Are bushbuddies allowed on the JMT or are alcohol or ebist stoves the way to go? I have looked at the no fire regulations, but doesn't an alochol and ebsit stove emit an open flame? Or does open flame mean no camp fires?? Just wondering..

Unless a stove has a shut off valve, it is considered an open fire. So, the Bush Buddy would be considered an open fire. Along the JMT, wood fires are not allowed above 10,000 to 10,500 ft depending on where you are. This is to protect the sparse living and dead trees from being burned. I fear that your Bush Buddy would be viewed as an open wood fire by the agencies that manage the trail

I suspect that if the USFS or NPS were required to take official notice, Esbit and alcohol stoves, lacking shut-off valves, would have to be considered open fires and subject to fire regulations. But, since they leave the wood resource untouched, I don't think they are subject to the "No Wood Fires" regulations. I have certainly seen a lot of alcohol stoves used on the JMT above 10,000 ft but no Bush Buddies.

Edited by Rincon on 08/13/2009 20:20:12 MDT.

I took mine a couple years ago. One ranger said the issue was *collecting* the wood above 10K, so I collected the wood for the evening fire while below as I walked along the trail - it only takes a big handful of small wood to boil a pot. Seems like a reasonable compromise - the issue above 10K is certainly not the danger of a forest fire ;)

It is also possible to cook each day while below the fire restriction - there are almost no trail days that don't dip below for at least some, if not much, of the day.

Thanks for the comments. I guess I will collect the wood below 10k or camp below 10k which ever comes first at the end of the hiking day.

You will find it harder to dip below 10K as you approach Whitney. Also: The "no fires beyond this point" signs are always posted lower than 10K. I have seen them as low as 9500 ft.

There is a sign like this as you pass Purple Lake on the JMT. Does anyone know the rule here. Can you make a fire if you are camping at 9800 ft even though you walked by one of those signs?