From: T496ApacheA@aol.com
Date: Mon Jan 07 2002 - 18:50:07 CST
I have been a lurker here on the list since '98. Picked up a thousand great tips on the old list & now the new list. Thanks to all for your great advice, hard work and patience. I am going back with the NWSC contingent this July (like Christmas in July to
me).
I was an advisor back in '98, trek 5, 718k. Caught the "philfever" and can't wait to go back !
We had a couple of Scouts who had bought the new Coleman Max Fuel stoves. I was skeptical at first about these stoves. I had purchased a Peak 400 and liked it-had used it quite a bit b4 arriving at Philmont.
But the Max Fuel Stoves made a believer out of me.
First, while I was playing around, pumping up and heating my generator to get the flame nice and hot, one of the Scouts would pop on a cartridge, light his burner and he was instantly "on". Either at a simmer or at "full on" to heat up water. It literally
is alot like a minitature blow torch with it's inverted cone shaped burner.
Second, although I knew white gas was readily available at base camp & in the back country depot's, I had highly doubted that the new Max fuel cartridges would be even at Philmont. Wrongo, saw them everywhere in '98. The boys carried enough cartridges for
the whole trip, I think maybe a total of 8 Large cartridges for the 2 Stoves. (We shipped our cartridges ahead via good ole UPS-I didn't want to see them cause a problem on Amtrak-pressurized fuel in the baggage car-not good).
I carried white gas in the aluminum fuel bottle and my Peak 400 stove; "burner on top of the Gas tank", bomb as some like to describe it. It quickly became the back-up stove, much to my surprise !
The connection where the Fuel cartridge is installed is subject to damage or misuse if a Scout isn't properly taught how to put it on. Just like anything, if you don't show them how to properly use something - it might get damaged. That is why we do all th
e shake-downs and get all the bugs out. We had a cartridge not fit well at the Porkies (Upper Michigan Wilderness State Park-beautiful). Took it back to the store. Suggest you try any cartridges you buy, whether at home or Philmont, and make sure they are
Takes a few seconds to pop them on and off. But we have only seen one "bad" one ever.
Third: The fact that the Scouts didn't have to mess with liquid gas was a no-brainer for me. The potential for somebody getting burned just seems to me to be quite a bit less. I don't think weight is a factor either as the canisters are filled with gas, no
t a liquid which is heavier. Signe is right on-these Stoves do well at altitude & cold. They are just plain great !
No - I don't work for Coleman, but I am in the field of Sales !!
I just had to finally break my code of silence on this list. These Stoves are quick, burn great and are much safer IMHO.
BTW - In '98 I took the advice off this list of the One Pot method, gave it to our crew to try and now for the most part, it's our standard MO.
The more I read about these durn Turkey Bags, I swear I'm going to try it and I'm betting we will like it. Gut sumping/licking just really spoils the end of a meal too me. We drank lots of water and never had a problem with dehydration, although a nice hot
cup of soup by itself after cold rain storms sure sounds like a good idea !
Bob McDermott
SA T496, Schaumburg, IL
I wanna go back to Philmont........!
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