I am planning on bringing my soda can stove. Since I can not fly with the alcohol I was wondering if any of you past CT hikers know about this type of fuel along the trail??? I usuually bought “HEET” inline gas anti-freeze while on the AT, it was very easy to find. Also a lot of the hostels had denatured alcohol. I am a little concerned about finding it along the way on the CT. Sue/HH
Hammock Hanger
Since no CT hikers have chimed in, I’ll put in my thoughts. I haven’t hiked the CT, but I’m planning a CDT hike for 2004. I would imagine that HEET would be easy to find on the CT, because the towns are at higher elevation, with cold winters, where people use HEET. I’m not going to worry about it on the CDT.
yogi
We actually found denatured in a town or two. Sorry, I don’t remember which now. You only need a couple resupplies and you might want to carry a little extra for the altitudes (average 10,000 ft.).
Tha Wookie
It shouldn’t be a problem to find at least denatured alcohol in Breckinridge, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Salida. The forest service required a canister stove in '02 because of the terrible fires that summer near the CT, so I never was on the hunt for it. The towns above are all decent sized so you will be able to scrounge alcohol or HEET. Creed and Lake City are smaller. From what I remember of Creed (I skipped Lake City), there is a hardwrae store there. Good luck on your trip, you are going to really enjoy yourself!
Razor
Any place that has liquor has Everclear… 95% (190 proof) pure grain alcohol.
Burns hot, burns clean, it’s non-toxic (within reason) and you can take a nip… if you’re tough!
thangfish
When Island Mama and I were in St. Croix this winter, in the Caribbean, where it NEVER freezes, a store there had THREE rows of HEET in the limited auto section. Would this be for gasline cooling? Anyone know? Bushwack? WHY?
Tha Wookie
Howdy,One reason I could offer is that gas line anti-freeze is the same thing as heet.This is also called fuel line drier.The alcohol will mix with any water in the tank and allow it to burn.Water will not mix with gasoline so it will accumulate in the tank until it causes a problem.In high humidity areas this is more of a problem.
Please don’t take this as fact,just my best educated guess.Oo
Onlyone
Thanks, that makes sense - they must use it to remove water from fuel lines.
So the moral of the story: HEET might also be found in tropical locations around a bunch of water.
Thanks, Onlyone :cheers
Tha Wookie
Hammock Hanger. Thinking some more, you’ll also be able to find alcohol in Silverton as well. There’s a chance you could find it in Twin Lakes, but I doubt it. By the way- when in Twin Lakes don’t miss staying at the Nordic Inn if you find it affordable. Great place!
razor
It was a little slow in coming but I knew my hiking buds would chime in soon.
Heet is very hard to find in FL. Not sure why.
I will keep all the above info in mind when searching out fuel. I doubt I am strong enough or brave enough to nip the Everclear!!!
TXS, Sue/HH:girl
Hammock Hanger
The little general store at Jefferson even had HEET, but not denatured alcohol.
Seraphina