starting a fire in heavy rain with wet wood

While I've never had to start a fire under thoise conditions, it should be possible, provided you have the proper "ingredients". First off, I'd make sure I always carried good tinder as part of my firekit. I have 3 ounces or so of finely shredded Juniper bark, 8 3x1 inch pieces of fatwood, char cloth, and lots of cotton balls, both with and without candle wax dripped on them. Having this on hand will prevent me from having to find dry tinder. To light it all, I have either strike anywhere matches, 2 or 3 Bic type lighters, and a large ferro rod with striker.

Now you'd need to get dry wood. If you don't have a large knife or hatchet to split wood, you're going to have to really dig around trying to find some reasonbly dry wood to use. Around here we have lots of dead lower branches on Junipers and pines. The canopy above should keep those limbs dry enough to get going with my dry tinder. Once I get a fire going, under a tree for shelter (not so close as to pose a fire hazard), I would use the heat from the fire to dry out more wood.
 
Couldn't do it :mad:

I was practicing so I learned a lot.

Problems I had included not being able to keep the wood dry. I collected dead wood from overhead branches but it keep getting wet. Next time I will rig a tarp first to keep the fire and tinder dry.

I needed to collect more dry wood. I didn't have enough. My small gerber pac axe was really helpful. My knives were not as good at getting at the core of the branches.

I did manage to start a small fire with my Strike Force Wet Tinders and a lighter ( could not get flame from my other spark type fire starters) but could not maintain the flame as some rain or moisture would kill it.

Oh well, I need more practice!


S.
 
It is only one step harder in the pouring rain than using wet wood when it isn't raining. You usually need to get a tarp or other cover (like your jacket) over the area you are starting the fire and the spot you'll put your dry wood. Once the rain is off your fire base, build up off the ground with sticks and stones (careful, they may break your bones!) and continue the same way you would if it wasn't raining - split wood for dry kindling, stack sticks by the fire to dry, etc. Even without your own tinder, you still may be able to find some dry birch bark on the underside of a fallen log,etc.
Remember, the biggest key to success is preparation!!

Jet
 
I agree with Jet. The way I did it was to rig a tarp and drag wood under it and chop down to the dry wood. You need a good chopper for this task. I recomend a good fixed blade but your pack ax would even be better.
 
Great advice so far, I can only add that if you have pine needles remember that they will burn even when wet as they dry faster than wood. Also shaveings from wet DEAD wood will burn as the inside is dry. I like the idea of covering your work area if possible, and also building a platform for your fire. This also allows air to circulate under your fire and thus aid in combustion.

I have used old cans (found along the trail) to start my fires in (suitably punctured with holes) as they use very little tinder and make for a hot fire which can be transferred to a larger platform or hole.

I have also (on one very rainy day) started a fire under a deadfall log after digging out some dirt. The log sheltered the fire and eventually provided lots of fuel. Once it burned through I simply moved large burning embers from my now going well fire to a new location, then used the dirt to put out the log. The rain took care of the rest. While I had it going though it allowed me to dry out (courtesy of the lean to I built next to it) a little and re-group myself in the face of the downpour which I had not expected.
 
And every now and then you meet conditions where you just can't do it. Its often propably more usefull to try to keep yourself dry - ends up as the same thing - you'll be warm. Personally I like fires but don't see them really necessary unless needed for heat.

TLM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top