Carrying Fire with Fire Bundle

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Nov 14, 2007
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I almost started this thread last week and seeing it finally used on Man Woman Wild by Myke made me decide to write it up. I am very surprised that Cody (or any of the others) doesn't do this as he is in touch with the Native ways more than most. They always seem to stress the importance of fire, which is good for obvious reasons, but they don't ever carry this precious source. They should do so especially in cold, wet, or damp conditions where starting another one from scratch can be difficult or impossible and could cost them their lives. Fire bundles are relatively easy to make and I have used them with great success. Depending on the size of the bundle and number of them, theoretically you can carry a hot coal indefinitely. An average bundle 5-8 hours. The Great Plains Natives always used them when traveling in winter. Anyone else ever used them? Ya they are a pain sometimes to carry but I've strapped mine on my pack without any problems.
 
Not overly practical, they seem to work about one fifth of the time for me. A 9 hour candle may be more practical, or even an oil lamp. A carved bowl or gourd or something like that with a 550 chord wick and animal oil...
 
I agree it's an important skill, and one that's sorely underutilized. Here in the lower desert I rarely have the need to use this technique, since dry tinder materials are never in short supply. When I venture into the mountains though, depending on the weather patterns, banking coals or transporting them in a firebundle is all but necessary. Since we don't get much rain, even in the higher elevations, when it does rain everything soaks up as much as it can, which can make fire starting a chore because even the centers of wood soak quickly.


Gautier
 
Since we don't get much rain, even in the higher elevations, when it does rain everything soaks up as much as it can, which can make fire starting a chore because even the centers of wood soak quickly.


Gautier

That's an interesting and vitally important point that I failed to fully realize. I'll have to store that one away.
 
Thanks for the link Doc. Yet another use for cattail.


Barbarossa, I agree its a skill worth knowing although I've never had the need. How do you do it? Any tips or tricks?
 
Thanks for the link Doc. Yet another use for cattail.


Barbarossa, I agree its a skill worth knowing although I've never had the need. How do you do it? Any tips or tricks?

2nd on thanks for that info Doc.
Here's a link I found that is a lot like how I have done it. I've had great success with Birch bark for the inner bark and mixed a little broken up char with the tinder for the innermost layer. I had a buddy use little pieces of fat wood too mixed in and said it worked well. It's been awhile since I have done it but I want to try a few different things and see what I like the most.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5342086_carry-fire-wilderness.html
 
I have used em made from sagebrush bark, cattail and cottonwood bark. They work really well if properly laid up.

As always the devil is in the details.

You must make sure to have fine stuff in the middle growing progressively coarser as you work out in each succesive layer. Then bind it up but not TOO tight. It has to be able to smolder but not flare up. You need to check on it every now and again to make sure it is keeping the coal alive. Open it up a bit and blow on it if need be then close it up and move on.
 
I can not imagine anythig other than a SHTF Post Apocolyptic situation where it rains constantly where I would actually Need this skill. If out on an intentional bimble I carry a small supply of tinder, enough to start many fires. If suddenly stuck out in the wild, my normal kit still contains several ways to build a fire and the only reason I can see needing to carry a fire is if I need to move camp several times. Even so, I would build a fire once and use it to dry and prep tinder for subsequent fires.
All that said, its a worthwhile skill to know, at least as knowing that its possible
 
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