Preacher wrote on Nov 13^th, 2010 at 10:55pm:


Interesting test.
I use the paraffin wax/dryer lint method with a twist.
Insert one of those trick b-day candles into egg cup before was hardens.
The trick candle once lit won't extinguish because it's made with magnesium powder.  For emergency situations or when you just don't want to mess with other less reliable methods.

Dry birch bark/pine cone's are my what I look for normally.

Preacher wrote on Nov 15^th, 2010 at 5:53pm:

Did he do that more than twice?  I remember one was on a kayak trip in Alaska and another where he made a shelter against the roots of a toppled tree.

I've also noticed that most of these shows (when showing fire-making) go from ember to flame in a matter of just a few seconds.  (I wonder how many takes it took to accomplish that ... or if, between cuts, there wasn't a cigarette lighter involved).

dd

No way...we are all honest folk and everything that you read in books is true too!

i have a PFD with big pockets, and a waterproof ditch kit behind me in the canoe.

Since I don't paddle whitewater, I've never been concerned about my ability to get the ditch kit out of the canoe before/in case we're separated. (Now I wonder if I should be worried about that.)

But anyway, three things I carry that haven't been mentioned:

In the PFD, one of those baclava head and neck covers, like bicyclists wear in the winter. Plus a few of those chemical hand warmer shake-em-up things. Obviously for one-time use only, but I figure (I think it was MadMatt who gave me the idea) they'd help get me over the chill associated with the dunking.

And in the bag, instead of a wire saw, which I've never really heard great things about, a small, extremely light hatchet. Gerber model. Sharp as a razor, hard plastic handle. Notch the branches, then break for firewood or to build a shelter. A lot easier on the hands, and it, literally, weighs ounces.

Have a space blanket and rain gear, wool hat, gloves and socks. No sleeping bag, but then I've not gone solo yet, so my approach is different.

-- kypaddler

Quote:


I took a dunking one year, my first and hopefully my last
I was wearing rain gear and over my nylon pants and shirt, with a fleece vest. I got to shore, removed the fleece vest, wrung and whirled it semi-dry, and put my raincoat back on. I opened a few of those chemical heater packs and placed one over my kidney area, tucked into my waistband to hold them. I pulled my hands into my armpit area settled into comfortable spot behind a big boulder for a windbreak, and tucked into a ball. Within minutes my core temp was up, and I had to open my pit zipper vents and pull my hood back.

My gear was dry, so I just resumed paddling. If I had to build a fire, dry gear or stay where I was at, the chemical packs would of made the job much easier. Cold numb fingers and falling body temp are a bad combination.

Another variation on your fish " stick" method is a little quicker but would require more care on the dining end.

Gut your fish, leaving head on. Take 2 green sticks just big enough to hold weight of fish. Sharpen one end of each, and starting at tail, thread first from outside, thru ribs, up so far then out again, then thru gills and out the mouth. You can leave the sticks alone, or tie ground ends together with a couple short pieces of cord. Grill as you described.

An alternative IF you don't have the necessary knife/skill or patience to prepare as you described.
I have a outdoor skills book, that shows the Native people using a single spear like stick, stuck thru the gills crossway's of a NP that has just been gutted. They suspended the pike over coals and used a couple of green sticks crosswise to keep the body cavity open. Roasted/smoked until a sharp knife/stick would push thru easily from the skin side.