First off, never leave for a camping trip without some type of ignition. It’s the absolute most important survival tool you have, in our opinion. You can craft fire from natural resources, but it’s reliant on at least having a decent knife at your disposal (another crucial item to always have with you in the field).
So you bring your matches, maybe a lighter as well, and everything is going great. You’ve been hiking all day, no sign of rain and you’re off the trail at 9,000’ when all of a sudden a storm blows in and drops 2” of rain in 30 minutes. Rain is coming down in sheets and you’re soaked. Pack is drenched and everything in it, including your lighter and matches. It’s raining so all of the kindling and fallen branches are soaked and completely useless. Now what?! Luckily, if you read this article you’re going to have a plan. You’ll still get fire! Here are 5 methods to sparking a fire from scratch.
Method 1: flit & steel, tinder nest
If you don’t already have one, a ferro rod kit is a must for your pack. It is fail safe, and super portable. There’s literally no reason to not have one because they’re also cheap, and they last a really long time.
For this method to be effective, you’ll need some fine kindling. You should always carry a kindling source in a waterproof container with you on trips. Super fluffy bark scrapings and cotton balls coated in Vaseline work great. Pinch out and bunch up a small pile of tinder, and angle your ferro rod towards the pile. Strike the rod and it’ll spark a bunch if you angled it properly. Catch a spark and immediately fuel it by blowing on the ember.
NOTE: charcloth is a great companion to this step. Catch the spark on the charcloth first, then immediately blow to get the party started. Carefully transfer the glowing ember against your tinder pile and blow on that as well. A flame should pop up immediately, and you should add whatever you can find to it so it persists. Dead grass and leaves work well, and if you only have wet materials to use then dig a few layers down into a standing dead tree to find some dry bark.
Method 2: glass reflection
I learned young about the power of a magnifying glass paired with direct sunlight. Once I learned how to do it, I was constantly trying to test the intensity on different materials. Anyway, it works to get a nice ember going on your tinder nest. A flip out magnifying glass is the perfect addition to your standard backpacking arsenal. It usually only works during the day, but if you’re aware that your situation is dire, you can plan accordingly to get the fire going before sunset.
Additionally many other items work as an alternative, but not nearly as well. We won’t waste your time with them. If you are on the fifth step, you should continue with this overview and start over:
1. Find a suitable location: Look for a safe and designated area to start your fire. Make sure it is away from any flammable materials or structures.
2. Gather tinder: Collect dry and fine materials such as dry leaves, grass, small twigs, or bark. These will be used as tinder to ignite the fire.
3. Prepare the fire pit: Clear the ground from any debris and create a small pit or fire ring. This will help contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.
4. Create a tinder bundle: Take a handful of the collected tinder and loosely bundle it together, creating a nest-like structure. This will provide a good surface area for the flame to catch.
5. Use natural fire starters: Look for natural fire starters such as dry pine needles, small dry branches, or cattail fluff. These materials are highly flammable and can help ignite the tinder bundle.
6. Utilize friction methods: If you have the necessary knowledge and skills, you can use friction methods like the hand drill or bow drill to create heat through friction. This heat can then be transferred to the tinder bundle to ignite it.
7. Focus sunlight: On a sunny day, you can use a magnifying glass or even a piece of clear ice to focus the sunlight onto the tinder bundle. This concentrated sunlight can generate enough heat to ignite the tinder.
8. Use a fire plow: Another friction method is the fire plow, where you rub a wooden stick against a groove in a larger piece of wood. This friction can create enough heat to ignite the tinder.
Remember, starting a fire without tools requires patience, practice, and proper technique. Always prioritize safety and have a water source nearby to extinguish the fire when needed. Fire is a powerful tool in and of itself.
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