Hi all.

I'm going away on a biology field trip for the weekend. I want to take this opertunity to practive my fire making skills. the last field trip I showed my mates how to start a fire with a magnifying glass (much to the horror of my teacher <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />). they seemed relly interested, and asked if i knew any other "tricks"

I want to do the fire-drill method, battery-and-stell-wool method and flint-and-steel method. What else do you think I could try and practice, while making sure that those who are interested don't think that I am a strange, ego-inflated, paranoid-survivalist showoff <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> (well, that seems to unfortunately be the attitude people get to anything htat is different to what they have previously experienced <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />)

Now to just get rid of those pesky teachers...

Expedient shelter building is always a good one. It always seems to amaze people how much you can do with a little cord and a couple of trash bags. It may not be pretty, but it works.

Well, I had a great time on the trip. Unfortunately, there was a constant drizzle, and everything was quite wet.

I only tried flint & steel and bow & drill method. the flint was fairly easy to use. I found some dry dead grass and twigs under a tree. i crushed the grass up really fine, and that took a spark fairly easily.

the bow and drill method was a complete flop. As we were working during most of the day, I didn't have much free time in the late afternoon. I think i rushed my preperation. I'll need to have another go at that one.

I didn't try out shelters because of the time factor.

It was very rewarding when one of the guys I didn't really know asked to borroe my "collins gem SAS survival guide" (by john wiseman) to have a look at!