“…trick is to preheat the stove with a lighter or over the fire, very carefully, making sure the fuel does not ignore. I may use a primer pan for this.”

This sounds like a poor alcy stove. You shouldn’t have to do that at all. One match, and a good stove lights even if it’s not prewarmed; howbeit, the jet’s start working faster if the stove came right out of your pocket along with the alcy fuel.

It’s very easy with an open jet alcy stove. Some people get bad results because of poor stoves. If the stove doesn’t light at 0F, I consider this a bad stove.
If it’s 40F and raining (like it is in MI this weekend), I do it under the tent awning. You should have hot chocolate going before the scouts will <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Most of our Klondike Derby’s are in conditions you are describing; wet, cold, muddy, rainy……so Good Luck!


-Barry