this is a good thread, I remember reading it before. Its a good example for the backcountry thread. Two years ago, I was deer hunting at 1 buck hill, as we call it in camp. A burned out area, rocky, steep and on the corner of two joining valleys. Wind tends to howl through there and it was howling that day. I was sitting just inside the trees which didnt give much cover as they were burned out. I was basically just tucked in the brush a bit, waiting for a deer to come by. But I was wet as it had rained and I was pretty wet, thanks to the chest high brush I had to fight to get in here.
I started to shiver pretty good and it wasnt getting better. Wind was just cutting around the edge I was on (even though I moved a bit to block the wind). I needed to get warmer, but I didnt want to leave the spot. Heck with this, Im building a fire I thought, so I did make a small fire on the rock I was sitting, which was surrounded by a few other rocks. I was a bit colder than I thought, it took a bit to get warmed up, but man does it ever make a difference.
Fire wasnt much bigger than 8-10 inches in diameter. It was enough to warm me up for about an hour or so. Dry a few things out. Then I let them burn down to coals and covered them in dirt a few inches.(as I had read this technique before). I also enjoyed a cup of hot coco and cup o noodles, thanks to my lil burner I brought.
The coals that were burried made a nice warm seat to sit on the rest of the time. I didnt see a shooter deer that day, but it sure made it bearable.
Not sure why I shared this, I am sure we all have had similar days. I think basically, it didnt matter too much I didnt see a deer. I was enjoying watching mt goats and the fire was all I really needed to fend off the bite of winters chill.
