|Anyone out there have any exploding MSR tales of terror? Hmmmm, well since the MSR Whisperlite International itself did not explode, I'm not sure I'm correctly answering the question, but this is Paddlewise. 8-) A few years ago I went hiking on the Bartrum Trail from Franklin, NC, USA to Wayah Bald. About a 10 mile hike with 3000 feet of elevation change. I had checked the weather and it said a bit of rain in the morning but clearing by midday. As I started out, solo! Oh No!, it was not raining but as I gained altitude it started raining. After about an hour or so it was either raining or raining harder. So much for the forecast. This area of North Carolina, qualifies as a rainforest. A few mile to the south east of the trail is the rainiest point in the Eastern US. Can't believe it gets more rain than some places in Florida but that is my understanding. With the rain I had a choice to just enjoy the water or put on a rubber military surplus poncho and sweat. I choose the rain. As I got higher I got colder. I was ok until I stopped to take a break every 55 minutes. Then I would start the shakes. Ruh Roh Scubby. I would drink and eat even though I did not really wont anything. At first, as long as I was moving, I was warm. So I would move on. After a few hours I was shivering even when moving, not badly but enough so that I had to make some decisions. I could stop and setup camp. NOT! Or I could put on the RubberSweatSuit or I could break out the wool. With wool I would be warm but when I did get to camp my warm clothes would be wet. And then I would be miserable. Soooo, thinking since I'm already miserable, I'll save the woollies for camp and put on the RSS. RSS did help when I was moving but I still would shiver at break time. Kinda interesting to watch your reactions when you know you are a hyperthermic..... 8-) Eventually I reach a point where I can setup camp. I pitched my tarp in some tall rhonedendrums and finally got into my wool army surplus trousers and shirt. 1950 issue believe it or not! $10 each! Ahhhh, was I comfortable! Very nice and cozzy. Oh, yes TheStove. I hooked up my WhisperliteI but as it was getting dark, I lit my little candle lantern. Hmmm, no place to hang it near the stove so I'll just place it hear at my feet. Lets get this stove going so I can boil some water to heat my MRE entree and get some hot coffee.! Pump Pump Pump... Light the stove. Ah HA! Its roaring now! Why do they call this thing a Whisperlite. It sure ain't whispering. Sounds like a jet is flying over my camp! Phhht! Grrrrrrr. $%^&*() stinking stove went out. Why did it do that? Cool! Look at that ExpandingGrayCloud moving out in a perfect circle with the stove being the center point. Its almost to my lantern. HELLO! THATS NOT A GOOD THING DUMMY! I move my head back just as the ExpandingGrayCloud met my candle lantern at which point they had a disagreement and a large FLASH erupted right in front of me. As the EGC changed into the MiniFireBall and floated up through bushes I wondered if I really really really wanted a hot meal. After all, MREs are already cooked. I did not really NEED any hot coffee. And I'm really feeling rather flush at the moment. Kinda a bit on the hot side. Actually, I think I'm sweating. Wow! I don't think my heart has worked this hard all day long. Shoot, I think I need a change of clothing! After a few moments I did get the stove working without anymore pyrotechnics. I boiled my water to heat my entree. Use same water for coffee. Finished the other goodies in the MRE and was a very happy, warm, contented King O' The Mountain, errr, Bald. Does this qualify as a ExplodingStove? Hope this helps. Dan McCarty PS. Polyester causes horrible burns because it melts to your skin, keeping the heat in. Cotton/Wool will just burn but it does not do the same damage as "plastic" clothes. My understanding is the US Navy got away from poly clothes in the 70's and moved to denim for their shipboard work clothes to decrease burn severity. Can any of you ExNavy people verify this? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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