Mountain Survival - My experince

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go2ndAmend

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Mar 8, 2008
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Well, I've just returned from my annual 2 week trek into the Rocky Mountains and I thought I'd share my thoughts with anyone interested. I had great gear, and two good companions. Both of which are very important. I was able to start 95% of all fires with nothing more than a firesteel and vaseline impregnated cotton balls. What I learned is that the 5% of the time that doesn't work is the time that you may need, really need, to build a fire the most. It was the last day in the mountains, about 16 degrees, snowing heavily, and the wind was blowing sideways. I tried my firesteel and cotton - no luck. Moved to wax coated strike-anywhere matches (Cody Lundin) - no luck. Moved to REI storm matches - lit well but wouldn't ignite the tinder - still no luck. It's now around 6:30 a.m. and I'm getting colder. I've been trying to start this fire for about 30 minutes now and am getting concerned. Bic lighter - no luck at this altitude. Storm Match to ignite candle shoved into slightly damp wad of paper towel surrounded by the driest tinder I could find. (Used GB Mini to split "dry" small log and made shavings from it.) Finally, finally got a fire going after an hour of trying. Fatigue, cold, hunger, weather, and sore hands and muscles after being in the mountains for 2 weeks takes a heck of a toll on the human body. What works at home may not work in another, more difficult enviornment. I guess what I learned is to practice, practice, practice and have multiple back-ups. A positive attitude, a sence of humor and a bit of a stubborn streak helps also.
 
Good post and I tend to agree. We tend to get more confident over time with certain fire starting methods but that doesn't mean we gained that confidence by practicing under difficult conditions. Also, the tendency is to reduce and lighten the kit by removing redundancy. In fire kits, redundancy and alternative options is key. I'm more and more attracted to the idea of the little lamp-oil tabasco lamp as an fuel reservoir for fire starting.
 
kgd said:
I'm more and more attracted to the idea of the little lamp-oil tabasco lamp as an fuel reservoir for fire starting.
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Also you can't go wrong with a candle in your pack.

go2ndAmend, thanks for sharing your experience. You mentioned a sense of humour was important. At what point were you laughing? :rolleyes: :D

Doc
 
Good post. I had a friend who carried bug dope year 'round. It was a pretty effective accelerant for fire starting.
 
Your post just reinforces my tendency to carry several firestarting methods when trekking. Part of your problem and one I've encountered a sswell is the difficulty starting a fire is greatly increased when hypothermic as your fine motor skills go south.

I've gone to using a shoepolish mix on cottonballs, much more flamable than the petroleum jelly commonly used. For a firesteel I use one of the strike force firestarters due to their generating many more sparks. In my next purchasing cycle I will pick up a blastmatch which is easier to use when hypothermic, exhausted or malnourished.
 
half-dozen birthday candles, a few strike-anywhere matches, shoved in a 12 gauge shell is a handy last-ditch pack stash.
 
I've kept a road flare in my BOB since I started hunting. I've never had to use it, but it's something that my Dad made sure I had when he helped me set it up. I use a firesteel most of the time,but if you need a fire NOW, the road flare will always work.:)
 
For birthday candles use the ones that you cant blow out. For someone that been there for two weeks............. Where are the pics???????
 
I would also like to point out one of the difficulties in mountain regions is the thinner air, I tend to have more trouble in higher elevation than at sea level
 
great post man...:thumbup: i couldn't agree more... pratice, practice, practice...

where abouts in CALI. are you....:)
 
After dumping over a canoe trapping, I used strike anywhere matches and Shoe Goo to get a fire going. It worked way better than fire ribbon.
 
awesome!
yea same happened to me the other day going for a small hike... except I didn't get a fire going because of the dampness and had no more resources to keep going.

+1 for the road flare!
 
longbow50 said:
When younger, I could hike and run at 9000'. Today, I'm pretty much limited to the lower elevations.
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Takes a good 2 weeks before your body gets use to it now that you are older. Yeah it really sucks being up in higher elevation and having to do work. Its as if you are going to die, I also do not recommend anyone with a heart condition going up in attitude and doing anything physical.
 
To me, that seems to be another example of the importance of proper clothing. You should have clothing that will keep you warm enough not to need a fire in the first place. There's a lot of terrain in this world where you simply cannot find anything to make a fire with...
 
Very good write up. Sounds like a helluva trip, you bring up some good points as well.
 
go2ndAmend said:
I tried my firesteel and cotton - no luck. Moved to wax coated strike-anywhere matches (Cody Lundin) - no luck. Moved to REI storm matches - lit well but wouldn't ignite the tinder - still no luck. It's now around 6:30 a.m. and I'm getting colder. I've been trying to start this fire for about 30 minutes now and am getting concerned. Bic lighter - no luck at this altitude. Storm Match to ignite candle shoved into slightly damp wad of paper towel surrounded by the driest tinder I could find. (Used GB Mini to split "dry" small log and made shavings from it.) Finally, finally got a fire going after an hour of trying.
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So are you saying that an REI storm match wouldn't light a vaseline impregnated cotton ball, you didn't think to try it, or that you had expended your supply of vicb's so it wasn't an option anymore?
 
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