"Jim: this is the first year I have seen alcohol stoves w/o valves allowed during fire bans."
I see that SEKI specifically allows that. I wonder if that is because so much of their traffic is PCT/JMT and most of that is above treeline?
I think the reason is more along the lines of what Jim was suggesting. Not so much PCT/JMT, but all backcountry travel: each has hundreds of miles of wilderness trail other than JMT/PCT and its a lot more important part of their mission.
As for treeline: in Yos only the few miles from Lyell Headwaters to Donahue on the JMT. Don't know about PCT north of TM, but elevetions generally go lower from there north and they have the same rule as SEKI
SEKI has a lot more higher country than YOS, but it also has higher treeline and a lot of heavily traveled trails in the woods, so I don't think that's a consideration. I think both parks are more focused on the hiker in general and have looked closer at the actual safety of alcohol and Esbit.
