Backpacker Bible: Make Fire

the Scotch & S'mores is a great idea!

As any pyromaniacal Boy Scout could tell you, in an emergency situation a 9-volt battery stuck inside a pile of steel wool will light right up because of the short circuits that are caused by the battery. Couple that with shredded twine or some shaved sticks and you will have a great fire starter

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If you take hand gel to clear your hands --- squirt a small amount on your tinder... the stuff burns and the flame last for a few minutes -- enough to get wet tinder and wood to burn...

We recently got to the campsite while raining for several hours. All wood and tinder was wet.

We took our lit propane stove and held it to the wet tinder. After the tinder and some small twigs were started we shut off the stove.

Needless to say we had a good fire after five minutes of slowly adding bigger pieces of wood. This worked quickly and trouble free.

Carry some jute twine as zipper pulls etc-- the stuff lights right up with a spark after you fluff it up ---and it is real cheap. Also tie a small piece around the button on a bic lighter to prevent it being depressed and losing butane and you will have it for tinder later.Also I have used everything and the absolute best fire start device is the Doan magnesium bar with flint.

Cody is also on the acclaimed (by me) TV show, Dual Survival - a great show for anybody interested in survival skills. His pard Dave is the opposite of Cody, so it makes for interesting TV. They finally had to make Dave start the fires because it's just too easy for Cody - in any and all conditions! I like Bic lighters and bring a new one when I go - my only comment.

I just use storm proof matches that I keep in a waterproof match box with the striker inside. This is a back up to the 2 lighters I pack in a ziplock bag and a magnesium fire starter in case things go south.

As far as sparking tools, I have never had any success with them in wet climates but have never failed to start a fire with some fire paste and a lighter. Plus it is much more simple.

Good tip about old paraffin-dipped matches. All of mine are many years old. I better freshen them up.

Did you mean the paraffin degrades the 'phosphorous' rather than magnesium?

Practice. Practice. Practice. It's not always as easy as striking a match or getting a spark. I had my two sons who are scouts use a magnesium starter and other methods to lite our backyard fire pit. It quickly reminded them it takes some know how, patience and PRACTICE to get it right. Something you don't want to find out in a survival situation.

Regarding matches dipped in paraffin wax - CAUTION.

Over time the paraffin degrades the magnesium in the strike-anywhere match and they will not light.

Good to make a fresh batch before a trip, they do burn longer, but they will not work after a short time in storage.

Better to practice using a sparking tool. Burns hotter and works when wet.

My two bits!