Good northern wood for fire-starting?

[brians]

Just watched Ray Mears start a fire in a jungle, and was wondering what northern woods would be best. He notched the board and hand-spun the stick.

What options in northern states and easter ontario forests for board and stick?

Brian

 

[mete]

Hard maple probably .It certainly burns easily !!! Paper birch bark is great stuff to start the fire with.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Just watched Ray Mears start a fire in a jungle, and was wondering what northern woods would be best. He notched the board and hand-spun the stick.

What options in northern states and easter ontario forests for board and stick?

Brian

If you're talking about hand drill - in my area, Basswood (Tilia americana) or Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) for the hearth, and Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris), Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa) and some years, Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) (some years it's too soft and will 'blow up' in your hands) for the drill. Some people really like Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) for the drill, but it's not my favourite. You really have to clean up the surface or it will make hamburger out of your hands.

The (small) downside of using Basswood or Cottonwood for the hearth is that the embers do not coalesce as well as other woods, so the use of a coal enhancer, such as punky wood, True Tinder Fungus (Inonotus obliquus), or False Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius) is indicated as a type of 'fire insurance'.

There are many other combinations, but I find these work the best for me.

Doc

 

[puukko]

Cedar! Dead standing (snags) or fallen but not in contact with the ground. If you are near a large lake driftwood is also a wonderful fire starter. Dead lower branches on conifer trees tend to be dried out. Paper birch bark was mentioned and is good tinder! Pine pitch and dry pine cones work quite well also. Look in the woods around you. There always seems to be enough deadfall that is dry and works quite well for starting your campfire! (unless you are in a major park or campground, then everything has pretty well been scavenged)

 

[Thomas Linton]

I have had success with: willow; alder; poplar ("Tulip Tree"); Balsam Fir; Buckeye; aspen; red and white cedar; basswood; cottonwood; Buckthorn.