Hi, This past weekend I've been busy here in SE FL; hot on the tracks of a FL Panther, that's believed to be an unknown in the present population. i have been working the past 4 months following this young adult male in his territory, which ranges 40-50 square miles. Let's just say he's winning right now,LOL! This past few weeks had me right close, once he crossed a road in front of me as I was heading into a town for supplies, go figure it was narrow 2 lane, rush hour, no place to pull over and leave the van <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I went back anyway, the next day and cast his pug marks (tracks). I hiked a few hours, but an overnight rain had put out most of the tracks. I then was out on a dayhike, 25 miles South of that location and came across his tracks! The hunt was on again <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Well it entails packing my pack for a week at a time; because if I get close, photos, hair samples (DNA), pug casts, etc are all needed for his 'id file'. So it was I found myself 17 miles on foot, deep in a FL cypress/Slashpine/ palmetto scrub terrain the past 3 days. I got in on Friday, but then the assistant i had, twisted his ankle in a armidillo hole. Be right back, Gene

And continuing, I hiked him back out 17 miles, slept in the van for 3 hours, and hiked back in the 17 miles <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Pitched camp @ 1700hrs, and it's pouring buckets, no fire, cold carry chow, sack out for a few hours before going looking. I get up around 2300hrs, it's not raining, so I decide to get some hot food in me, seeing as how it feels about 50 out. I whip out my fire kit, and get the whole tepee up and .....nothing <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Ok, the first 3 matches I figured I blew it not covering 'em from the wind. But then the next 7 don't stay lit, what gives? Too much to deal with, eat cold carry, and grab my gear and go. Any of you who know FL backcountry know it's a mixed bag going into it, bugs, scorpions, snakes, 'gators, spiny plants that make you go OUCH! Well i hiked a good 5 miles Saturday night, no sign, sound of the cat around, plus it's raining,again <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Back to camp. Ok Sun's cracking, 0545hrs, Sunday morning, i figure today the fire's cooking breakfast. Nope! it's the matches. Finally I can see why they don't stay lit. They have such teeny heads, that just striking them makes them fail straight off! The brand is 'ROSEBUD' put out by Diamond Brand; which surprised me, since Diamond usually work. I made a mistake just bringing in the 3 boxes of them. What I ended up doing is piling up some unlit matches in the 'tepee', then flinging a lit one into them, FIRE! Food, Hot food! Hey, there's only excitement if you SEE the cat! Moral of this story, try the matches before bringing them to the field, I ususally never ASSUME anything, but got caught hard by this. As it were, it rained HARD for the remainder of Sunday, and Monday, so bad, that Last NIGHT, I hiked out under the Full Moon the whole 17 miles, and saw or heard just about ever darn critter in the woods here! At one point I thought I heard the cat call, but dismissed it as hallucinations due to intermittent sleep over 3 days! LOL! I used to carry a mag block w/striker, but the weight was a factor, as I have to keep my pack to 25 pds for a week, or I can't manage to stay out in the backcountry. I like to practice 'campcraft' as much as possible, so as to be able to utilize it wherever I go. I'm just not a lighter type guy. Thanks, Gene

I guess Gene saw his cat outside the window... We get the rest of the story in a week <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> hopefully he had time to refill his pack.

Matt

Nope, Farmer Gene left his van's windows open, AND his boots on top; while typing the first part......Meanwhile a FL DELUGE was going on outside the window, but I was minding my punctuation!! LOL! Gene, PS go to the other forum for the story <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Gene,

I hope you get paid for this! Anyway it sounds like you are having a good time at it.

I've got one word for you REDUNDANT! As in always carry more than one way to make a fire. I normally have three ways at least: Yellow Bic Lighter, Waterproof matches in waterproof container, Magnesium Avation Firestarter w/ match container packed with cottonballs treated with vaseline. The last system is actually tied into my pack and is the one I most often use.

The Florida wilderness is nasty stuff, its real easy to get lost in it. I spent some time at Pensacola. Mac

Gene,
Welcome to the forum. I live 1/4 mile east of some of that wonderful stuff you've been tracking through. Had quite a hail storm Sunday, and recurring rough weather since then which you already know about. Use serious lightening precautions out there, especially when you're on the edge of incoming rain. More into the local birds than the cats. Always have egrets and ibis in the yard. Regards, Keys

pict: I'm glad you said it before I did <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I don't have nearly the wilderness experience Gene seems to have, but I was a little shocked <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> to read about an experienced outdoorsman going into a situation like that without even waterproof matches.

Florida's one thing - I'd hate to make a mistake like that in northern Alberta at 30 below <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Maybe "book-learning" isn't such a bad idea after all, Gene. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

aardwolfe

I missed the part where the matches failed.

next time don't forget murphy's law "one is none, 2 is one"
always carry backups.
personally i carry 3 ways to start a fire on a EDC bases: matches ( both "waterproof" ones and lifeboat matches ), a bcb ferrosium bar ( on mine keychain ) and a BIC lighter...
and more matches and another ferrsoium bar in mine PSK.

if im doing stuff the the forest i got that + firesteel and sometimes a MFS....

Yeah Mac, I get paid to track the big cats, but it's not a lot of money. But I Do love what I do <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> It keeps me in the woods. I do carry multiple boxes of matches, in separate ziplocs. But in general I've not had problems w/ stick matches lighting; that was my surprise, and reason to make note to others here <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> You spent time at Eglin AFB huh? I was up there to watch the M.O.A.B. be tested, courtesy of an older Bro' who's in the AF <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Man, now THAT was a BOMB! yes, the Fl scrub is an unforgiving environment; and a great testing ground for gear. Thanks for your's and everyone else's replies, that's why I'm hear, to share the knowledge <img src="images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> Gene, the cat tracker