Sweeper, how much trouble did you have finding alcohol for your stove?
Charles
Alcohol re-supply
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#2
Well, I didn’t use alcohol and I am not Sweeper, but I know that the others who I hiked around had no problems with fuel. I think that the stores around the AT have wised up to the fact that hikers all carry different types of fuel. I used esbit and I had it mail-dropped, but I could’ve bought it on the trail easily.
The AT is the most popular trail in the US because of the fact that it is convienient. You should have no problem with fuel.
windex
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#4
Charles,
I thru-hiked in '99 all the way with an alcohol stove. Had no problem. Alcohol is a very common solvent and if the store does not have it, your local gas station or hardware store does. In fact, most of my alcohol came from a hardware store.
Mr. Boo
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#5
Charles,
Windex and Mr. Boo are right on. I noticed that there would have been no real difficulty to pick up alcohol. Most of the time though, I had it sent in my mail drop, this is a big no no, and I would not advise you do this. Hardware stores, gas stations, general stores, even grocery stores will carry alcohol of different varieties.
Of course denatured is prefered, but methynol and isopropyl are OK substitutes. I’d choose methynol 2nd in the form of HEET antifreeze (don’t use the red bottle iso-HEET which is more volatile) 3rd, isopropyl 90% rubbing alcohol will work in most temperatures. In the warmer months, as low as 70% rubbing alcohol (which is VERY common) will work but is quite sooty and much less efficient. Also, in a pinch, certain hand sanitizers can double as stove fuel with an often pleasant aroma! (but this is a tad pricey) And I’ve heard that if you can get to an ABC, everclear is the most environmentally friendly of them all 
but that’s if you got the cash and you’re over 21.
Also! Places to keep an eye out for alcohol in towns are the notorious friendly hostels and Inns that hikers frequent. Even if you don’t stay you can maybe give a donation of whatever you were planning to spend on a fill-up and tap some of the leftover cannisters and bottles that other hikers will have left behind. Boy, I can’t even list all the hostels that offered that but rest assured there’re quite a few!
Sweeper
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#6
Talked to a friend the other night about using an alcohol stove on the trail and he joking suggested that I should add to the post "ANY
Mr. Boo
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#7
Opps, hit the wrong button while typing the last post. Will try again.
My friend suggested “ANY STILL ONE STUMBLES ON ALONG THE WAY!” Moonshine is 180 proof, which means that it makes a mighty fine fuel for an alcohol stove, hic!
Mr. Boo
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#8
According to my uncles, who dabbled in the manufactor of moonshine, and served time to prove it, most of the nectar comes off a run at about 140 proof. This would burn, but I don’t know how good. In addition, most bootleggers then cut it to about 100 proof before sale. But all is not lost. Even at 100 proof, moonshine can creat quite a bit of internal heat. Just remember that when it starts to taste smooth, you’ve had WAY too much.
Ken Clark
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#9
Ken,
I stagger corrected. Anyway, I thought it an amusing suggestion. 140 proof is still a kick and a half in the pants and still could cook up a dinner, even if it is in the gut.
In fact, does anyone know of anywhere on the trail that passes near still country? The closest I know of on the trail is the side road off of the Virginia Creeper/AT where the Iron Mountain Trail starts.
Mr. Boo
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#10
I would guess that moonshine is available all the way from Georgia to Maryland, at least. It’s a matter of knowing the right locals. I have lived in Boone,N.C. and Charlottesville, Va. and I knew that there were stills around both of those areas. The still I knew of near Charlottesville was located off Highway 33, about 10 miles from the AT. I don’t know if he still make it but the guy there distilled it from grapes. It wasn’t half bad, for moonshine.
Ken Clark