There has to be some campers/hikers here?

[brewmaster15]

Hi all,
I thought I'd revitalize this thread. Winters in CT are gloomy at times and can be pretty depressing for someone that likes the vibrant spring and summer. I still camp alot and this time of the year I spend a good amount of time researching camping spots and gear.

My latest goal is winter camping. I used to camp alot at a family property but we no longer have that ... so its private campgrounds and state ones. Unfortunately here in CT they all shut down in the winter. I have exhausted my search for winter tent camping in CT looking to neighboring states now.

The last two years I expanded my camping gear "collection" to include more coleman stoves and lanterns.. as well as msr back packing stoves.. I always wanted them but they tended to be kind of pricey so I avoided them. I have a much more favorable view now of them. I like their newest versions.. the universal and dragonfly models .. multifuel stoves that run on all kinds of fuel. I also picked up an addiction for a classic white fuel stove.. svea123 . What a cool little pack stove.

I revisited my coleman lantern collections. I have been obsessed with kerosene stoves and lanterns.. There are very few kerosene versions being made now.. coleman only makes 1.. model 639c. There are other brands but they are $$$$. Whats a guy to do? Well a little resesrch and I was able to figure out how to convert most of my coleman lanterns to kerosene... thanks to scrounging through classiccampstove websites and some personal correspondence with the guys at oldcolemanparts.com I love using kerosene in stoves and lamps.. its safer, stores much much longer and is still readily availible. COLEMAN Fuel is getting harder to come by here where I am.. pretty much only walmart sells it. The downside is my interest in kerosene coincides with a current shortage of kerosene and subsequent prices skyrocketing while supply is scarce.

I also explored ultralight weight alcohol stoves..for back packing . Neat little stoves good for boiling water to rehydrate freeze dried meals or ramen. Convenient and takes up little room.. can use isopropyl alcohol but is better on denatured alcohol. I use the yellow bottles of "heet" from the autoparts store.

So thats my camping update.. anyone else?
Al

[Iminit]

Hey Al. Used to do a lot of camping. But my knee is shot so carrying a back pact is out. I still do a lot of day trips with my wife. Have you been through the Catskill Mts? Lots of good year long trails. Did the Balsam mnt fire tower this past Oct.4BB47441-A2A9-4232-874C-18C95D0C5CB1.jpg and than a hike around lake miniwaskaACAAA376-F65F-4110-A276-D520203285C7.jpgDE56F0E8-7CD5-4FF4-B56E-6DCE57848B6B.jpg

[brewmaster15]

Tom thats beautiful country..I haven't hiked the catskills but have been to the adirondacks alot.. I think Ive made 4 trips out to the lake placid area.. We were just there this summer..no long distance hiking for me either. Mostly we car camp.. make a base .. and hike out for the day. I woukd like to but I am forever trying to find a compromise I would be okay with between hiking gear and camera gear... I want both with me and really fir my photographic pursuits...its just a hard decision... I can see me doing ultralite hiking in florida with some camera gear down the road...of course then I wouldn't be ultralite.lol

Al

[Iminit]

Lots to see in the Catskills and not too far away. There are some major hotels in Kingston to overnight in. The town of Woodstock is about a 1/2hr away. There are many mnts to hike up around Woodstock. Then theres Woodstock a small town of the hippy generation. Lots to see and some good restaurants to grab a meal. Overlook mnt is right there and has what’s left of a 19th century hotel half way up the trail and a fire tower at the top. It’s a nice intermediate trail.
Been up to the Adirondacks did Lake Placid and Mt Marcy. Took a canoe up and down First lake years ago. It’s nice but I find the Catskills just so much nicer.

[brewmaster15]

Heres one of my latest finds.. coleman 400b. RUNS ON COLEMAN FUEL. This stove was made Nov 1997 .
20230121_122058.jpg

20230121_122100.jpg

Got this on ebay as a"parts" stove . Seller couldnt get it started. These old coleman stoves were built to last.. I have some that go back to 1960s . They are self serviceable and though parts are scarce you can usually repair them. This repair was easy.. the pump on these stoves has a small cup that dries out and deforms so you cant pressurize it.. a little oil and work it into shape and bam..back in business.

20230120_140816.jpg


Took all of 5 mins. I will still take it all apart and clean it good but it works well for starters.

Al

[brewmaster15]

Here is a svea123 .. made of brass. Made in sweden. This little gem has no pump.. no moving parts except a fuel valve. It runs on white gas.. naptha (coleman fuel/panelwipe I think in europe.) It can run on unleaded gas but will need cleaning often... it works by simply warming the stove with your hands or preheating with a few drop alcohol....ignite.. then open the valve. Its loud but in a good way.. these come with a wind screen, tool key and potstand and aluminum cup..this one here was another parts stove I am working on.

20230121_130341.jpg

20230121_130345.jpg

Preheating with some alcohol.

20230121_130745.jpg

Houston we have ignition..
20230121_132002.jpg

[Iminit]

Yes brings back memories. Somewhere I’ve got a small white gas stove. Same thing you had to pump it. Also have the small propane stove from the 80s that been sitting on a shelf by my back door for 20+ yrs. It’s a Gaz made in France.BD353F66-33AB-4192-B0DB-E9057B6351BA.jpgBB406D93-54E7-48A5-9A26-0C75E3B3A001.jpg.

[brewmaster15]

Tom, thats a great stove..I dont have one yet. I understand they no longer make the fuel canisters for it which is a shame but I read that its possible to adapt them to other canisters.

Dont suppose you have the pot set that came with it?
Al

[Hicgup]

Al, one more reason for you to make a trek to VA. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/winter-camping.

[brewmaster15]

Al, one more reason for you to make a trek to VA. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/winter-camping.

THAT Is great info! THANK YOU!
al