[Elecraft] OT: Butane soldering irons

[Mark, KE6BB via Elecraft]

Re:  I couldn't ignite it. It would sputter and refuse to burn. We were at 7400' (2260 m).

That doesn't surprise me.  I don't have experience with butane torches at altitude,  but I have eaten far too many freeze dried dinners that were crunchy because, at altitude (8,500 ft. in my case), there wasn't enough oxygen in the air so that the flame from my friend's butane stove would heat the water hot enough to reconstitute the food.  Cold temperatures affect butane stoves as well.  Put high altitude together with cold temperatures and the result is crunchy noodles!  (My old Svea white gas stove works well to 11,000 ft., even in the cold, but it has its own hazards).

Mark,
KE6BB