Stove fuels in Iceland

Kevin McAdams said:

We'll soon spend three weeks in various parts of Iceland, mostly
backcountry, backpacking. We can't get a consistent read on what stove
fuels to plan for. We have a MSR Whisperlite 600 (white
gas/kerosene/unleaded car gas) -- can anyone tell us if this will cover us
in most situations?

Careful here, most airlines will only allow it if it is brand new (has
never been used w/ gas).

Regards,

H

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Kevin McAdams) said:

We'll soon spend three weeks in various parts of Iceland, mostly
backcountry, backpacking. We can't get a consistent read on what stove fuels
to
plan for. We have a MSR Whisperlite 600 (white gas/kerosene/unleaded
car gas) -- can anyone tell us if this will cover us in most
situations?

That should do. In 2000 Coleman fuel as available in the campground in
Reykjavik for about $29.00 per gallon (in a 1liter bottle). The gas stations
are used to people filling up fuel bottles.

Tom Gibb <[email hidden]>

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Kevin McAdams) said:

We'll soon spend three weeks in various parts of Iceland, mostly
backcountry, backpacking. We can't get a consistent read on what stove fuels to
plan for. We have a MSR Whisperlite 600 (white gas/kerosene/unleaded
car gas) -- can anyone tell us if this will cover us in most
situations?

That's a trip I long to do. I hope you enjoy it, and regale us
with tales of your adventures.

Here's an on-line blurb from:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/erens/icecycle.htm#CAMPINGS

"I used a Coleman stove filled with unleaded petrol for cooking.
Camping-gaz and Primus gas is sometimes available at petrol stations."

At http://www.mmedia.is/~ifhk/touring.htm
they say:

"If you need specialized fuel for your camping stove your best bet is
to stock up in Reykjavik. Butane gas is usually available in gas
stations, both self-sealing cannisters and the pierced kind used in
Primus stoves, but very small hiking cannisters may be harder to
locate."

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Dig a hole, put in your wrapped food, cover, dig up in the morning,
hoping the foil has not melted into the burned food. Lava or
geo-thermal heat does the cooking. i wonder how far away from the
continetal divide this works?

Kevin McAdams said:

We'll soon spend three weeks in various parts of Iceland, mostly
backcountry, backpacking. We can't get a consistent read on what stove fuels to
plan for. We have a MSR Whisperlite 600 (white gas/kerosene/unleaded
car gas) -- can anyone tell us if this will cover us in most
situations?

tia,
Kevin McAdams

-------------
Kevin McAdams
Louisville, KY

Mike Schwab said:

Dig a hole, put in your wrapped food, cover, dig up in the morning,
hoping the foil has not melted into the burned food. Lava or
geo-thermal heat does the cooking. i wonder how far away from the
continetal divide this works?

"Iceland" would have to be the biggest piece of false advertising
ever, then. 😉
--
Rick Onanian

"Rick Onanian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
| On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 03:31:43 -0500, Mike Schwab
| <[email hidden]> wrote:
| >Dig a hole, put in your wrapped food, cover, dig up in the morning,
| >hoping the foil has not melted into the burned food. Lava or
| >geo-thermal heat does the cooking. i wonder how far away from the
| >continetal divide this works?
|
| "Iceland" would have to be the biggest piece of false advertising
| ever, then. 😉
| --
| Rick Onanian

As was 'Greenland'

I have read it was quite intentional in the case of Iceland.
ED3

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 10:57:33 -0500, "Edward Dike, III"

edd(2+1) said:

| "Iceland" would have to be the biggest piece of false advertising
| ever, then. 😉

As was 'Greenland'

I have read it was quite intentional in the case of Iceland.

I saw a documentary about Atilla the Hun, in which they said he
named it "Greenland" to get people to come there...or am I confusing
two documentaries?

I don't even watch many documentaries. I barely watch tv at all. The
Atilla one was on in a restaurant.
--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian said:

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 10:57:33 -0500, "Edward Dike, III"

edd(2+1) said:

| "Iceland" would have to be the biggest piece of false advertising
| ever, then. 😉

As was 'Greenland'

I have read it was quite intentional in the case of Iceland.

I saw a documentary about Atilla the Hun, in which they said he
named it "Greenland" to get people to come there...or am I confusing
two documentaries?

I don't think Atilla spent very much time on ships, and he certainly didn't
cross the North Atlantic.

Eric the Red was responsible for the Viking colonization of Greenland. The
"false advertising" aspect of the colonization is a widely believed myth.
Fact is, the southwest side of Greenland was noticeably warmer ca. 1000
than it was a couple of hundred years later.

--
Bob Broughton
http://broughton.ca/
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"Watch your mouth, if you ever want to cross the border. Bad things
can happen to Canadians who use foul language in the US."
[email hidden] , Nov. 30, 2003

In article <[email hidden]>, Rick Onanian

Quoted message said:

I saw a documentary about Atilla the Hun, in which they said he
named it "Greenland" to get people to come there...or am I confusing
two documentaries?

It wasn't Atilla. It was someone that was in trouble, he had killed someone.
The punishment was banishment. Since they knew of this place to the west he
decided to go there, but he needed support in the form of settlers. Sooooo, to
entice others to come there he engaged in a bit of realestate sales hype.
Things were warmer in that area in those days. The glaciers on Iceland were
smaller and they were raising mostly cattle and pigs. Later as things got
colder they shifted to sheep and the growing seasons on Greenland got shorter.
That was the end of the nordic Greenland colony. (references: A Nova program
on the subject and the information provided at a national park in Iceland)
Tom Gibb <[email hidden]>

I agree with all of Tom Gibb's comments. Car gas (unleaded) is everywhere,
about US$5/gallon - 100 IKr/litre)

Remember, things were warmer when Iceland was settled in 874 (what about
global warming then? You decide, but things were warmer then in Iceland). My
view is that the green of Iceland is the moss - yes, green, and don't twist
your ankle on it..

As for heating your food using geothermal heat, I know about a half-dozen
places you could do it in the ground; not a dependable method. Also, forget
about "natural" hot springs. There are a few, but they aren't everywhere.

Mike Erens (NL) has the best website for cycling. By far.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/erens/iceland.htm

The following is some recent advice I gave someone travelling to Iceland
(hopefuly the extended character set goes through when I use Icelandic
spellings):

- Carry a sleep sack (sheets/sleeping bag liner) - the guest houses (farmer
inns) require you to provide your own sheets. Much cheaper than hotels, and
a sleeping bag is too much.
- Take a swim suit. Did I mention, take a swim suit? Best swimming pools
ever. Heitur pótur (hot pots) will remove most cycling aches. Every town has
one. Chlorine is considered disgusting - why not just swap out the water
every couple of days instead? Often there will be 3 hot pots of varying
degrees of boiling fun. (All the tourists go to Laugervegur pool, but there
are 6 others in Reykjavík, Arbaer is the most beautiful in my opinion).
- Take the bus if the weather is crappy. It is your vacation, and you are
not a "crazy German" (that is an Icelandic phrase for someone who does
something crazy in the outdoors) trying to prove something during your 2
months vacation/holiday.
- Great, inexpensive food at the gas stations. The french fries are to die
for, cooked in fish fat (like lard, but healthy - Omega 3). (Repeat, great
french
fries - franskar - and a large is a dinner for 2, and yes, you want
spice" - salt, tomato, garlic, paprika, and MSG)
- Have your full duty free booze allowance entering the country - they are
mostly a bunch of drunks, and booze is expensive - great way to make friends
(cheap vodka US$34, top shelf $40)
- Ice Cream - soft serve - amazing recovery tool. Country is overflowing
with great daily products. Try skyr. Forget Myssa (whey).
- Bónus is the cheapest grocery store. For camping food, I highly recommend
the fish and marinated vacuum packed lamb. The vacuum packed potatoes are
also good. I do not recommend puffin (lundi) - OK in a restaurant (ditto
hvalfur - whale). For a nice snack, try the dried fish jerky (harðfiskur)
- Knowing the difference between ð and Þ is essential. eth and thorn. (Also
get used to "the" put into speech where you would not expect it. The John
went to the Store for the cow's the milk).

Best book on the Icelanders is "The Xenophobes Guide to the Icelanders." You
should also look at the "Xenophobes Guide to the Americans," which explains
the purpose of the ketchup botttle in cafes.

If you have more questions, let me know.

I agree with all of Tom Gibb's comments. Car gas (unleaded) is everywhere,
about US$5/gallon - 100 IKr/litre)

Remember, things were warmer when Iceland was settled in 874 (what about
global warming then? You decide, but things were warmer then in Iceland). My
view is that the green of Iceland is the moss - yes, green, and don't twist
your ankle on it..

As for heating your food using geothermal heat, I know about a half-dozen
places you could do it in the ground; not a dependable method. Also, forget
about "natural" hot springs. There are a few, but they aren't everywhere.

Mike Erens (NL) has the best website for cycling. By far.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/erens/iceland.htm

The following is some recent advice I gave someone travelling to Iceland
(hopefuly the extended character set goes through when I use Icelandic
spellings):

- Carry a sleep sack (sheets/sleeping bag liner) - the guest houses (farmer
inns) require you to provide your own sheets. Much cheaper than hotels, and
a sleeping bag is too much.
- Take a swim suit. Did I mention, take a swim suit? Best swimming pools
ever. Heitur pótur (hot pots) will remove most cycling aches. Every town has
one. Chlorine is considered disgusting - why not just swap out the water
every couple of days instead? Often there will be 3 hot pots of varying
degrees of boiling fun. (All the tourists go to Laugervegur pool, but there
are 6 others in Reykjavík, Arbaer is the most beautiful in my opinion).
- Take the bus if the weather is crappy. It is your vacation, and you are
not a "crazy German" (that is an Icelandic phrase for someone who does
something crazy in the outdoors) trying to prove something during your 2
months vacation/holiday.
- Great, inexpensive food at the gas stations. The french fries are to die
for, cooked in fish fat (like lard, but healthy - Omega 3). (Repeat, great
french
fries - franskar - and a large is a dinner for 2, and yes, you want
spice" - salt, tomato, garlic, paprika, and MSG)
- Have your full duty free booze allowance entering the country - they are
mostly a bunch of drunks, and booze is expensive - great way to make friends
(cheap vodka US$34, top shelf $40)
- Ice Cream - soft serve - amazing recovery tool. Country is overflowing
with great daily products. Try skyr. Forget Myssa (whey).
- Bónus is the cheapest grocery store. For camping food, I highly recommend
the fish and marinated vacuum packed lamb. The vacuum packed potatoes are
also good. I do not recommend puffin (lundi) - OK in a restaurant (ditto
hvalfur - whale). For a nice snack, try the dried fish jerky (harðfiskur)
- Knowing the difference between ð and Þ is essential. eth and thorn. (Also
get used to "the" put into speech where you would not expect it. The John
went to the Store for the cow's the milk).

Best book on the Icelanders is "The Xenophobes Guide to the Icelanders." You
should also look at the "Xenophobes Guide to the Americans," which explains
the purpose of the ketchup botttle in cafes.

If you have more questions, let me know.

In article <zB1Kc.20842$ve2.1151@okepread05>, "RG"

Quoted message said:

I agree with all of Tom Gibb's comments. Car gas (unleaded) is everywhere,
about US$5/gallon - 100 IKr/litre)

That was my experience in 2000.

Quoted message said:

Remember, things were warmer when Iceland was settled in 874 (what about
global warming then? You decide, but things were warmer then in Iceland). My
view is that the green of Iceland is the moss - yes, green, and don't twist
your ankle on it..

No don't twist your ankle in that moss, but if you have a chance to pitch your
tent on it or at least take a nap on it, go for it. That stuff is the best
bedding on the face of the planet.

Quoted message said:

As for heating your food using geothermal heat, I know about a half-dozen
places you could do it in the ground; not a dependable method. Also, forget
about "natural" hot springs. There are a few, but they aren't everywhere.

I forgot, there is a bread that is baked in hot earth up there. It's very dark
and quite heavy (it would be good cycling fuel). Personally I prefered the
local flat breads for riding. Quite good and goes well with cheese.

Quoted message said:

Mike Erens (NL) has the best website for cycling. By far.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/erens/iceland.htm

The following is some recent advice I gave someone travelling to Iceland
(hopefuly the extended character set goes through when I use Icelandic
spellings):

- Carry a sleep sack (sheets/sleeping bag liner) - the guest houses (farmer
inns) require you to provide your own sheets. Much cheaper than hotels, and
a sleeping bag is too much.

There are also "sleeping bag" accomodations. You get a mattress and you
provide the bedding. It is possible to travel the whole island without a tent,
but there are a few stretches where you'd have to be careful of getting behind.
It doesn't hurt that you have almost 24 hour a day daylight.

Quoted message said:

- Take a swim suit. Did I mention, take a swim suit? Best swimming pools
ever. Heitur pótur (hot pots) will remove most cycling aches. Every town has
one. Chlorine is considered disgusting - why not just swap out the water
every couple of days instead? Often there will be 3 hot pots of varying
degrees of boiling fun. (All the tourists go to Laugervegur pool, but there
are 6 others in Reykjavík, Arbaer is the most beautiful in my opinion).

Yes, the only Icelandic word that a bicycler needs to know is "Sundlaug"
(swiming pool) and even then there is usually a recognizable symbol. And you
HAVE to take a shower before going in the pool (sayeth the sticky, dirty, tired
bicycle tourist: "Please may I?"😉

Quoted message said:

- Take the bus if the weather is crappy. It is your vacation, and you are
not a "crazy German" (that is an Icelandic phrase for someone who does
something crazy in the outdoors) trying to prove something during your 2
months vacation/holiday.

It was only 500 ISK extra to take your bike on the bus and made a huge
difference. I too heard of the expression "crazy German" applied to bicycle
tourists. Most were German, so it wasn't too far off.

Quoted message said:

- Great, inexpensive food at the gas stations. The french fries are to die
for, cooked in fish fat (like lard, but healthy - Omega 3). (Repeat, great
french
fries - franskar - and a large is a dinner for 2, and yes, you want
spice" - salt, tomato, garlic, paprika, and MSG)
- Have your full duty free booze allowance entering the country - they are
mostly a bunch of drunks, and booze is expensive - great way to make friends
(cheap vodka US$34, top shelf $40)
- Ice Cream - soft serve - amazing recovery tool. Country is overflowing
with great daily products. Try skyr. Forget Myssa (whey).

Ice cream to die for up there.

Quoted message said:

- Bónus is the cheapest grocery store. For camping food, I highly recommend
the fish and marinated vacuum packed lamb. The vacuum packed potatoes are
also good. I do not recommend puffin (lundi) - OK in a restaurant (ditto
hvalfur - whale). For a nice snack, try the dried fish jerky (harðfiskur)
- Knowing the difference between ð and Þ is essential. eth and thorn. (Also
get used to "the" put into speech where you would not expect it. The John
went to the Store for the cow's the milk).

For real fun they usually englishcize "eth" as "TH" while thorn often gets the
letter "P" which is a complete misprounounciation (it too is a "th" sound, but
as in "thing" while "eth" is "th" as in "that" . . .yes, Icelandic is an
inflected language)

Quoted message said:

Best book on the Icelanders is "The Xenophobes Guide to the Icelanders." You
should also look at the "Xenophobes Guide to the Americans," which explains
the purpose of the ketchup botttle in cafes.

If you have more questions, let me know.

No question that you've been there.

Tom Gibb <[email hidden]>