Light Your Trail With a Carbide Lamp

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LAMP-OF-ALL-TRADES.

T he carbide lamp is a highly adaptable little instrument . . . and when you tote one along on a camping trip, you'll dis cover its advant. Once the lantern is fueled with equal portions of carbide and water, it can provide light in about five seconds . . . but should be extinguished more slowly by simply turning the water lever to "OFF" and allowing all the accumulated gas to burn out.

Another beauty of the "miner's shiner" is its ability to meet varied light requirements. For instance, when you don't want to deal with the glare of a gasoline lantern, a carbide lamp can provide soft, unobtrusive light. It's even possible to adjust an acetylene-producing burner so that it puts out a mellow, almost candlelike glow. (In fact, if you carefully turn the water gauge down to its lowest level, a carbide lamp will burn steadily for up to 12 hours, providing a night light for youngsters and keeping away nocturnal animals.)

On the other hand, the traditional lanterns—at the highest effective settings—make powerful general-purpose lights, which are equal to all but the best fourcell battery-powered units. When the water release is turned to near maximum, the carbide lamp's inch-long flame will throw out a strong, far-reaching beam . . . and provide a wide circle of diffused light as well.

The fact that coon hunters used these lamps to find their prey hidden in the foliage of tall trees is testimony to the longrange efficiency of such lanterns. And, as you can imagine, the wide circle of soft illumination that can be produced by a carbide lantern is ideal for use on night hikes. (Because most battery-operated lights, on the other hand, emit a single concentrated beam or "spot", it's necessary to swing a flashlight around a lot in order to light the width of a trail.)

In addition, carbide lamps are remarkably well suited to the special needs of backpackers. Since the devices are lightweight and compact, they're much easier to carry than bulky lanterns or battery packs. Furthermore, almost all carbide models come equipped with a wire bail or built-in handle (and usually with a fabric strap, as well). Such an adaptable arrangement allows the lamp to be handheld, attached to a belt or a hard hat, or hung from a tree branch at the campsite . . . leaving the hiker's hands conveniently free for other activities.

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