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Bob Loblaw
Utah Canyonland Survivor
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 355
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 Damp surroundings |
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What is best to use when everything around you is damp? This past weekend, and even this morning during my camping trip, it took us at 30min. to get a proper cooking fire going. Any thoughts?
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| Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:28 pm |
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Drummer Dave
Administrator
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 4095
Location: B.C West Coast, Canada |
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Well if there is birch tree's around the bark will burn good even wet.
And if there is cedar trees around, get some bark and from the inside of the bark scrap it and you'll get some cedar fuzz that takes a spark very easy. 
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| Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:20 pm |
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Bob Loblaw
Utah Canyonland Survivor
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 355
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Yea, I was able to find a lot of birch bark, but had to use tons of it to get my small sticks started. I guess time is just needed when its damp.
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| Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:29 pm |
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Drummer Dave
Administrator
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 4095
Location: B.C West Coast, Canada |
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 | | Yea, I was able to find a lot of birch bark, but had to use tons of it to get my small sticks started. I guess time is just needed when its damp. |
If you take alittle more time in preparing tinder, in all stags you will be alot more successful 
_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing
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| Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:40 pm |
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Askdamice
Utah Canyonland Survivor
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 371
Location: Ontario, Canada |
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"Feather" some small sticks to expose the dry inner wood. Feathering is when you make a series carving strokes into the stick without following through and removing the shavings... they get built up and lots of good wood will accept flame readily. Somebody post a pic will ya... I don't have any on my PC.
Rick
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"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing." |
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| Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:37 pm |
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Bob Loblaw
Utah Canyonland Survivor
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 355
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Ohhh.. so thats why I bought my knives... so I could actually put them to use. Geez, I'm an idiot. Sound advice from the both of you thanks!
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| Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:53 pm |
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BushRat
Saugeen Survivor
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 905
Location: Toronto |
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Popular Mechanics has an article about skills men should have. Most are not wilderness related, but there is one tip regarding starting a campfire that I don't remember seeing before. They say if you put a piece of wood against your cheek and it feels cool, it is too damp to burn well.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4223337.html
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| Sat Oct 06, 2007 3:22 pm |
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Brian
Kalahari Desert Survivor
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 583
Location: Spencerport, New York |
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Gasoline  naw I always use birch bark, or look under large sheets of fallen bark for dry needles and whatnot
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We only have one Earth, take care of her and she will take care of you. ~ probably someone else |
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| Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:40 pm |
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Bob Loblaw
Utah Canyonland Survivor
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 355
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As someone who likes the outdoors so much, I'm sucha pansy about looking for material under fallen trees, or peeling off bark. I'm afraid a huge insect is going to come out and jump on me.
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| Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:03 pm |
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Winter
Fryer of Brains
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
Posts: 91
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If you shred birch bark very finely by scraping with a knife, it can be made to take a spark directly from a flint, but it only works well when done at an edge or corner. If you have any conifers in the area there are usually dead dry branches attached under the living material which can provide enough heat to get damper wood burning. Go light when using them since they don't just pop up every day and you don't want to exhaust the area.
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| Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:31 pm |
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