Fuel and stove for Nepal

I second your question! I plan to go to Nepal eventually, too. I'd like to know if using a Bush Buddy is an option.

A Bush-buddy is a definite no-no. Don't even consider it! Nepal has serious deforestation issues caused by villagers burning extra firewood for trekkers. It may not even be legal to collect wood, and you have pretty much zero chance of finding any in much of the mountain regions anyway.

If you want to be able to "refuel" in the Khumbu/Gokyo region then it is likely you will only be able to get hold of kerosene… or it's possible you might find some gas canisters in Namche Bazaar. So I'm not sure you'd find fuel for an alcohol stove… you'd probably have to find some in Kathmandu, which would defeat the purpose of carrying a light stove.

The other problem with the alcohol stove method is that there are some question marks about how well it will work at 5000m. The whitebox stove claims to work up to 4000m (tested by users) but that doesn't mean it works well. It can be really windy in some valleys up there, and I wouldn't want to rely on an alcohol stove to cook my dinner.

If you're camping in Khumbu/Gokyo it's going to get bloody cold (unless you are going in the monsoon!) which means that you would need to keep gas canisters warm before use (they don't vaporise properly below -10C I think).

The other option is a whisperlite or one of the coleman stoves with kerosene. I really do recommend the coleman peak 1 for reliability… but I've never used it at 5000m! They can pump out a lot of heat, and the peak 1 does pretty well in the wind (it's not as 'open' as the whisperlite). Plus you can use a lot of different fuels with it (but don't use it inside your tent!!).

Anyway, let me know if you have any other questions. I've spent a couple of months around Everest/Gokyo/Chukkung region but didn't take a stove last time I was there, and didn't camp. You better have a bloody good sleeping bag (at least -30C I'd say)!!

There was an interesting response from Martin on the other thread:

"My experience in Nepal was that you could find canister all the way up the Khumbu including Namche. My recollection in Nepal was that all my hot drink needs were met at the numerous tea houses found everywhere along the way. I carried a stove & tent all over the place in 2000 and never used it as we stayed in very well run tea houses everywhere…"

So if you want lightweight, then I would definitely go the canister option. The stoves only weigh about 80g and the canisters aren't that heavy either… they are much more efficient with fuel.

Be aware that for 90% (or more) of the time you probably won't want to camp, as Martin found. There are teahouses pretty much everywhere along the trail. The exception is if you want to camp out at everest base camp, island peak base camp, or head up the gokyo valley. That could be pretty cool.

I just noticed you said you were heading off in a couple of weeks, so it actually won't be as bitterly cold as I suggested. It only gets really cold at night anyway.

Ron,
I read this post a few days ago, but forgot to respond. Sounds like you want to stay in Teahouses, but then head out for a night or 2 in some other areas and camping. Here is what I found is the easiest thing to do. Eat and drink at the teahouses, and when you want to stay out and camp (or even a big day trip), grab a ziplock bag and fill it with some cooked potatos, rice, etc, and bunch of chocolate bars for snacks. Yeah, it'll be cold but the simplicity will be well worth it. Don't bother cooking or lugging your cooking equipment if you only plan to camp a few nights. Not worth it.
Now, if you DO want to bring cooking gear, my experience (May 07) was that fuel canisters were available at Namche without a doubt. I even saw them in…I can't remember the name now, but it's the last village on the way to Island Peak – I'll have to check the map.
Hope that helps!
Rick, there isn't much to burn for the bush buddy up high, and it's actually illegal to burn any wood, but all the locals burn dried yak dung for fuel…I've never tried it, but it burns pretty darn good…so…if you don't mind dirtying up the BB…well, let us know how it goes. :)

Edit: I should add that last year at EBC, there was a little tent set up with seating inside where you could buy cookies, muffins, drinks and whatnot right in the middle of all the expeditions – I stopped by :)…so even if you wanted to stay there you could get by for a day.

There are very good day trips and a few overnighters from the Gokyo side, and there is plenty of food to stock up in the village to bring with you.

EBC Coffee Shop below…

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses. My plan is to fly in a bit before my trek starts so I was hoping to get out for a couple of nights on my own around Goyko if at all possible. I will be staying in teahouses for the entire 2 weeks of my trek, so I was hoping to switch it up a bit with some camping.

I want to take a stove because I dread cold dinners. I just dont sleep as well. I have a jet engine, er, a MSR white gas/kerosene stove (cant remember the exact model because I use it so little). I just prefer not to use it. It sounds like the cannister stove is the way to go.

Thanks again for the input!

> I have a jet engine, er, a MSR white gas/kerosene stove
Why did a picture of the XGK spring to mind so quickly …. :-)

hehe. Roger Im almost sure thats the model… its in storage now, or Id check. Its just so hard to justify that much weight for a couple of nights of hot water.

Truth be told, I was hoping I could find some medical grade (ie Iso 91%) rubbing alcohol. I know it is not fast nor ideal, but I hate carrying a cannister. thoughts anyone?

You can't fly with most alcohol stove fuels but I bet you could get away with a bottle of everclear or two. I'd suggest testing it up around lake brainard to test how well it works at altitude first though. I know it works at low altitude but doesn't pack the punch of HEET or denatured alochol.