Colorado Trail stove/fuel questions:

You need to structure your question differently. Too many variables.

If you've used the Coleman F1 for five days at a time, then you should have a good idea about fuel consumption with it. However, we have no idea how many days you expect to be on the trail between resupplies. You ought to be able to extrapolate how long canisters will last.

Should you go with an alcohol based solution. Maybe. Do you have a good alcohol burner and have you used it for five days at a time?

Your hiking partner is using an MSR with regular gasoline. Fine. Did you ask him if it was viable for you to use his stove? We don't know him. In general, it is practical for two backpackers to share the weight of one hot stove, but if it is his stove, you better ask him. You could offer to carry so much gasoline. OBTW, regular unleaded gasoline has some fumes that may not be healthy, so you better use the thing completely ventilated and downwind.

–B.G.–

i really came here to ask the same question:

how many cups of water can a 4 oz or an 8 oz canister boil on the colorado trail ( elev 9k – 12k ft)? if a dinner = 2 cups of water, how many dinners do you get out a cup using an MSR Pocket Rocket?

To answer part of your question on resupply and getting canisters along the way, look up PMags Colorado Trail end to end guide. he has the info you want.

How can you possibly do the entire trail with just 2 resupplies?? I'm leaving last week of July..

from my May 5 and 6 posts to the CT Forum at trailforums.com:

Freeze-Dried Food
These outdoor stores are on or near the trail. you could call them and ask. Please post your results here. (and it's TWIN Lakes, not Tween Lakes)
Breckenridge: Mountain Outfitters 970-453-2201 Leadville: Bill's Sporting Goods 719-486-0739 Leadville: Sawatch Backcountry 719-486-2271 Buena Vista: Trailhead Sports 719-395-8002 Salida: Salida Mountain Sports 719-539-4400 Creede: San Juan Sports 719-658-2482 Lake City: Sportsman Outdoor & Fly Shop 970-944-2526 Silverton: Outdoor World 970-387-5628

Freeze Dried Food and Fuel Availability
I’ve contacted – or tried to – each of the outdoor stores listed in my earlier post to determine if they carry (1) freeze-dried meals, (2) MSR-style gas canisters for stoves, and (3) Esbit solid fuel tablets. San Juan Sports in Creede is closed for the season, re-opening in May, and I’ve not received a response from Bill’s Sporting Goods in Leadville yet.
Here’s a summary of the responses to date:

BRECKENRIDGE (Mountain Outfitters): carries Mountain House brand freeze-dried meals and MSR and JetBoil canisters – both the 100 and 230 gram sizes for each. They do not carry Esbit tablets but will stock them for you if you call and arrange it in advance.

LEADVILLE (Sawatch Back Country): carries Mountain House and Natural High brand FD meals as well as MSR, JetBoil, and Primus gas canisters. They did not mention Esbit in their reply.

BUENA VISTA (Trailhead Sports): carries Mountain House FD meals and MSR, JetBoil, and Primus canisters. They do not carry Esbit tablets but will stock them for you if you call and arrange it in advance. They also hold packages for hikers.

SALIDA (Salida Mountain Sports): carries BackPacker’s Pantry brand FD meals and both sizes of MSR and JetBoil canisters, as well as Primus and optimus. They do carry Esbit tablets (good news for me).

LAKE CITY (Sportsman Outdoor): carries Mountain House brand FD meals and gas canisters (no brands named). They do not carry Esbit tablets.

SILVERTON (Outdoor World): not to be confused with Bass Pro’s Outdoor World, this is a small local shop. He carries Mountain House FD meals, both sizes of MSR and JetBoil canisters, and will probably have Esbit tablets. They get a lot of CT and CDT hikers through every year.

And of course, REI has several stores in Denver, including a flagship store in downtown Denver, apparently not too far (for a hiker) from the 16th and Market Street bus station.

Wandering Bob

wow, thanks for all the great info – I should have posted this thread after doing a lot more research; my apologies.

two resupplies is also way too little, we are now doing four.

Thanks again for your help, I'm revising my plan and it's beginning to look a lot better.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/selecting_stoves_for_cold_weather_part_1.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/comparative_fuel_efficiency_and_weight_of_stoves_pt2.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_canister_stoves_test_report.html

The way to measure your remaining canister fuel supply is to do the following:

1. place FULL canister in pot of water & mark the water level (scratch it on)
**Be sure to purge air from the concave canister bottom

2. to check remaining fuel supply place the canister in a pot of water & mark present water level

This system works well BUT each canister manufacturer needs to have its full canisters marked B/C they are often using different weight can materials & therefore the "FULL" marks will be different.

I'm starting the CT July 22. You might consider what I'm doing.

Here is an option that lets you skip that long walk – or longer hitch – into and out of Creede. Take advantage of Apple's Angel Camp at Lujan Pass, 48 miles south of Salida. You can even catch a ride into Gunniston with them; leaving 5 pm; returning 9 pm.

See these two threads from the CT forum:

http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=59263&Thread=1&roomID=13&entryID=133903

http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=58522&Thread=1&roomID=13&entryID=132093

He's leaving for CO at the end of the week, so you'd better email him ASAP if you want to take advantage of his kind offer.

Wandering Bob