How accessible is propane on the TA Trail/good stove?

[staehpj1]

And Wal-Marts have the SLX denatured alcohol in Paint Dept.

I have typically just used Yellow Heet, but am curious about the size containers you typically find the SLX denatured alcohol in.  I think I have mostly seen it in quarts and gallons which are about three and twelve times as much as I typically want.  Do you usually find pints or other small sizes available?

[knolltop]

And Wal-Marts have the SLX denatured alcohol in Paint Dept.

.... am curious about the size containers you typically find the SLX denatured alcohol in.

In my experience you're correct re denatured alcohol container size.  I have carried 2 bottled water containers for fuel.  So can get most of a quart can stored onboard.

In past had preference for denatured alcohol cause thought it burned hotter than the HEET stuff.  Recently saw post on one of the backpacking sites where did test and result was no significant diff in boil time.

So now may start tours w/ 2 bottles HEET and, when bottle1 is emptied will start looking to buy another.

[paddleboy17]

So now may start tours w/ 2 bottles HEET and, when bottle1 is emptied will start looking to buy another.

I do something similar, but different enough to merit telling you about it.

I feel that gear for bike touring has to be durable enough to take a good whack.  You never know when you will take a fall or hit something.  So I use a conventional fuel bottle for my opened alcohol bottle.  I feel pretty confident that foil on the top of the HEET bottle provides thet needed seal.  I am less confident about the HEET bottle once you peel the foil off.

As for fuel bottles, alcohol is supposed to be corrosive to aluminum.  Trangia makes a nice plastic fuel bottle.  Others make an epoxy lined aluminum fuel bottle.  MSR fuel bottles are not lined. I have an 11 ounce MSR fuel bottle that I sometimes use.  I no longer use it for white gas, and I check the bottle for corrosion.  You will have to decide what standard you want to follow.  I wrap my windscreen around the fuel bottle.

[staehpj1]

I feel that gear for bike touring has to be durable enough to take a good whack.  You never know when you will take a fall or hit something.  So I use a conventional fuel bottle for my opened alcohol bottle.  I feel pretty confident that foil on the top of the HEET bottle provides thet needed seal.  I am less confident about the HEET bottle once you peel the foil off.

As for fuel bottles, alcohol is supposed to be corrosive to aluminum.  Trangia makes a nice plastic fuel bottle.  Others make an epoxy lined aluminum fuel bottle.  MSR fuel bottles are not lined. I have an 11 ounce MSR fuel bottle that I sometimes use.  I no longer use it for white gas, and I check the bottle for corrosion.  You will have to decide what standard you want to follow.  I wrap my windscreen around the fuel bottle.

The Heet bottle is actually my first choice as a fuel bottle.  It is light, the right size, has a long thin neck for easy pouring, and I have never had a problem with leaking.  I own a few different "real" fuel bottles and actually prefer the Heet bottles over any of them.

BTW one nice thing about alcohol is that even if it did leak it wouldn't be too big of a deal as compared to other some fuels.

[knolltop]

The Heet bottle is actually my first choice as a fuel bottle.  It is light, the right size, has a long thin neck for easy pouring, and I have never had a problem with leaking.  I own a few different "real" fuel bottles and actually prefer the Heet bottles over any of them.

Yep, what he said.

[cara2u]

Since our original TA trip in 2005 and our most recent TA in 2010 we've noticed a notable increase in propane availability. Preferring the quick cooking of propane we carried along a backup Whisperlite in case we ran out of propane but we never had to use it. With a little planning and back up the small propane canisters on the TA are doable.
James