Post by: ICEMAN on December 12, 2008, 05:42:48 AM
Here is my 2004 article:
Survival Fire
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Thought I would provoke some discussion on the topic of creating a survival fire. We are talking about making a fire when you absolutely need it most. Worse case scenario. You are wet and cold. Your fuel is wet and cold, or frozen. You need a fire to survive.
As a dress rehersal for these conditions, three years ago, I planned a half azzed attempt at seeing how easy I could build my survival fire in the wet and cold of the Pacific Northwest Olympics, in February. I decided to play it safe and bring a tent, and to stay within 30 minutes of my truck. With wet rain and occasional sloppy snow blowing thru the air, I took to make my survival fire.
Here is what I did:
Location. I picked the best location I could find to make my fire. Some place that provided some form of protection from the constant rain and drizzle. I found a large cedar tree that had a mild lean to it. Right behind the tree was a good source of wood. Soggy, but much available, an overturned tree root ball, and a fallen broken tree top. Both soggy and wet, but I figured that if I could get my fire going well enough, wet wood in concentration would be better than having to go searching all over the place to drag "wet" wood together. I planned my fire beneath the leaning portion of the tree.
Fuel gathering. I still had to try to gather something that would actually burn. I brought with me firestarter goodies, but if you have ever experience trying to make a fire in extremely wet conditions, you know that a few firestarters does not make a fire. I located a fallen section of tree that had decayed a bunch. Probably too much to be considered fuel, but I kicked and kicked at it, and found a section in the middle that delaminated sort of like layers of paper. These were wet, but thin. I figured as I started to make my fire, that they would dry easy, and in their sheet form, would be great to keep out the rain and wind, and bounce heat back onto the early flame. I also paid attention to gather microscopic thin twigs. Lots. Although also soggy, I knew I would need these.
Fire Foundation. After rounding up all the necessary materials to make fire, I started by laying a large section of tree bark across a few large sticks to make a shelter to build the fire under. Inside of this, I started by making a sort of "birds nest" of really fine twigs. In the middle portion of this, I placed long thin shaving of the tree "paper". These stood up, waiting for flame to crawl up them. I then brought out my homemade firestarter kit, dryer lint, some waxed paper, and a bic lighter.
Here we go... I placed a wad of the dryer lint at the bottom of my "fire", shredded some waxed paper, and touched it off. Thirty seconds, maybe a minute of flame. Nothing else. Didn't even seem like it warmed my tinder. I tried this three or four times. I warmed my tinder. Schitt!
OK, now I am actually getting a bit cold here. My gore tex rain coat is soaking thru, and every time I reach down to do something with my "fire", my sleeve directs water directly at whatever I am trying to touch with my hand. And, mind you, we are under the best shelter that I could find.
Start from scratch. Go find thinner, dryer stuff. Slop, slop, slop around looking for something dry. Now I give in and grab my baby fiskar axe from my backpack and start chopping a larger log, hoping to find it dry inside. It is! I chop and chop, and chop until I get inside a ways, and start to shave out some mostly "dryish" slender shavings. Chopped the tip of my glove nearly off, with my too sharp axe. Close one...Hurry back now to try to make fire. I'm cold now.
Now on my knees, hunkered over, peering under a smoky bark lid, and trying to salvage anything that had partially dried earlier. Scoot this stuff together, pull out more lint, a scrap more of waxed paper, lighter. New tinder... Blow, Blow, blow, cough, nasty smoke makes the lungs wheeze...Knees are soaking thru on the mud. Fire emits smoke. Keep working it, keep working it...come on baby! Out. MUTHER &$#%!!! This is not funny now. What the Hell am I doing out here F'ing around with this mud pile, when I could at home snuggled up in bed!!!
Calm down, you can do this, that almost worked last time. I am no weenie. Remember why I came here, just for this....Try it again, thinner shavings, used my knife to split what had already smoked..., warm to the touch, sooty mess. Reassemble the sooty tinder stuff, a bit more lint, blow blow blow. And guess what....after an hour and a half, I had fire. Smoky, stinky, sting your eyes fire. It took me another hour to get this fire going well enough that I felt comfortable enough walking into the surround woods in search of some big ass logs to drag down to the fire. I spent until midnight feeding that fire. the rain and snow finally stopped around 10pm. At 8pm, I broke out my Jack Daniels, and some Yukon Jack. By 10pm I was rather drunk. By midnight, I was very drunk, very warm and had mostly dried out and finally crashed, stumbling into my solotent and sleeping it all off....
Here is what I learned;
Bring more, better fire starter. I was drastically close to running out of my cheesy firestarter stuff that I brought. I am smarter now. Bring some tin foil. I now carry my emergency firestarter kit, and wrap a couple of feet of aluminum foil around the kit. I have since learned to practice making my tiny, tiny starter fire in a tin foil "box" that I make at the base of my fire. The tinfoil works great to keep things dry, and bounce the heat back at your tinder. Start your fire early. This fire may take some time to actually "take"... Do not wait until you are so cold, and so psyched out that you cannot get things together and actually make this fire work. Psychologically, I was getting pretty worried and started to think that I was not going to get my fire going, very depressing. I can imagine if you were lost, and already very cold, these failures could "do you in" mentally. When I finally got a good fire going, my whole outlook changed. And, although I was not lost, was not far from my truck, had an MRE waiting for me...., when my fire took, it really cheered me up.
I now carry better firestarters. More of them. I like to carry some thin strips of sliced cardboard I have dipped in wax, so that I have tinder that I can slowly place into the exact spot I desire, one by one, to keep the start of my flame from going out. And I have learned to keep draggin way way more wood than you think you will need, to the fire location. You cannot have too much. You can have too little. Think small at the start.
I also like to have a wall behind me, and a wall on the opposing side of the fire, to bounce heat back at me. In this case, I spent the night sitting between my cedar tree and my fire. The tree had my "back" too, sort of my buddy watching my backside. (Cougar country, and the occasional spooky noise...)
I remember looking into my large pile of coals later in the eve, and thinking what a wonderful sight my fire would be to someone who was lost and alone out there....well I sort of remember thinking it...sort of....
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December 2008 edit; I now carry a few of my homemade dunkable firestarters, some vaselined cotton balls, more waxed paper, more tin foil, a wad of those "trick" birthday candles that dont blow out, two different lighters, and a few types of survival type matches.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 12, 2008, 06:19:03 AM
Post by: boneaddict on December 12, 2008, 06:51:34 AM
Post by: Charlie on December 12, 2008, 10:32:30 AM
Quote
December 2008 edit; I now carry a few of my homemade dunkable firestarters, some vaselined cotton balls, more waxed paper, more tin foil, a wad of those "trick" birthday candles that dont blow out, two different lighters, and a few types of survival type matches.
Great story on an important topic!! Thanks for the tips. :tup:
Post by: ICEMAN on December 12, 2008, 08:39:16 PM
Post by: Huntbear on December 13, 2008, 04:21:09 PM
I carry one of those sparking fire starters, works even wet. I also carry a fire starter log. Those small ones made by Presto logs (i think) in addition to waterproof lighter/matches and the tried and true dryer lint. I also started carrying the cotton balls and vaseline a few years ago.
On a side note, shoe laces will burn too and rather well in a pinch.
I have stayed out by choice or not on several occasions and taught wilderness survival to Boy Scouts for 4 yrs. I am always prepared. Having a family friend die of hypothermia while elk hunting when I was a kid did a lot to make me always be prepared for any weather.
Post by: ICEMAN on December 14, 2008, 05:01:59 AM
The thing I always have worried about is this; alot of the stories I have read of dead hunters or fishermen, was that they possessed fire making 'stuff' on their bodies, but waited so long that the advanced stages of Hypothermia had set in, they were basically not physically able to use the stuff they carried, hands dont work well, and psychologically they were fried..... Guys found ditching their gear, taking coats off...found dead sitting in front of their backpack with all the stuff they needed to make fire, but the didn't...
I guess guys push on and avoid the reality that they are lost. Ego...
Post by: high country on December 15, 2008, 07:14:31 AM
Post by: Bighorse on December 15, 2008, 07:49:18 AM
I live in the rainforest of SE Alaska and I've made wet fires. I carry a bomb proof lighter....like one of those storm proff 50$ things always. If I have any plans of staying out I'll carry chunks of fire log and or a road flare. I always have my saw. You dry wood in a rainforest is often in the middle of a larger piece. Yellow cedar will burn well green. Saw off a burl with a mess of sap to really get things intresting. Saw that yellow buger looking stuff off a giant Sitka spruce.....that will help. Before the sparks fly.....I've got a mess of material for my fire. I also never leave home without a headlamp. Getting good materials takes time.
Its a compromise between a minimalist backcountry traveler and a prepared outdoorsman. I think with one fire starting material, a lighter , and a saw I've found that. Its something that I just never leave home without. I also carry an airial flare, glow stick, and hand held VHF. Up here the Coast Gaurd will hunt you down with a Jayhawk with nightvision. It sound like alot but really its like maybe a four pound chunk of survival goodies.
Post by: Huntbear on December 15, 2008, 06:31:47 PM
When you stop and look around and absolutely nothing looks familiar, or when you stop you feel like you can not get warm, build a fire! I have been known to build a warming fire in the middle of the day if I am feeling the cold set in, or for nothing else to toast a PB&J sandwich for lunch. Warm food in your belly does wonders keeping you out of a Hypothermia state.
Post by: boneaddict on December 15, 2008, 06:39:36 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on December 16, 2008, 04:28:57 AM
I think a big problem is we are all macho/ego types....and do not want to show our bad judgements, mistakes, even think for a second we may be lost or cold or whatever....this leads many a guy down the deadly road...... Bone, when a friend recognizes a problem....great to have that friend there..... When we solo....?
Post by: boneaddict on December 16, 2008, 04:50:31 AM
Post by: robb92 on December 16, 2008, 08:16:14 PM
Post by: runamuk on December 16, 2008, 08:55:07 PM
As I age, I worry about things like this more. I still solo hike and hunt, and always carry a ton of crap for survival, especially when soloing. I have been on one hike when my buddy had the reverse, hyperthermia, just as bad.... which reminds me, I may go raid that story off another site..... make for some good discussion...maybe I will wait until summer for the hot weather stuff.... ;)
I think a big problem is we are all macho/ego types....and do not want to show our bad judgements, mistakes, even think for a second we may be lost or cold or whatever....this leads many a guy down the deadly road...... Bone, when a friend recognizes a problem....great to have that friend there..... When we solo....?
Toss those ego's......get practical.
Maybe being female my brain is wired different but damn if I am lost (rare occurence ;) ) or cold survival kicks in. This is a great topic and could save lives.
Post by: rasbo on December 17, 2008, 06:28:37 AM
Post by: Wolf Track on December 30, 2008, 03:00:39 PM
I practice making fires almost any where and every where in every condition the Rockies have to offer...
When I lived in Washington, I did the same thing
Mother Earth will heal the small fire spot you make
I start fires all the time in -20 with 10-12" of snow on the ground during a blizzard
I use the same techniques I learned in Scouts 30+ years ago in the Woodinville/Bothell area
I don't worry about the PC crowd to much when building these fires, I believe my life is far more valuable than their feelings
I've also practiced fires in extreme fire danger and keeping them under full control (it helps a lot when you're a wildland fire fighter and have the formal training)
Post by: Head-shot on December 30, 2008, 09:46:19 PM
This is great for the younger and/or less experienced hunters and hikers. I think it puts things into realistic perspective unlike some of the survival shows on TV making it look so easy. And you write things with such colorful emotion at times, its like I was sitting there myself. Great read my friend. :tup:
Post by: Wolf Track on December 31, 2008, 05:52:16 AM
Most people die of the elements at around 45-50f which is right up the ally of where you guys are at for most of the year
Most every year people succumb to hypothermia with a pack full of food and shelter but are to stubborn to stop, set up a camp or even get a fire going
For the time they save not doing the little things to stay alive, they more than pay for in the long run by taking a permanent rest
Frost bite is another thing that gets a large number of people for the same reason
And this is an excellent thread on prevention of frost bite
I was walking out across a swampy area at -10 and figured since it had been so cold the water should have been froze clear thru
It wasn't and by the time I got to the other side, my feet were covered with 6" of ice as every time I broke thru, the powdered snow would stick to my feet adding a layer
Most guys would just kick the ice off as well as possible and keep going as we all seem to have a time limit and have to meet a time oriented objective
Instead, I stopped, got a fire going and spent two hours drying my shoes out
I lost out on the elk I was chasing at the time, but still have all my toes to show for it
This same thing goes for getting ones fingers, nose, and ear tips to cold for extended periods of time
If when things start to warm up and they hurt, those are the first signs of frost bite
Post by: Pathfinder101 on January 20, 2009, 10:56:17 PM
One thing I have found is that "pitch-wood" works nearly as well as cotton balls. Find a rotton stump and kick it apart. Look for where the sap has saturated the wood (usually in the center) and it's not rotting. Cut these into thin strips and use them the same way you use cotton balls.
For spark and flame I use a magnesium match. Burns fast and hot and works great even when soaking wet. That magnesium burns fast though, gotta have the cottonballs/pitchwood ready.
I also start 2 or 3 fires before I teach the class. Practice, practice, practice...
Post by: ICEMAN on January 21, 2009, 05:53:46 AM
They are off to a great start, identifying good spots for shelter, good fuel sources, having a mental plan of what to do. Every camp trip we make, every hunt trip we take, they are in charge of firestarting at camp. I make a big deal about it, challenging them to try to make a fire in one try. One match. Doesnt always work out, but they get alot of practice.... I even make a big deal taking pictures and all, congratulating them that they have just "survived the night".
Post by: NRA4LIFE on January 21, 2009, 02:52:43 PM
That bit about the Whiskey made me laugh my butt off. I am very happy to see someone not afraid of carrying/mentioning a Bic lighter. The mini varity weighs probably a half ounce maybe? I carry 2 or 3 ALWAYS. A couple stories about Bic lighters, one amusing, one not so. I was discussing survival fires with a bunch of older hunters about carrying them. One of them asked me if he could see it. I gave it to him and he threw it in a pot of water and made some snide comment like "now what are you gonna do?". I had it lit in less than 5 seconds.
Whilst in the boundary waters of N Minnesota in college, my "partner" dumped our canoe one night, 3 miles from camp, both of us in water. Late May, raining, 35 degrees, water temp about the same. Not good. Got the canoe to shore and regrouped. "Partner" is now balling and scared to death. Almost dark now. I was wearing all wool at the time and was OK. Sprang into action. Found a bunch of birch bark and dead cedar branches. Bic lighter to the rescue. Had a fire going right quick and we sat almost butt naked drying out our cloths until after midnight. As we started back to camp (could see the fire they had going for our beacon), we got 50 yards out and my "partner's" paddle breaks. That was a loooooong night.
Post by: ICEMAN on January 21, 2009, 07:39:08 PM
Post by: docsven on January 21, 2009, 08:17:19 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on January 22, 2009, 10:16:41 PM
It takes such an incredible amount of friction that most people can't muster up the intestinal fortitude to keep their arms going that fast, for that long with enough pressure to get a hot coal on their fireboard. Plus, you need a softwood fireboard, a hardwood stick, and they have to be absolutely dry. Try finding those requirements when you actually "need" a fire...
I tell them the best defense against having to use primitive methods, is to never get caught without several modern methods available.
Post by: ICEMAN on January 23, 2009, 05:36:15 AM
Post by: GUHunter on February 18, 2009, 12:40:33 AM
Post by: magnanimous_j on February 18, 2009, 01:33:00 AM
I know I'm kinda persona non grata around here, but I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your informational posts. Makes me get all itchy to get out of the city and into the woods for awhile.
You should consider writing your own blog.
Post by: ICEMAN on February 18, 2009, 05:43:21 AM
As far as writing about whatever I am doing, I really enjoy sticking in the actual thoughts that come to mind...the accidents and mistakes, everything....
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 18, 2009, 05:45:34 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 18, 2009, 05:50:37 AM
Post by: woodswalker on February 18, 2009, 06:21:06 AM
I don't worry about the PC crowd to much when building these fires, I believe my life is far more valuable than their feelings
Ab-so-freaking-lutely....the PC crowd can go dunk their pointy heads. I WILL survive.
Having spent the night out more than once..and once injured (hoping that the guys in camp would catch on and not just eat my portion of dinner and drink my portion of the beer) I just build a fire, get comfy, eat what i have and make some tea or bullion and get set to stay for a while. Did it over on the west side of the Olympics...near the Hoh...that was a WET but warm night...I EVENTUALLY dried out and slept for several hours.
All goodness, I carry enough gear that I can stay out most anywhere in any conditions and I dont leave the truck or camp without it.
Post by: ICEMAN on May 26, 2010, 05:02:53 AM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 26, 2010, 10:18:20 AM
I saw these posts and was kind of curious, After reading all the input from everyone else, why nobody has mentioned a basic fire starting tip I learned from my father (who grew up on a homestead in Canada before becoming an American Citizen to go fight in WWII )
He told me "The dryest wood in the forest is still hanging on the trees"
The branches on the inside of the tree, close to the trunk of almost every evergreen are dead dry and protected from the elements from the outer live branches.
The thicker the woods, the more dead branches there are, on just about any kind of tree.
I have never had a problem getting a fire started, as long as I had a dependable source of flame, even have successfully started a fire with a "Bow and Drill" as part of a course I took back in 1978 called "Wilderness Survival/Camper Safety" put on by Explorer Scouts, although as mentioned it is a pain in the butt..
Post by: Alchase on May 26, 2010, 11:16:35 AM
All you want to do is fall asleep. Its a euphoric high almost where it hurts to move and you are lulled into thinking life is good if you just relax and take a snooze. Its hard to press on and very hard to regain it back to reallity once it has set in.
I feel that way after a large breakfast, lol
Good thread, after spending 6 years in the Navy in a mostly hypodermic state I have become more "cold sensitive" with age. As Woodswalker said, I now take enough gear and various types of fire starters, Vaseline cotton balls, lighters in many pockets in ziplock baggies, fire sticks, even matches.
Now I hate cold feet!
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 26, 2010, 11:50:08 AM
I saw these posts and was kind of curious, After reading all the input from everyone else, why nobody has mentioned a basic fire starting tip I learned from my father (who grew up on a homestead in Canada before becoming an American Citizen to go fight in WWII )
He told me "The dryest wood in the forest is still hanging on the trees"
The branches on the inside of the tree, close to the trunk of almost every evergreen are dead dry and protected from the elements from the outer live branches.
The thicker the woods, the more dead branches there are, on just about any kind of tree.
I have never had a problem getting a fire started, as long as I had a dependable source of flame, even have successfully started a fire with a "Bow and Drill" as part of a course I took back in 1978 called "Wilderness Survival/Camper Safety" put on by Explorer Scouts, although as mentioned it is a pain in the butt..
Good point Stik. I tell my survival students the same thing. Additionally, if you have to use a primitive method, it will not work with wood you find laying on the ground (either for your drill, your plough, or your fireboard). Wood found on the ground has moisture in it, even if it is laying in the sun on a hot day during a drought. You have to use dead standing wood.
Post by: Black Plague on June 04, 2010, 11:11:19 AM
cool stuff.
Post by: NWTFhunter on June 04, 2010, 11:59:13 AM
Also, as I hunt I always look for damaged Pine trees as they will have bled pitch thru the summer and pooled a nice glob of pitch. I take that glob and put it in a ziplock that I carry in my pack.
Post by: ICEMAN on June 04, 2010, 02:29:43 PM
Post by: Wild Bill on June 04, 2010, 04:38:29 PM
I saw these posts and was kind of curious, After reading all the input from everyone else, why nobody has mentioned a basic fire starting tip I learned from my father (who grew up on a homestead in Canada before becoming an American Citizen to go fight in WWII )
He told me "The dryest wood in the forest is still hanging on the trees"
The branches on the inside of the tree, close to the trunk of almost every evergreen are dead dry and protected from the elements from the outer live branches.
The thicker the woods, the more dead branches there are, on just about any kind of tree.
I have never had a problem getting a fire started, as long as I had a dependable source of flame, even have successfully started a fire with a "Bow and Drill" as part of a course I took back in 1978 called "Wilderness Survival/Camper Safety" put on by Explorer Scouts, although as mentioned it is a pain in the butt..
Good info, and some things i may add....
In a stupid wet environment (locally) look for Hemlock and the likes... Fir, Cedar, and Deciduous trees work, and follow the same idea, but Hemlock is much finer and if wet, tends to dry and ignite sooner..
If it's straight up poring and everything seems wet... Gather slightly larger limbs (approx. thumb size), get yourself close to a tree, and (if available) throw up a quick shelter (over the wood, to keep it dry once split). Tarp, tent even a plastic bag... Split the limbs into quarters with a knife (be VERY careful of non locking blade, they-ll bite) and light..
Post by: 3dvapor on June 04, 2010, 10:31:40 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on June 07, 2010, 11:49:35 AM
Good thread Ice. As I was reading I kept waiting to see an item that not only will start a fire but feed you. Doc asked about it but no one commented on it. Corn chips. They burn hot and slow, and I have yet to have them fail me.
Also, as I hunt I always look for damaged Pine trees as they will have bled pitch thru the summer and pooled a nice glob of pitch. I take that glob and put it in a ziplock that I carry in my pack.
Good point about the cornchips. I have used them and they work well. The main problem I have is getting them to survive past the first stomach growl in my survival kit when hunting with my son... :chuckle:
Better than a glob of pitch is "pitch-wood". Find a rotten conifer stump, rotten enough so you can actually kick it apart. In the very center, you will find unrotten wood where the pitch has settled and saturated and preserved the wood. This can be split almost paper thin, and it is so soaked with pitch that it lights very easily. Because it can be split so thin, it catches much easier than a glob of pure pitch. It is also easier to transport and store in your survival kit, since it is not a sticky as a glob of pitch. I keep a small handful of pitchwood slivers and shavings in an empty 35mm film canister in my survival kit. Good stuff.
Post by: Wild Bill on June 08, 2010, 08:39:11 AM
Good thread Ice. As I was reading I kept waiting to see an item that not only will start a fire but feed you. Doc asked about it but no one commented on it. Corn chips. They burn hot and slow, and I have yet to have them fail me.
Also, as I hunt I always look for damaged Pine trees as they will have bled pitch thru the summer and pooled a nice glob of pitch. I take that glob and put it in a ziplock that I carry in my pack.
Good point about the cornchips. I have used them and they work well. The main problem I have is getting them to survive past the first stomach growl in my survival kit when hunting with my son... :chuckle:
Better than a glob of pitch is "pitch-wood". Find a rotten conifer stump, rotten enough so you can actually kick it apart. In the very center, you will find unrotten wood where the pitch has settled and saturated and preserved the wood. This can be split almost paper thin, and it is so soaked with pitch that it lights very easily. Because it can be split so thin, it catches much easier than a glob of pure pitch. It is also easier to transport and store in your survival kit, since it is not a sticky as a glob of pitch. I keep a small handful of pitchwood slivers and shavings in an empty 35mm film canister in my survival kit. Good stuff.
Solid advice... With pitch wood, the wood can be wet and the pitch will still ignite.... If your in a area with a lot of Pine, pitchwood is EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! If your on the wet side, its a little harder to find but still all over the place...
I never recomend carrying it, as its easy to find and heavy, but if you do find that lovely piece, look for the stuff thats purple in color.... It's got the highest amount of pitch, and will all but light a mud puddle on fire....
A piece about 6 inches long and about the size of a thumb could be used to light a ton of fires, and its still light....
WB
Post by: wabow on June 09, 2010, 08:38:11 AM
If your on the wet side, its a little harder to find but still all over the place...
We just buy it at lowes, its called fatwood. 3 or 4 sticks weigh almost nothing and areasy to pack.
Don
Post by: ICEMAN on March 29, 2012, 08:08:24 PM
Post by: saylean on April 01, 2012, 02:20:00 PM
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.
Post by: ribka on April 01, 2012, 07:47:03 PM
When I was younger and a scout and later in the military I always practiced starting fires in all conditions. I used to sleep in different shelters I built year round.
I think is time to continue with this practice.
" Humble yet confident" great quote Bone
Post by: ICEMAN on June 13, 2013, 06:55:57 AM