Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Stove

If the lottery-gods smile on me, my son and I intend to do a two day summit in August. As I total up the cost of this trip, I'm starting to wonder if I need a stove at all. I intend to pack a water filter so I won't need to boil water for saftey.

I was wondering what the consensus is for such a trip. I can live with cold food but perhaps I can't appreciate how satisfying a hot dinner and breakfast and coffee would be (rehydrating a freeze dried meal, etc) after a long day's hike and a cold night's sleep.

What about renting a stove in Lone Pine or the store?

Some guidance, please. Thanks.

I can eat cold food and bars.I am bringing a stove just because I MUST have hot coffee in the AM.

In my humble opinion, nothing beats eating a warm meal after a long hike. It's worth the price and the extra weight. I think it will also make your trip with your son much more memorable. I don't know how old your son is but don't forget the "coolness" factor. There's something very cool about struggling to light a stove, smelling the meal as it cooks, and sleeping with a stomach filled with warm food. Nothing like feeling like a competent caveman.

As far as cost, I was able to get a floor model of the Whisperlite Internationale at Sportsmart for $15. I just went & talked to the manager and he sold it to me. Or perhaps you can go on Ebay. With 21 minutes to go I see one going for $35

Good luck with the lotto.

If I am lucky in the lottery, I will be doing a three-day trip in August, spending the second night on the summit. For cooking, I will be carrying a Jetboil Personal Cooking System I purchased from REI. After a hard day of hiking and carrying a heavy pack, nothing beats a nice hot meal. Plus I am looking forward to that cup of hot cocoa on the summit as I watch the sunrise.

Michael T.

"In my humble opinion, nothing beats eating a warm meal after a long hike."

"After a hard day of hiking and carrying a heavy pack, nothing beats a nice hot meal. "

What definitely beats both, is being able to crawl into the sleeping bag, without having to cook a meal!

All of my backpacking trip in the last two years under 4 days have been cold, and I've found it makes virtually no difference. I appreciate that there are those who like their morning coffee, but I find the best way to make coffee taste MUCH better, is not to drink any for a few days......

People will vary on this issue, but for me, I tried it, and found it worked out fine. (and was surprised, as I did not expect that)

I will save you the extraneous conversation about hot vs. cold and offer the MSR Pocket Rocket as a solid choice of stoves.

Like Ken, latety I have been leaving the stove home on shorter backpacking trips. A few days in the mountains doesn't require a stove....really.

The issue in my mind comes down to the extra weight (stove, pan & fuel) and the time to cook. If you have lots of extra time hanging around camp, cooking is a nice diversion.

On a two day/ 1 night backpack.....I see the first day all the way to trail camp. The second day you hike to the top, return to camp...pack up your stuff and hike out to the car. There is time for cooking the first day ...but little time the 2nd day.

On such a hike the stove is a luxury...not a necessity.

You don't need a stove.

On page 2 of this site there is a topic called "what's the best bar". There is a lot of good food choices that don't need a stove. AD

Best bar? I don't think there's a bar until you get back to Lone Pine. You can buy beer at the Portal Store, of course, and you can always pack your own hip flask.

So True. EAting bars all day. Another bar for dinner? No way! Stoves rock!

The way I figure it you are not really two days without hot food. You are only without hot food part of that time, the time in the middle. You are only giving up cooking maybe dinner the first night and breakfast the second morning.

Day 1 Eat the big pancake breakfast at the Whitney portal stove. Pack a real lunch to eat around Mirror Lake. That leaves cold get by food only the first night at Trail Camp.

Day 2. Get up early and leave, snacking and eating hiking food along the way. By the time you get back to the car that evening, you will be ready to eat at the Whitney Portal Store or go to town for the hot victory meal.

There is nothing wrong with taking a stove. Most do. But no one says you have to.

For only a two-day trip, you're right in that a stove is really not needed. For breakfaxst the first day, Andrew has the right idea, and that is eat one of those hearty breakfasts at the Portal store. For my three-day trip, that is exactly what I plan on doing. Dinner at Trail Crest can be some nice sandwiches or other non cooked items. On the second day, just eat trail food, as if you were doing Whitney as a day hike. Save carrying the extra weight of the stove and fuel, and replace that with snacks. I think you really don't need a stove until you go beyond three days on the trail, or like me, plan on spendiong a night on the summit. At nearly 14,500 feet, believe me I will want something hot that night.

Michael T.

Great advice everyone, as always. I think I'm going to go with Andrew and Whitney Mike's advice and forgo the stove. As Andrew sagely points out, we'll only be without hot food for the middle part and I like the idea of waking up at Trail Camp and hitting the switchbacks as quickly as possible.

Thanks again.

There is definately no right or wrong on this issue, just personal preference. I prefer to hit the Whitney Portal to Mt Whitney Main trail early snacking and eating sandwiches on the way to Trail Camp. Eat a hot meal at Trail camp for dinner with my jetboil system pouring hot water into a freeze dried pouch.No dishes other than a spoon which I'll lick clean. Hot water early in the AM for a single cup of coffe and then up to the summit EARLY snacking on bars.Back down snacking all the way to the car with a Mtn Store famous burger for the reward meal.

Today's stoves weigh 3oz. Put one and a can of fuel in your pack. That way, you can decide on the mtn if you want hot food and drink.

I'm betting--just betting--you'll find some use for the stove.

Andy

EXACTLY the reasoning on lawn chairs!

Do you need a stove? No. Do you want a stove? Your call.

A few years ago when I dayhiked the peak with my daughter (at a slower pace), I carried an alcohol stove and a small ti kettle so we could cook some hot ramen at the summit. It sure made the trip more enjoyable, having a light hot brunch after hiking since midnight.

My decision to carry, or not, is based on whether I make the Pearsonville Subway before it closes. On anything shorter than three days, I'll carry a couple of subway sandwiches and a few McGriddles (Thanks again Chris. Very good idea!), in addition to snacks.

For summer (and as a winter backup), I have a very light propane/butane canister buring stove. I was also impressed by the Jetboil system that I recently used. (More of a torch than an old-school stove.)

You don't "need" very much for a 2-day mountain trip. You will survive for 2 days without either food or water - but it comes down to personal preference and acceptable comfort level. My biased opinion - I want to get the most satissfaction out of each trip. Depending on how I feel at the end of the day, that may or may not entail a hot meal. I have the stove with me and some freeze dried food - I'm partial to Mountain House single servings - hot chocolate, and coffee.

A gas stove and canister will not be the cause of "too much weight" discomfort, but their availability in camp gives you some pretty nice options.