- Joined
- Nov 25, 2006
- Messages
- 7,038
Interesting and hard to add to as most is covered. Be regional. Seek out and work with any available materials that may logically work in your area. Of course we all try different materials, but I focus on what is abundant were I live.
Another option is to bring an ultra lite or tiny pack stove. It brings its own wind shelter along with the other obvious uses.
Finally, from what I learned on my own on a dirty cold day. You can dry wet\damp materials in several ways. One time I tried ferro rod fire making with local materials after a three day rain. Cutting to the chase I had a dome of materials with my hands inside the ''hive''. Literally and figuratively. I had a partial nornet nest from low lying bushes over my hands. The crap would not light ! So I got pissed and started raking the hell out of the ferro rod with half frozen fingers. Then I felt heat ! Not only were my hands warming but my material was also starting to light better because it was drying....This is over several minutes... Raking constantly like a machine gun on the rod created beneficial heat and I had my fire from three day soaked natural materials on a cold day. The trick for me was to have the material dome as insulation and really rip on that rod. It may not sound sexy, but it worked.
Another option is to bring an ultra lite or tiny pack stove. It brings its own wind shelter along with the other obvious uses.
Finally, from what I learned on my own on a dirty cold day. You can dry wet\damp materials in several ways. One time I tried ferro rod fire making with local materials after a three day rain. Cutting to the chase I had a dome of materials with my hands inside the ''hive''. Literally and figuratively. I had a partial nornet nest from low lying bushes over my hands. The crap would not light ! So I got pissed and started raking the hell out of the ferro rod with half frozen fingers. Then I felt heat ! Not only were my hands warming but my material was also starting to light better because it was drying....This is over several minutes... Raking constantly like a machine gun on the rod created beneficial heat and I had my fire from three day soaked natural materials on a cold day. The trick for me was to have the material dome as insulation and really rip on that rod. It may not sound sexy, but it worked.
