I didn't get to do any hiking this weekend because of a fund raiser I worked in, but I have been tweaking my stove design. My goal for quite a while has been to make an alcohol stove that is as efficient as possible. For about a month I've been on track with that and now I'm publishing some of the results. The Turbo V8 Micro is the next step in my stove evolution. It's still in the R&D phase, so no real guarantees or complete facts are given. But if you like to play with stoves like I do, go give it a try.

I'm also STILL waiting for a rain storm to try the Clark in.

Some small site updates including raising postage for stove orders because the postal service has raised rates.

Nothing much new today. I've been working on fixing some pages like the AT hike cost estimate. Nothing much to tell really.

I still haven't had a chance to use the Clark in a rainstorm yet. I keep hoping for bad weather.

I've been updating my packing lists and some other sections. I've gotten a new sleeping pad, a cheap Ozark Trail pad that is 24"x72"x1/2". It is very close in weight per cubic inch to the Mt Washington. Hopefully I can get into some cold weather and try it this fall.

I still haven't had a chance to use the Clark in a rainstorm yet.

Just got back from Texas and a little hiking trip. It was nice to be in the wilderness again although I wish I could have been in the mountains. If you e-mailed me, give me some time to catch up.

I would rather be hiking but I can't. So today I started putting together the Clark Jungle Hammock Review. I had it about 75% completed and the format all done (I still had some trail testing to do) when the power went out. Now I must start from scratch all over again! I really am pissed because that was a lot of work I don't feel like doing over again.

I've done some editing on the Hiking Weight Comparisons to fix it up some errors on the page and to add some info from stoves I haven't personally tested but use for a comparison.

Today I finished up the Trangia stove tests except for a field tests. I was amazed at the fuel economy of the Trangia and only wish the thing was lighter. Thanks to John Hussey for contributing the stove, and for pointing out I was using the wrong weight per ounce for alcohol.

I've also updated the stove comparison page to reflect the changes I've made in testing procedures, added all the new stoves I've tested, and changed some of the links on that page. Hopefully the stove comparison page has better information for people to use now. To support that I have added a page that has a very accurate comparison of hiking weight over time for the stoves I've tested.

I must also add that after doing some stove testing I would have to highly recommend the Snow Peak pots I use. Their curved bottoms and titanium material make them more efficient than any other pot I've used despite the material. If you are looking for a lightweight solo cook set you can't beat it.