Lighting a fire in the rain
Dry wood is in the standing trees, not on the ground
Dry wood is in the standing trees
- Look for dead wood still hanging on standing trees
- Never use wood on the ground: it's waterlogged
- Strip the bark, split it into quarters
- The core of a branch stays dry for 3 days
- Test: it breaks with a sharp snap
Tinders that burn when wet
- Birch bark: high flame even when damp
- Fatwood: resinous core of pine stumps
- Feather sticks: fine shavings left attached
- 2 feather sticks in dry weather, 6 solid ones in the rain
- Vaseline cotton ball: about 7 minutes of flame
Step-by-step progression, no skipping steps
- Tinder, then match-sized, pencil, finger, wrist
- An armful of kindling, not just a handful
- Prepare everything before striking the first spark
- Platform of dry sticks on the ground against moisture
Firesteel: the technique that works
- Fine tinder nest on the ground, sheltered from the wind
- Spine of your knife on the rod at 45 degrees
- Pull the rod back, keeping the striker still
- Blow gently as soon as you see a red glow
Under the tarp
- Set up your tarp before lighting the fire
- Double the amount of kindling when it rains
- Look for a sheltered hollow, never a bowl that collects water
- Dakota fire pit: stealthy, draws air like a stove
Keeping the fire going overnight
- Let the flames die down to a bed of embers
- Cover with a few cm of ash
- Place 1-2 dense logs alongside, not directly on top
- In the morning: rake it open, find the glow, blow
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