Emergency Fire Tinder

Share your advice and personal experiences, post a gear review or ask any questions you may have pertaining to outdoor gear and equipment.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11823
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by maverick »

Rlown wrote:
I've actually done survival trips with just the flint stick and a knife, and no stove
or gas for multiple days. Still not that hard to find dry tinder in a wet storm. You
just have to know where to look and look a lot.
Yes these things may be enough for you Russ, but we all know a lot of folks who go
out totally unprepared to deal with even smallest things, so if they have some thing
that is quick and efficient it only adds to their chances of survival, especially when
dealing with something as dangerous as hypothermia where time is of the utmost
importance.
but a fire won't really dry out your sleeping bag in time.
His sleeping bag was okay, and I hope most folks now a days use a garbage bag or
dry sack for them, and throw a few pieces of essential clothing in there just
for a case something like this happens. I have a down jacket, long johns, beanie
and socks with my sleeping all wrapped in a garbage bag.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
Maddog61
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:06 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by Maddog61 »

Good topic Maverick,
I for one will admit that I hadn't thought of putting my bag & clothes in a trash bag. I have a rain cover for my pack, but hadn't considered falling into water. This is probably even more important now that Santa brought me a down bag.
It is assumed by some that these basics are common knowledge, or that HST is composed only of seasoned veterans, but I can't be the only one that learns valuable lessons from threads like this. Simple precautions like these could save the life of one of our own. Thanks!

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk 2
User avatar
oldranger
Topix Addict
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:18 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Bend, Oregon

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by oldranger »

Maddog

Even old farts backpacking since the 1950s learn from this forum!

Mike
Mike

Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11823
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by maverick »

Maddog61 wrote:
Good topic Maverick,
I for one will admit that I hadn't thought of putting my bag & clothes in a trash bag. I
have a rain cover for my pack, but hadn't considered falling into water. This is probably
even more important now that Santa brought me a down bag.
It is assumed by some that these basics are common knowledge, or that HST is composed
only of seasoned veterans, but I can't be the only one that learns valuable lessons from
threads like this. Simple precautions like these could save the life of one of our own.
Thanks!
No, thank you Maddog69 for being open to listening and reading just one of many
important and possibly life saving information tips that has been posted here on HST
by many folks over the years! HST is a treasure trove of valuable information
for any outdoor person who is willing to read, listen, and do a little research.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by sparky »

I dont carry emergency fire kit. It is probably a good idea though.

I have been cold once....summer 2004

In a meadow, in a forest, it had been raining most of the day. I was damp, but warm, and started my modern day vision quest. As the sacrament took hold I remember getting my mind blown watching the rain hit, and stream down the tent fabric. I was reaching a state of pure bliss, epiphanies and realizations exploding at a million miles an hour.

It was then I decided emptying my water jug on my head seemed like an excellent idea. I was then drenched to the bone, and not long after my mind was leaving my nody. I knew I should be colld so I climbed into my tent into my sleeping bag. I promptly launched into outer space. When I came to, I was in bad shape. My sleeping bag felt like I was inside a freezing cold small intestine. I was cold to the bone, and I felt I would die if I didnt warm up. I tried to get a fire going, but was unsuccessful.

I ran to the trailhead, into my car....but I forgot my keys. Luckily it was unlocked, and in the back was some dry clothes and a bunch of newspapers. I rode out the remainder
User avatar
jimqpublic
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:16 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Long Beach

Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by jimqpublic »

Sparky's tale shows that altered mental states result in altered judgement.

Before my "big trip" a couple years ago I cut my base gear weight in half. That included switching from a white gasoline stove, tossing out the "fire ribbon", the steel match safe, and a bunch more.

So I did some "will it burn" experiments. Chapstick or rash ointment smeared on TP or damp twigs burned great. Canister stove dries and lights branches quickly. Alcohol sanitizing wipes burn well but fairly quickly. Sunscreen was fireproof. Wet Bic lighter doesn't, and would be worse with cold, wet hands.

After the experiments I decided that the first aid supplies are good; but added back in a plastic match safe and storm proof matches.
Jim
User avatar
bluefish
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 61
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:45 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by bluefish »

I've done some experimentation, but came to the conclusion if I was going to carry white gas, then I'd just use that to get any emergency fire going. In recent years, I find we may have a fire about once every 20 trips. I haven't made a campfire in the Sierra's (except in an established drive- to campground on rare occasions) since the 70's, so sometimes I forget about emergency fire material. I have used in the past something called Georgia Fatwood, which is the resin soaked heartwood of Longleaf Pine stumps. They generally come in small pieces 1" square x 9" , 2 of which will get a fireplace going. I would just split 1 pc. into slivers and carry it in a baggie. The equivalent of carrying 5-6 pencils. Very effective, but it does have the downside of not being dual purpose like Vaseline soaked balls, which can be put on burns, chafes, and sparingly, on chapped lips. I make a base of twigs underneath to allow air flow and it will get damp stuff going pretty easily. I may employ the fatwood again. The white gas burns too fast, and can leave you short of fuel on a multi-day trip .


Charlie
User avatar
Flux
Topix Expert
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:57 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Palmdale

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by Flux »

I carry a fire steel and scraper and keep it in my stove kit. Easy to light the stove and will throw sparks when wet. I have definitely considered some vasaline cotton balls stuck in my kit for getting a little blaze going should I need to get warm. You can always find dry tinder under most pines, especially the little guys.

As for emergencies, luckily I have not been that cold and wet that it was critical. Well maybe once. I was day fishing rock creek and some rain came in unexpectedly. I got drenched on the walk out and I remember thinking to myself "damn self, you are really cold and wet, if you weren't 300 yards from the truck you would have to get a fire going quick". I was shivering and my hands got numb. Took me a good while to warm up even with dry clothes and the truck heater on. Just a little taste of what could happen but it opened my eyes a bit. The temp must have dropped 20 degrees with the rain and I got soaked.

And beers in the backpack, always wrap em in something. The thin aluminum can can easily crease and leak. had one drain out on my clothes and down bag. had to start a fire to dry everything off on a cold damp night after it had snowed the day before.
User avatar
k9mark
Topix Regular
Posts: 138
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:27 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Stockton CA

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by k9mark »

When you say emergency fire, I immediately think signal fire to alert rescuers and aircraft of your location.
God created Police Officers so Firemen would have heroes
User avatar
dave54
Founding Member
Posts: 1327
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:24 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: where the Sierras, Cascades, and Great Basin meet.

Re: Emergency Fire Tinder

Post by dave54 »

k9mark wrote:When you say emergency fire, I immediately think signal fire to alert rescuers and aircraft of your location.
A large smoke column in the Sierra in mid summer will bring aircraft overhead in a hurry. But not the rescuing kind. :D
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Log off and get outdoors!
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests