iconicflux

So I went camping with the family this past weekend and brought along alcohol for several alcohol stoves that I built figuring that I'd test them all. I didn't quite get to that like I was hoping for. You see, I left my Ortlieb Ultimate 6 with the graduated fuel bottle w/ denatured alcohol in it figuring that there was nothing some animal would want. In the morning my bag was turned over and I couldn't find the alcohol bottle. I finally found it way off in the bushes. Apparently, I was quite wrong...



Damn masked bandit lushes got me!

Sooo.. has anyone other than me had this happen? What the heck is up with them stealing my alcohol bottle?
Does anyone know of an alcohol bottle that wouldn't be so easy to bite through?

Should I switch to Heet so I know if they did that once they probably wont a second time?

Thanks,
Kevin

(Hope that damn masked bandit woke up with a massive hangover.)

DropBarFan

Would be unfortunate for family to get stuck w/o way to prepare camp food but story sorta funny I must say. At least, hopefully, the critter didn't tear up a pannier. Perhaps enviro authorities should require alcohol stove users to carry non-denatured so the critters don't get sick while indulging. Seriously, maybe an aluminum bottle would prevent smaller animals from biting thru while still being pretty light.

imi

I reckon the bandits have learnt there might be food or drink inside any plastic container, even closed panniers... So they steal and bite through

Bear Vault...

auldgeunquers

Ha! Raccoons! Ha ha!

I swear the only thing proof against them is a good keyed padlock - 'cause I think they would get a combination lock open before daybreak.

Just be sure that you wear that key on a chain while you sleep.

raybo

I use an old aluminum bottle I got free from some volunteer gig I did. It holds about a quart of alcohol. I've heard that alcohol can degrade some metal containers, but I've never had a problem.

jargo432

msr fuel bottle

fietsbob

Or Sigg Fuel Bottles..

auxym

They even make them with push+twist child resistant caps, if you're afraid the 'coons would learn to untwist a regular cap.

gpburdell

They're going for the bottle moreso than the contents. Yellow-bottle HEET is good for alcohol stoves but unlikely to make a difference in attractiveness to the raccoons. Skip red-bottle HEET though, the isopropyl doesn't burn as well as methanol or ethanol.

Best solution is hang the fuel bottle with your food bag when camping. (or use a bear vault if you're in an area where those are a better solution)

staehpj1

I have camped a lot where raccoons were a problem and none ever bothered my yellow heet bottles.

I do have one pannier with a zipper pocket that apparently smells attractive to them. I don't keep food in it but they have unzipped it and dumped the contents on the ground many times. The funny thing is that about half the time they zip it back up after emptying it!

Tourist in MSN

Sigg Aluminum bottles were the standard choice for petroleum based fuels back when stoves had their own dedicated fuel tanks. But now that stove makers use the storage bottles as their fuel tank, every stove maker also sells fuel bottles too. The old Sigg bottles were lighter but not designed for pumping up the pressure in the bottles.

If you want to measure, carry a separate plastic measuring cup. And get a pour spout for the tank.

I do not know if alcohol in the Aluminum water bottles that have an interior coating would dissolve the coating which could mess up your fuel. But if not those bottles may be lighter than the bottles designed for pressurized stoves. If any of those bottles are anodized instead of a plastic interior coating, that should not degrade your fuel and should be reasonably light weight.

Leebo

I use a kleen kanteen stainless steel bottle, well marked.

djb

Staeph, the zipping back up part, now that's funny. Doesn't really surprise me but still funny.

I never leave any bags out, panniers or whatever just because I wouldn't want any chew hole surprises from mice etc in the morning. I've mentioned this before but have had a dry bag hanging from a fair ways up get small holes chewed in it, so am very wary.

iconicflux

Agreed. It was late and I wasn't thinking about it because apparently I'm less careful when car camping. Next time I wont be forgetting. Personally, I'm thankful the top came open and spilled out the contents just so they didn't chew on the bag. :-D

I've had animals chew packs before and it has always been the squirrels that seem to be the culprits more than mice. Raccoons I've had open packs up and just empty things out. I've seen bears tear open a pack to chew on a dirty mess kit but that was obviously something very large--plus we saw it later after it followed us for 50 miles.

Looks like I'm going to be switching to HEET. I figure they're probably smart enough to recognize the bottles.

Thanks,
Kevin

Doug64

The little buggers got into my wife's bento bag on her top tube, unzipped it and made off with a bag of M&M's.

However, they forgot to zip it back up

iconicflux

Heh.. I <3 the stories about how good they are at getting into things.