Mora #2 and Chaga fire on the wild side.

W

Woods Walker

Joined
Jun 3, 2010
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For this practice I went into the woods packing a Mora #2 plus a small chunk of chaga with the intent of getting flames. Wasn't looking to build a sustaining fire given I had limited time.

Go!



I already knew the chaga would catch a spark but didn't pack a rock, tinder, coal extenders and whatever else would be needed beyond the knife and fungus. First order of business is a rock. Found some quartz in a drainage area. Used a special knapping method called "drop big rock on small rock". This is the results of years of practice. Complex physics like the effects of gravity on objects must be first understood before attempting it. These broken quartz rocks were left in place. Would come back for them later.



Found some of this hollow dry weed. Didn't know if it would be good in the tinder bundle but what the heck.



Stumbled on some dry tree bark. Not sure what that was but found some dry hickory bark as well. Going to fluff up the bark from the dead branches for the tinder bundle.



Tossed what I had for the tinder bundle on a fallen tree then headed out for more.



This punk wood will make for a good coal extender. The chaga is also a great coal extender but punk wood is easier to find. Punk wood can make the coal large enough to ensure the tinder bundle will ignite. I had plans for the large oak leaf.



Working on the tinder bundle. The redish bark just fragmented up. Not all that fluffy however the hickory bark fluffed up good.





Looking good. Given the amount of punk wood I was confident this tinder bundle would burst into flames.



Dusted up the chaga into the leaf. The plan was to toss a spark into the dust then put the smoldering chaga into the tinder bundle. Once that was done everything would be moved to the drainage area with water. I don't have a cleared fire ring. The ground was very wet but better safe than sorry.



Maybe a minute or so later the quartz shaved off some carbon steel which then ignited the Chaga dust.



Moved it to the water. Looking about ready to go. Just a little air flow would be enough.



Dropped the flaming tinder bundle into the water.



The practice was fun. I also have a video for those who enjoy that format. Thanks for looking.

[video=youtube;IE40qinNzfs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE40qinNzfs[/video]
 
Thanks, Woods Walker. I enjoyed that. Extra thumbs up for the pic play-by-play for this dial-up user, I'll watch the movie when wi-fi presents itself.

And this:
"drop big rock on small rock".
Very funny!

Have fun out there,
Mark
 
I enjoy looking at your posts and I learn from them. When the desire hits I can go back to older threads and get a tutorial, which is very helpful. Thanks for posting.
 
Looks like I need to beg some chaga from a forum friend like I did birchbark. As long as I pack it and it lasts, great stuff. Just no way for me to renew the materials here when out and about. I tend to be quite misely with the birchbark. I still appreciate the photos, videos and scouting tips.
 
upnorth said:
I enjoy looking at your posts and I learn from them. When the desire hits I can go back to older threads and get a tutorial, which is very helpful. Thanks for posting.
Click to expand...

Thanks but I am no expert so if yea learn something bogus don't blame me. LOL!

Codger_64 said:
Looks like I need to beg some chaga from a forum friend like I did birchbark. As long as I pack it and it lasts, great stuff. Just no way for me to renew the materials here when out and about. I tend to be quite misely with the birchbark. I still appreciate the photos, videos and scouting tips.
Click to expand...

I gather my Chaga in the hills during winter. Running low now but plan on some hikes in a month or so as might not make it till then. I will keep an eye out for yea. I do have tons of yellow birch bark if yea want any.

DOC-CANADA said:
Excellent video, Woods Walker! :thumbup:

Doc
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Thanks, glad yea liked it.
 
I'm good on birchbark for the moment. Still working on a packet Mewolf1 sent me some time back. I seldom lack tender, natural or storebought, but the best (easily ignited) seems to grow to the Northeast of me.
 
You have the patients of a Saint.:o
Codger_64 said:
Looks like I need to beg some chaga from a forum friend like I did birchbark. As long as I pack it and it lasts, great stuff. Just no way for me to renew the materials here when out and about. I tend to be quite misely with the birchbark. I still appreciate the photos, videos and scouting tips.
Click to expand...
 
I knew nothing about Chaga before this last year and little about that horse hoof or whatever bracket fungus on birch. I used to see that hoof fungus all the time up north and even collected a couple of bags for the wife. She works with children and they were doing crafts. The boss wants to go see old friends next month so maybe I will wander the birch forest and see what I stumble into. I still firmly believe in using local materials down south here but Chaga and birch bark have more cache' for me. I saw a few sites that said Chaga is better collected in winter when trees are dormant. But I'm not running a five hour drive up there at -40. If it pans out you may get a PM Codger. I still haven't touched the Birch bark sitting in the car trunk from the last trip.
 
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