'm more interested in answers to these questions, and less interested in "are white gas stoves better than..." discussions, but who can control this group :-)
 
Thanks for your help,
Dave Smith
Troop 32
Santa Rosa, CA
2007 703-O
 
 
 
 
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Received on Tue Apr 3 11:28:58 2007