That is an interesting article, Doug, thanks:


"He keeps his SUV stocked with a shovel and candles and still had three-quarters of a tank of gas Tuesday morning. He had brought along some spaghetti and peaches, which he ate on Monday, and he and the trucker had oatmeal and pears for breakfast on Tuesday. And since he spends weekdays in London, he had a bag of clothes – and a parka.

"...Motorists were also encouraged to stay in their vehicles and consider pooling resources until rescuers get to them."

> Doesn't the MRE FRHs use a Magnesium reaction liberating Hydrogen gas.

Yep. I've used HeaterMeals brand food for years, indoors and out, with their self-heating saltwater/magnesium combos. I wouldn't want to say the meal would be _hot_ if the ambient temperature is freezing or less, but you might get a warm meal out of it.

The boxes do say they aren't allowed on planes, but then my tube of toothpaste isn't allowed on, either.

has anyone tried an old fashoned Dietz lantern?... even with its glass globe they are pretty rugged and simple....light as well as heat...fashon a simple pot stand on top... could be carried empty and filled from sealed lamp oil (liquid paraffin) bottles...

I think a Dietz lantern would work quite well. Certainly safer than an open pot of liquid fuel. I have several, and even used 2-3 of them one year to protect my tomatoes from a surprise frost. They put out a surprising amount of heat.

In my part of the world, liquid paraffin is a tricky proposition. It's less smelly, true, which would be more pleasant in a vehicle; but it also turns into a semi-solid as the temperature drops, which would be a major problem. Kerosene doesn't have this problem.

Hmm, outside my window it's -12C with a howling wind and blowing snow (semi-whiteout conditions), and a wind chill of -22C. And I have an old car parked in the middle of my yard, half buried in the snow, and I could just throw in a thermometer and do some field tests with candles and lanterns ...

Go, Doug, go!

Thanks for the article about all the people stuck in their vehicles in the snow. Nothing like reality to bring home the importance of some of what is discussed here.

I will never forget coming across a family stuck in a broken down old car at perhaps 7000' elevation in the local mountains one snowy November. I was wearing a big down jacket, and I was cold. They were all wearing shorts, T shirts, and flip flops. I drove into town and called a tow truck for them. It was late in the day and driving conditions were bad. Very few people were out that day. I'm so glad I happened along at that moment.

HJ

Isn't liquid paraffin another term for kerosene?

Edit: Nope Liquid Paraffin is another term for mineral oil . .

Depends on where in the world you are. Paraffin in Great Britain refers to the higher grade of kerosene, what we would call K-1 kerosene here. See also http://fuel.papo-art.com/

HJ

seems like a wick lantern would be a good multi fuel choice... kerosine, diesel, cooking oil, motor oil, lamp oil... why I mentioned liquid paraffin, that is what the lamp oil I happen to have is composed of... doesn't seem to evaporate in the old fashoned desk lamps that have visible reservoirs...if it ever gets to -12C in Florida I'm filing a class action lawsuit over global warming.

Global climate change got mis-labeled due to early focus and research on warming of the polar regions. Overall the ecosystem has warmed but local effects vary.

that was a humble attempt at humor