bigskyry

"Pepsi Can Stove aside" If it is the manufacture of the stove that is daunting, a commercially available alcohol stove that is both more durable and more efficient than a Pepsi can design is now available. For solo use, I recommend the Brasslite Turbo I: http://www.brasslite.com/. We are currently reviewing these stoves at www.backpackinglight.com and would be more than happy to discuss it offline. It would be inappropriate for me to talk about it in a public forum prior to publication of the review. Best Regards, Ryan Jordan Publisher, Backpacking Light The Magazine of Lightweight Hiking and Backcountry Travel http://www.backpackinglight.com/

I think a goal that can be affordable, realistic, and enjoyable, is to shoot for a "10-15%" of body weight maximum (gear not including food and water) with 20% tops for a 5-day trek. Having lectured on the topic of lightweight backpacking around the country, I've seen troops transform their philosophies in less than a year and have their senior scouts hiking 100-milers in five days with total loads of less than 20 pounds. We use the following guide in our clinics: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-in/backpackinglight/00068.html'>http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-in/backpackinglight/00068.html and it remains our most popular publication among the Scouting community. Respectfully, Ryan Jordan Publisher, Backpacking Light The Magazine of Lightweight Hiking and Backcountry Travel http://www.backpackinglight.com/ Eagle Scout, Troop 360, Burien, WA Former Hikemaster and Director, Camp Parsons Silver Marmot High Adventure Program (Washington State)