From: Michael Anderson (michael.anderson@nara.gov)
Date: Tue Feb 19 2002 - 14:45:58 CST
Awesome information! Thanks to Cooper, Brent, Signe, and Mark for al=
l the info on stoves. I also found the postings on rain gear to be e=
xtremely useful. Speaking as a rookie camper, I love this listserv! =
=0D=0A=0D=0A>>> CoopWright@aol.com 02/19/02 03:19PM >>>=0D=0AGood com=
ments from everyone on stoves. I thought I would include the section=
on stoves that is in the 2002 Philmont Advisor Guide that is availab=
le as an e-mail attachment for a $10 donation to Venturing Crew 1519.=
=0D=0A=0D=0AStoves=0D=0A=0D=0AWhen Coop first went to Philmont in 195=
8 as a Scout, all cooking was done over an open fire. Backcountry co=
oking 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 tho=
roughly checked out before hitting the trail. However, most airlines=
will no longer accept stoves and fuel bottles as baggage and you wil=
l 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 duri=
ng baggage check-in and had to buy new ones when they arrived at Phil=
mont! 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 ta=
nk, empty all fuel from the tank and relight the stove. This will bu=
rn out any resid=0D=0A=0D=0APhilmont recommends that one stove be car=
ried for each four crewmembers. However, because we use 4-quart pots=
, we only use two stoves, but carry a third for backup. MSR Whisperl=
ite white gas stoves seem to be the most popular at Philmont, but Pea=
k I, Coleman Apexes, MSR Dragon Flys, and the new Peak 1 PowerMax but=
ane/propane cartridge stoves have also been seen in the backcountry. =
White gas and Peak 1 PowerMax cartridges (introduced at Philmont in =
1998) are sold at all commissary stops so you need not carry eleven d=
ays of fuel. If you use a white gas stove, we recommend that you bri=
ng 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.=0D=0A=0D=0AWhatever stove is chosen=
, it is important that you are familiar with it before you leave home=
. In his book, The Complete Walker III, Colin Fletcher says that mos=
t of the trouble with backpacking stoves comes from stupidity and neg=
lect. Stupidity isn't readily curable; neglect is. Check your stove=
before you leave home and know how to safely operate and maintain yo=
ur stove on the trail. Stoves demand your crew's respect and care.=
=0D=0A=0D=0AUse a wind screen (store bought, natural protected area, =
or packs and people) to keep your stove lit in windy conditions. Mak=
e 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 u=
p. Beware of large pots. They spill easily and can entrap enough he=
at to cause your stove to explode. Fill your stove away from your co=
oking area so that any spilled fuel will not be ignited when you ligh=
t 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 d=
own before refilling or packing away. Stow fuel bottles and stoves i=
n a pack's outside pocket. Make sure that tops are on tight and ch=
=0D=0A=0D=0AThe first rule in lighting a stove is not to light it unt=
il 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. Wh=
en the cook crew starts working, everyone seems to migrate to the fir=
e circle, drooling at the mouth with cups and spoons in hand. If som=
eone walks through the fire circle, he can easily tip a stove or a po=
t 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 bec=
ause he was inside the fire ring and was burned by hot water. As a r=
ule, once the stoves are lit, allow no one in the fire circle other t=
han the cook crew. The penalty for the offender is that he gets to d=
o the dishes.=0D=0A=0D=0AA question that is often raised is how much =
fuel is required? IF 4-quart pots with tightly fitting lids are used=
for heating water instead of the large 8-quart pot that Philmont iss=
ues, and IF dish washing is performed as described in this booklet, a=
nd IF stoves are never lit until the pot is ready to be put on the st=
ove, and IF the pot is taken off the stove immediately after the wate=
r reaches a boil and then the food is mixed in, two 32 ounce fuel con=
tainers is all that is required and one will last for four days of us=
e. A suggested crew equipment list is contained in Appendix D.=0D=
=0A=0D=0ACooper Wright=0D=0AAdvisor, Crew 1519=0D=0ACo-author of the =
Philmont Advisor's Guide=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D=0A---=
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