Stoves

I can think of a few options. If you want to stick with alcohol, a Zelph Starlyte stove *might* do the trick, depending on the exact restrictions in RMNP.
Otherwise, the JetBoil Sol & MiniMo are two heavier, but very convenient systems. Also, the BRS-3000 is a cheap ($11) minimalist canister stove that weighs only 25g and is generally well reviewed here.

That's new to me in terms of the Alchie stove. Did a ranger say that? It has been a very wet spring in this area so I am a little surprised. I am no doubting, just curious as to the source.

If you've got a little time, Google "Gearbest BRS stove" and an $11, free shipping, 25 gram (0.88 ounce) option pops up. They arrive in about 2 weeks.

I've liked the ones I've gotten, but some people have recently gotten ones with some QC problems. Definitely test run it at home before hitting the trail.

You can't get anything cheaper, lighter and smaller.

There's a current thread with many more details.

At $11, I'd suggest you order one with a trip to REI as your backup plan.

In those situations, I then don't bring food I need to cook.

If the wife is going and just needs boiled water and no simmering, I bring a Jetboil Sol Titanium without the stand. I've cut off the plastic stuff on the stove after the my igniter broke. That weighs 219 grams without fuel or empty canister weight.

Get a MSR MicroRocket or Snow Peak Giga Power GS-100 canister stove. The highest btu small canister top stove I know of is the Coleman Exponent F1, can be found on eBay at times.
Duane

Hi Paul,
Yes I did call the park office yesterday, and they told me that, anything not having an on-off switch is not allowed.

Thanks to all of you.
Gearbest BRS stove looks great and deserves a try.

"Yes I did call the park office yesterday, and they told me that, anything not having an on-off switch is not allowed."

Wow…

Again, I did not doubt it..just surprised. First time in CO I heard about when there is not a general open flame ban. Then again, RMNP does not allow fires other than campground so perhaps I should not be surprised. Wonder if other national parks are similar?

The problem with these "the ranger said" is that one ranger will say one thing, another ranger another. It is what happens in the High Sierra districts.

Interesting.

Having said that, if one ranger said it, even if another does not, best to adhere. :)

I wrote them just now as I like things in writing and I am sure it will come up again. Good to have concrete info to pass on. Hopefully they will write back and I'll share what they wrote.

ps. I bought a BRS stove just in case there is an alcohol stove ban (and I am not going stoveless)

Again, I had no doubts..juts like to see things in writing. :) I will admit to being a little surprised as this is the first I heard of such a ban in NPS units outside of general open flame bans (again, RMNP does not allow campfires except in campground and a very few backcountry sites..so maybe I should not be surprised)

Not sure if applies to ALL NPS units or just RMNP.

Here's the exchange if anyone is curious:

ROMO Information, NPS (sent by

to Paul
Stoves must have an on/off switch to be used in the Park.

Information Office
Rocky Mountain National Park
970.586.1206

NPS.gov/ROMO
Twitter: RockyNPS
Like us on Facebook at RockyNPS

The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all my experience our heritage. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA.

On Tue, Jun 9, 2015 at 11:21 AM, Paul Mags <

If possible, could you please clarify this statement: " In back country sites, fuel camp stoves, petroleum fuel/gas stoves are permitted"

Does that mean canister and white gas stoves *only*? (i.e. stoves with UL certification and an on/off valve). Are solid fuel stoves and alcohol stoves specifically banned for backcountry use?

Again, thank you for your time.

ROMO Information, NPS (sent by

to pmags
The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, petroleum fuel/gas stoves, propane turkey cookers and gas grills are allowed for food preparation in all campgrounds. Used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in a trash receptacle. In back country sites, fuel camp stoves, petroleum fuel/gas stoves are permitted. There are a few back country sites that do have fire rings where you may have wood fires and even charcoal fires if you wish to carry in charcoal. Thank you for your interest in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Information Office
Rocky Mountain National Park
970.586.1206

NPS.gov/ROMO
Twitter: RockyNPS
Like us on Facebook at RockyNPS

The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all my experience our heritage. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA.

I have one of the Gearbest stoves and haven't had any issues. At the price, I wish I had bought 2 in case there's an issue with durability in the future.

I have ordered different things from Gearbest on 3 separate occasions and all 3 times it's taken about 8 weeks for delivery.

> In back country sites, fuel camp stoves, petroleum fuel/gas stoves are permitted.
As clear as mud.
What is a fuel camp stove?

And they never even answered about alky stoves, did they?
No, they did not.

Um … alcohol is a fuel, and an alky is a camp stove, yes?

Cheers

The off switch is a quick puff of air to blow out the alchy stove. Once my snow peak had a leaky gasket and went up in flames, and um….ya it didnt blow out….i threw it like a flaming grenade and it eventually just went out, i guess it must have a high pressure shut off or something.

I am always curious about parks not allowing certain types of stoves. What is the worst case scenario if you are somehow caught with your alchy stove? Its not like airport security, they dont check you on the way in, and they dont exactly patrol the woods. I just dont get what the fuss is about. On the off chance they see the stove being used, wouldnt they just ask you to stop? I kinda think of it as a general "please dont turn our park into a blazing inferno" and proceed accordingly.

RMNP was a mecca to me when I first moved to Colorado in the late 90s. It's where I did my first backcountry trips in the US and learned about the effects of altitude and the need for bear safety.

But over the years the place became less and less appealing, too much bureaucracy and some of the best terrain on the west side has been blighted by pine beetle, killing countless trees.

This extra regulation in a year with so much late snowfall / minimal fire danger just shows how bloody-minded and illogical the powers that be are. One more reason to visit other wilderness areas instead.

Do they have little pimply-faced stove police sneaking up on you in the morning to see how you made your coffee?

A Trangia has an "on/off" switch – the snuffer.