... My question for the forum is, how available is white gas (Coleman gas)? Will we need to hit cities likely to have camping stores or Canadian tires, or is it available in smaller stops in rural settings?
There are multi-fuel choices, and nicely compact. MSR burner/hose/bottle is surprisingly stable and light.
ACCESSIBLE Fuel choices "Coleman" stove fuel (i.e. While gas, Naphtha, Lighter fluid).
MULTI-FUEL stoves might also be capable of burning alcohol, and might even function using 90% isopropyl alcohol. There are alcohol stoves but they tend to be bulky and suffer in the BTU department.
Then there's altitude...
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-adv...ing-stove.html