Sterno Cooking in the Gila Wilderness

Up in the Gila I'm hiking and testing alternate gear systems. The weather has been warm and sunny during the day. At night it cools to thirty something. Because we're sleeping at 5-6 thousand feet, the air is thinner and colder.

Meeting some cool people who also love the "wild" camping. No electricity or water on site. But up at the visitor's center, both can be had.

I picked this "Sterno" type fuel up at a dollar store near the Mexican border town of Palomas. After testing it twice, I've decided it works wonderfully for a simmer, or if you're not in a hurry. The beauty of it is you don't have to keep adding fuel, you can put it out instantly by replacing the tiny metal cover, the source burns nearly odor free and you know exactly how much is left. Unlike canister cooking, once the fuel is gone, this metal container will be a useful piece of equipment.

According to the label, this fuel will last 2.5 hours.

My ultralight pot, windscreen and pot support are being used in this photo with the Sterno heat . It is placed on the metal picnic table at my campsite. As you can see, there is also a pit toilet. The Gila River is across the road.

Naked and Afraid Review

I watched this series all the way through for the first time. The challenge takes place in a Panama jungle.

At first the two couples meet, unaware there's another couple heading to the same target zone. The couples have no problem stripping and hugging each other. It doesn't take long before they're snapping at each other, fighting over the work load and life style.

Eventually the couples meet, shake hands and we have a foursome working towards the same goal of survival.
A co-worker watched it with me, both of us calling out suggestions when the four naked people seemed clueless. What I couldn't understand was how you could be walking through crystal clear stream in the swamp and be dying of dehydration. Finally they come to a waterfall and drink freely.

Manu suffered from a virus three days later and will suffer for the rest of her life. They lost many pounds, up to 16. The food situation proved to be the most surprising because vegetation was abundant. I figured some of that greenery would be edible and easy to access.

One thing we all can take away from this is its way harder than one can imagine. Each was allowed to bring one item. Both women brought machetes. One guy brought a flint. One guy brought plastic goggles.

I would definitely watch this series again. It helps a survivalist think about scenarios and possible outcomes.