Fire restrictions up north here already

" Big effect on alcohol users along the PCT and elsewhere."

I checked with the East Sierra Interagency Visitor staff when I picked up a permit for Bench Lake on June 9, and they said alcohol stoves are OK for SEKI. My guess, however, is that this could change as the Sierra dries out. It was still a bit damp
last week, but there is not much snow left and it will be extremely dry by late July , if not sooner.

I just got back from SEKI and the PCT and the ranger said nothing about no alcohol stoves. He did mention a number of campsites where fires weren't allowed, such as Rae Lakes. I went stoveless so it made no difference to me. I did enjoy a campfire one thunderstormy night with a bunch of thru-hikers near Woods Creek.

I'd think down south, things would be drier. Already here on the Plumas NF, signs already posted by Fire Stations either show moderate or high. I have not cut any firewood yet this year, so I don't know if hoot owl is in effect yet.
Duane

"I'd think down south, things would be drier."

That is ordinarily the case, but the snowfall is highly variable from micro environment to micro environment. We ran into snow just below Taboose Pass last week
at around 10,800', and there was water running down the trail in many places all the way down to ~10,600 on the west(interior) side of the Sierra Crest, with lots of snow patches and standing water. The ground was still damp in a lot of places, but then dangerously dry in others. One thing for sure, it was a very low snow year just about everywhere, and in another month at most, it will be dangerously dry from one end of the Sierra to the other.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/naturescience/fire-restrictions.htm

At all fire danger levels, alcohol and esbit seem to be expressly ALLOWED in writing now, in SEKI.

We spent the weekend at Loch Leven lakes off of 80 this weekend and the national forest person I some to said no wood fires allowed. Very early this year, we've been snows on in past years in early June.

I wonder if the USFS would permit some kinds of ESBIT stoves where usually only canister stoves are allowed.

I'm thinking specifically of Trail Designs' Cone stoves with Gram Cracker ESBIT tab holder and Ti floor.

Also Brian Green's better ESBIT Gram Cracker type tray would be even better B/C it retains all of the liquid residue for doubling the burn time.

Jus' wonderin'…

AND NOW THIS… I guess we all will have to get accustomed to dealing with ever more fire restrictions as global warming (the proper name) continues unabated over the coming decades.

Not terribly helpful regarding stove use but new info…

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/stnf/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3804858

From Sierra National Forest yesterday.

"Forest Order has been put in place as of June 25, 2014 restricting campfires in the Sierra National Forest. Campfires are not permited unless you are in a designated campground everywhere else you can have a camper stove, or anything that you can turn on and off. Please click here for full Forest Order No. 15-14-06."

On 6-13 I talked to a Tahoe NF ranger in the HQ office in Nevada City (as of that date, Tahoe NF was the only NF that had yet posted restrictions.) I specifically asked about Esbit since, of course, it's not mentioned in the list of approved fuels.

They are focused on wood-based fuels. More specifically, anything that gives off "sparks or embers" or "leaves any ash or residue".

"Residue" caught my attention, so I clarified that the tablet can be blown out or burn out and nothing is left that can blow away.

An additional item came up about contact with duff/needles. Again I had to describe that Esbit is contained inside the stove (I use the inverted bottom of a V8/Bed Bull can) and that the tablet doesn't directly contact the ground.

She was happy with that and said that, yes, Esbit is legal.

It was clear to me that sparks and ash embers are of primary concern.

Certainly verify with the local office of wherever you're going to be sure.

"She was happy with that and said that, yes, Esbit is legal."

Did you get a name or that on paper? What is her official position with the service? Does she write policy? You got the answer you wanted. Does not mean she is right.

Wish they would catch up with terminology and knowledge of what people are using.