Knowing how to build a reliable fire is one of the most crucial techniques necessary to survival situations. It may seem like a simple task: all you have to do is gather some sticks and use a match, just like you’ve seen in movies. Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy. Wasting valuable energy trying to make a fire while lost in the woods can be the difference between being found alive a few hours later or freezing to death.
Before you start lighting sticks on fire, gather a large bundle of smaller sticks, around the size of pencil lead. These sticks will light up with just one match. Your goal is to find the smallest sticks available. Once you have a sufficient amount of these, find sticks a bit larger, about half the size of a pencil. The next logical step up will be sticks around the size of a pencil, slowly working your way up until you have large logs. It is important to find a good amount of sticks and twigs of every size possible.
Once you have gathered a good amount of various twigs and sticks, you need to bundle them together. In the worst situations, you’ll have to hold the bundle in your hand. If possible, tie them together so you won’t risk any of the bundle falling apart, especially while on fire. Lighting your bundle on fire is your next step. The fire from a match should be enough to light the bundle up immediately and using a lighter should take less than six seconds to ignite the bundle. If it takes any longer, you may need to find smaller and drier sticks. Fire always burns upwards, so light your bundle from the bottom, so the flame spreads through the bundle.
Rotate your bundle of sticks if necessary, ensuring the bundle is sufficiently on fire. From here, set your bundle down and start adding the larger sticks, slowly building the fire up. Adding only one stick at a time is recommended. Make sure you place your sticks directly over the fire itself and not just where you want the fire to travel. It may be necessary to blow on your fire to give it the necessary oxygen to burn. Add the sticks in a teepee shape as you build.
From here, your next goal is to make a bed of hot, burnt coals and ash. Your teepee will eventually collapse on itself, so keep adding larger sticks until you’re adding logs. Eventually, these logs will collapse inward on the coals, adding to the blaze. From here, your fire will only require light upkeep. You’ve successfully built a fire!
The Simplest way to Build a Camp Fire
The K-PAK is a new foldable boat from The Folding Boat Company, created by outdoorsman and SAS employee Pete Flood. The Folding Boat Company was formed after Flood had to walk over two miles to a duck hunting site, all while carrying a heavy canoe over land. By the time him and his partner reached the site, they were already out of daylight. Instead of being discouraged, however, he came up with an idea to create a foldable, portable boat that is small and light enough to fit inside of a backpack.
To begin with, one of the most obvious problems seen in climbing is the use of improper carabiners. Carabiners are used everywhere, from backpacks to key chains. However, many of these carabiners aren’t rated for climbing. You won’t see anyone climbing using these carabiners for support, as they simply can’t support that much weight, but you may see them used to clip shoes, water bottles, or any other types of gear to climbers. While they probably won’t break, it’s best to be safe, as you certainly don’t want any of your gear breaking off, falling down a cliff, and striking another climber.
themselves growing too relaxed, especially during the beginning of the ascent. Indoors, if a climber doesn’t attach their first bolt correctly, they fall a few feet to a soft foam mat. Outdoors, a fall of a few feet can be devastating. Sharp rocks, roots, and hard ground can cause injuries even from the tiniest of falls. Always pay attention to your climber. Additionally, if you’re the belayer (the person who acts as a counterweight in the event of a climber falling) to your climber, make sure you’re close to the rock wall. In many gyms, belayers are told to stand far back from the wall, letting them get a good view of what’s going on, so they can learn what to do. In real life situations, this can be dangerous. A lead climber falling will jerk a belayer into the hard rock wall instead of jerking them upward. It’s dangerous for both parties.
Before you think about hitting the ice, know that safety is the biggest concern. Ice fishing can be dangerous and deadly, but it doesn’t have to be. To safely ice fish, you need at least four inches of solid ice. If the ice isn’t that thick, don’t risk fishing on it, even if it feels solid and safe. Many anglers will take snowmobiles and four wheelers onto the ice once it is eight to twelve inches thick, though this can be a recipe for disaster. Always err on the side of caution. If there are no other anglers on the lake, drill test holes as you move outwards from the shore, ensuring proper ice thickness. Finally, never go alone. Always go fishing with at least one other friend.