Originally Posted By hikerduane
Three of us were out this weekend in the Sierra at a little over 6300', got down to 6F over night. I had to prime my old kerosene burning Optimus 111T using alcohol, really surprised this AM how quickly the alcohol lit.


I've always used kerosene stoves here in November for my spike camp for hunting (because we have Kero lanterns..) (and it's darn cold then a lot of the time) I've used an old MSR, and an old Primus 96 with kero in cold weather a lot... and I have always always primed with alcohol.. you *can* prime with other stuff but it flames and smokes and soots, and why.. alcohol works fine, and if you touch the match to it it will always light.

Now getting it to boil for an alky stove to generate is a bit tougher, but it will always light.

and in case you're wondering, we use kerosene wick lamps because they don't make noise.. you can't hear the wolves howling at night and nice stuff like that with a hissing coleman lantern.
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