Availability of Canister Fuel on PCT

imported
#1

Can any PCT veterans comment on the availability of fuel canisters along the PCT? Yogi’s guide has info about HEET/Alcohol availability, but is strangely silent on the topic of canisters. I’ll be hiking with Sandals, and in our experience an alcohol stove just doesn’t cut it when heating water for two.

I’d be particularly interested to know where canisters were NOT available. Mailing the darn things is a pain (technically possible via USPS ground service, but some POs won’t take them even if you follow the rules to the letter), so I’d like to limit resupply shipments with canisters to cases where it is absolutely necessary.

We use a pocket rocket stove, which uses MSR’s IsoPropane canisters.

Thanks.

Sheepdog

#2

Sheepdog, the subject comes up a few times a year. Could you do a search on here and maybe at pct-l archives? If you can’t find the list, let me know and i’ll type it up (and save it this time). In short, canisters at many places but there are a couple long stretches without.

markv

#3

Markv,

Thanks for the re-direct to the pct-l archives. Took about 15 minutes to find a link to Eric the Black’s web site, which has a list of PCT towns with canisters.

For those who are interested, the link is:

http://www.blackwoodspress.com/pct/atlas/fuel.htm

Sheepdog

#4

Looking at the list, it seems that you would be smart to switch to an alternate fuel source - or at least carry an alcohol stove as a backup just in case. Many of the listed sources are “hiker box” which is really uncertain. I think most of what gets left behind in hiker boxes is partial canisters, not full ones. Other potential sources are long hitches that few hikers do (i.e. Seattle). How much time do you want to spend looking for fuel?

Ginny

#5

Don’t be put off for availability reasons. It’s very easy to use canisters the whole way. There may be some good eco reasons not to use them, but it’s easy. A sample plan, even for someone who cooks a LOT:

Start
Idyllwild outfitter
Big Bear outfitter
send to Kennedy Meadows (you’ll be sending stuff there anyway)
Mammoth or Tuolumne stores
Sierra City
Mt. Shasta City
Ashland
Portland or ship to Cascade Locks
Skykomish
end

Those are all places you’ll stop anyway, except maybe Shasta City. (but that’s a really great hiker town)

Likely you’ll only need canisters less often. The hiker box info is useful because IF something is there that feels full, you can choose if you want to push it one more chunk of miles to a outfitter further up the trail.

markv

#6

Sheepdog and others, Are you saying that even if I mail my canisters by USPS they are not guaranteeing that other post offices will accept these properly marked and mailed boxes? Does the USPS issue a list of which post offices do not accept these containers?

Rodney

#7

Just dont label the box as containing fuel and you’ll be fine. Alot of hikers are into mailing illegal things like fuel or alcohol or food which is also illegal to mail, and they get by just fine. Just mail whatever you want and you’ll be ok.

The Mammoth Lakes Post Office lady told me when I asked her how to mail myself Medical Marijuana, since I’m a legal user of this medication not to worry about it, or just use UPS if I’m concerned. Point taken there.

I use the Pocket Rocket, and never had a problem finding fuel on the PCT for it. Even where I mailed the fuel, there was always some brand new ones in the hiker box. I think the MSR canisters have become kind of popular and there is even a bunch of off brands available, more often on the PCT then the MSR kind. Dont worry about it.

Guino

#8

I saw somewhere that “a deli” at the Snoqualmie exit (I-90) has instant coffee, canisters and peanut butter (what else does one really need?) but I have not been able to locate that information again.

Does anyone have information on that?

wildbill

#9

Does anyone have information on shipping to Manning? I want to have some food and fuel waiting there for a SOBO.

wildbill

#10

The only thing at snoqualmie that I saw last year were 2 stores. Mainly the large Chevron mini-mart/small post office. They had a warmer by the register that had things like burgers, chicken sandwiches and a few more things like that.

Don’t ship to Manning via UPS. Rockstar could tell you how her package didn’t arrive last fall, it seemed to be moving around in BC like they didn’t know where to go and then they sent it back to California. She was attempting to ship it to the Manning Park Lodge as most hotels will accept packages if you intend to stay there (a few require advance reservation). Call them first and see what their requirements are.

Miner

#11

From Snoqualmie Pass it’s a easy “Hey,mister” to get a ride I-90 west to North Bend. If you try to hitch it will take you forever since your off an interstate. There is an outlet (shoes), Safeway, outfitter, bakery with huge donuts and a great pizza. If you need a break North Bend is overlooked.

David