Jim, here is the problem. both wood fired stoves and alcohol and esbit type stoves are currently illegal to use in many areas
Ken, thank you for pointing that out. I sometimes assume that everyone "just knows" that fires, for example, are always banned above 10,000' in the Sierra. "Everybody knows that", right? Well, maybe not, so thank you.
Now, some issues:
1. Of course Sierra National Forest policies only apply to Sierra National Forest -- and then only certain areas within that forest. National Parks, State Parks, etc. do not have such restrictions. In many areas, wood fires are perfectly fine.
2. ESBIT is supposedly banned (if you read things really strictly). Why on earth would ESBIT be banned? From a fire safety stand point, ESBIT is the number one safest fuel, bar none. Generally speaking, the US Forest Service policies on stoves make little sense. They permit "jellied petroleum". I challenge anyone to even find a stove that works on jellied petroleum (more commonly called
napalm), and if you did find one, it wouldn't be safe.
It's possible that what they really mean is Sterno, which is jellied
alcohol, but why would Sterno be OK but ESBIT not? US Forest Service regs make little sense and give the appearance that the person who wrote them knew little or nothing about back country stoves.
HJ
