At the end of May I am due to be making an independent birding trip to NE Turkey and Georgia involving wild camping in the Pontic Alps and the Caucasus. My problem is I can't find any information on fuel availability for these regions and I'm hoping someone on the forum will be able to advise me! I have a standard screw fit Primus Micron Ti and am hoping that I'll be able to get canisters for this or at least Camping Gaz and then use an adapter. Or would I be better off with a meths stove or a bushbuddy? Any help much appreciated!

Wow! I'm envious of your forthcoming trip. On two trips to the Kackar I've always used a multi fuel stove (MSR Whisperlite International) and simply filled up my fuel bottle with Unleaded Petrol. Did this most recently at Easter in the Coastal Taurus mountains in Southern Turkey. You might be lucky and find the blue Camping Gaz cylinders but I haven't seen them. I hope you get to see some Caspian Snowcocks. The camping should be memorable - still a lot of snow in late May? Good luck.
Dave Porter

Thanks for the info Dave - looks like I'll have to break out my semi-retired Whisperlite...again! It's certainly a failsafe even if it's not exactly lite!
As you say, in late May there is still likely to be plenty of snow which will hopefully concentrate our target species at lower altitudes. And, yes, talking of target species, Snowcocks (Caspian and Caucasian) will hopefully be on the menu...well, not literally - the stove will just be for boiling and rehydrating - I'm a birder after all, not Ryan Jordan!
Many thanks once again, David Caudwell

Just in case this is of any use to anyone else...
I've just returned from a fabulous trip to E. Turkey & Georgia and can report that, while puncture-type Campingaz cartridges were easily found at camping shops in Trabzon on the Turkish Black Sea Coast, I was eventually able to find push-fit Campingaz cartridges in some of the numerous fishing/hunting stores on the main shopping street of the town. I used these with my screw-fit stove in combination with the Markill adaptor available from Backpackinglight:
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product152.asp
Ironically, having felt so triumphant after scoring push-fit cartridges in Trabzon, I arrived in Kazbegi in the Caucasus a few days later to find screw-fit Coleman gas cartridges sitting smugly on the counter of the small tea/snack/information stall on the main street, as if to say "What's the problem?!"

Congratulations on your trip. If anyone is thinking of Going back to the Caucasus on the Russian side I'm now running trekking tours in the Russian Caucasus, you can find me at www.Passandpeak.com As for the independent traveler for this year I don't plan to do any light packages as they call them, but if I get enough requests I'll look at it. As for camping gas they prefere the screw on type gas cylinders, which are widely available at hunting stores and sports shops. As my web site develops I will include a page of helpful tips for those who wish to go it on there own. Good luck on your next adventure.

Had a fabulous trip to the Caucasus and Elbrus back in the early nineties. Difficult political situation at the time but that didn't spoil the trip. Amazing area.

Best to avoid the St George's Cross boxer shorts though !!!!!!

Obviously not an issue for Cameron !! :-)