Starting a fire in snow/rain

[fillthefreezer]

the triox tabs are tiny. i usually get them off ebay. vietnam era looking stuff. in avg weather i can usually get a fire going with 1/3 tab. they are about the size of a cracker. if its real nasty, i will use the whole thing. they dont put out a huge flame, so you do need to get good, small tinder prepped. they burn HOT for maybe 3-5min. enough to get even wet small wood going.

[toyman2]

I have found with the cotton balls, you can over soak them in Vaseline.
I try and only dip half to 3/4 in, then let them sit till it returns to a semi solid.
The nice thing about these is that you can pack a lot into a small container, even flint and steel will start these.
I have timed them before, it has been awhile but I believe that you get a good 10 or 15 min out of one.
Really the trick on them is to stretch out the fibers, also you want some of the fibers to be free of the Vaseline so the cotton lights easy, it will then burn the petroleum.

[PolarBear]

Hemlocks are not known for their pitch, white fir has lots.

I have lit emergency fires with wet birch bark.  I also carry triox tablets and a magnesium starter.

[DOUBLELUNG]

save the lint from your dryer... mix it with some paraffin and role it into golf ball size balls... put a match to it and it will burn a good 20-30 minutes.. plenty of time to get damp wood burning...

Thought I was the only one that saved drier lint

Nope - me too.  I pack the lint into the bottom of a quart freezer bag, then pour in melted paraffin until the lint is soaked.  Keeps the lint and wax nice and orderly in the pack.

[300rum]

I use egg cartons/lint/wax to get my charcoal chimney started when cooking with my cast iron dutch oven.  It is the best way that I have found to get charcoal going. 

save the lint from your dryer... mix it with some paraffin and role it into golf ball size balls... put a match to it and it will burn a good 20-30 minutes.. plenty of time to get damp wood burning...

Thought I was the only one that saved drier lint

Nope - me too.  I pack the lint into the bottom of a quart freezer bag, then pour in melted paraffin until the lint is soaked.  Keeps the lint and wax nice and orderly in the pack.

[CAMPMEAT]

Diesel and tires..........

[kentrek]

Refreshing and old topic but it's seems like a good topic to keep fresh going into a new hunting season

Reworking my possibles pack and was researching some different options....looks like the esbit tabs rank pretty high in general but the trioxan  (which I've never used) light much easier and burn hotter

I'm thinking half a trioxan under an esbit tab and youl have the best of both worlds

Here's a some good links

[Boss .300 winmag]

Diesel and tires..........

I always carry a gallon of diesel, and couple tires when I'm in the back country. 

[davk]

Get a good fire starter.  There are definitely a lot of hokey ones out there now a days.  Ive been using esbit and trioxane for a few years now.  I remember reading esbit burns hotter.  The downside is that you need to hold a flame to it for a few seconds for it to light.  Trioxane can be lit with a spark. 

Standing dead wood will be the driest. Obviously check it to make sure its not rotten.  Carry an ax or large knife to split the wood.  Process it down and get a good amount of small pencil size pieces up to quartered logs.  I occasionally do halves, but that is always a call I make depending the wood and the conditions.  If you can put up a tarp or have some sort of shelter to help keep the wood dry as you process it that always helps.  Ill usually build a base for the fire out of halved logs to keep it of the wet ground.  Be patient and persistent.  I was out a few weeks ago when it was raining all weekend.  It took over an hr to have a sustaining fire from when I lit the fire started.  Wasn't looking hopeful for a long time and I was tempted to throw in the towel.  Once it is going Ill arrange the wood around the fire like this to help dry it out.

[SWHUNTER]

I use my MSR Pocket rocket to get fires going a lot if I'm camping. Works great but you have to be careful not to tip it too far to the side or it will flame up pretty good.

[Karl Blanchard]

Trioxane tablets is what I carry, and I won't be switching anytime soon.  I can light them with anything and they burn long and hot.

[blackveltbowhunter]

If on multi day hunts in backcountry trioxane is great. If alot of inclement weather is anticipated though I throw in a roadflare or two.

[time2hunt]

We carry a tube of fire paste in all are packs and recreational vehicles


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[teanawayslayer]

Steel wool works great as well. It could be soaking wet and still get a good fire going with it.

[WapitiTalk1]

http://www.coghlans.com/products/fire-sticks-7940