Good topic!

Coming from a relatively dry part of the country, here's a couple of questions someone might be able to answer --


-- How does one keep the clothing/pancho/tarp covering from melting?

-- Is aspen as good as birch?


My first instinct would be to start a fire up under a boulder ledge or overhanging rock (we have a few of those) but I've also heard that this could be dangerous, because heated rock, especially in the colder months, can fracture, slip, and perhaps crush whatever's huddling beneath it.

Medowlark,

Distance! If you are starting a fire the shelter needs only be a foot or two above the fire. As the fire gets going, it can do without the shelter (sort of). If you set up a tarp 6 feet or so above the fire, you can build a reasonable size fire without melting. Be careful not to get the fire too big, or the tarp will be a single use item. :-( I often use a plastic sheet as do many others.

Unfortunately, aspen is nowhere as good as birch. There must be a lot more pitch and/or a lot less water in the birch bark.

Under a balanced boulder might be a problem, but most overhangs in the rockies would be ok. You should watch out for wet rock, however. Rocks out of the river (or those overhangs that were waterfalls before freezeup) can explode as the entraned water goes to steam.

Respectfully,

Jerry

I do not agree with this advice. I specificly disagree with this advice because it is incomplete.

Cotton wool balls make a good, easy to use firestarter. However [b] they are not sustained flame.
Substained flame means a firestarter that burns hot for several minuites. In practice that means Esbit, Wetfire, barbeque firelighters or the like.

I very strongly suggest that anyone reading this thread reference "David Canterbury" and/or "Wilderness Outfitters" on YouTube.

You will find that an eye opener.

But if you read it, the cotton is saturated with petroleum jelly, giving it a longer burn time and higher temperature. I have used this technique often in many conditions, and it works, even on wet kindling. They also have the advantage of being easier to find around the world.

You did note that oversaturated PJ's are difficult to ignite?
That's a major issue when you are loosing fine motor skills.

One alternative that can be home made is cotton balls soaked in melted candle wax. Only problem is that they can be difficult to ignite. They again need a PJ booster.

I have had more difficulty lighting Wetfire cubes by spark than cotton balls and PJ. Sometimes, even when crumbled, they do not seem to take a spark. I have never tried to light an Esbit cube with a spark, will it work or do you need a flame? I have tried other items such as the grill starters, and they all needed a flame, I could not light them with a spark. I generally carry a combination of cotton and PJ, dry cotton balls, a tube of petroleum based lip balm and Wetfire tinder. Only a small amount of each, but together, I think it should work in most conditions. These along with a Blast Match or the new Sparkie, some REI or UCO storm proof matches and a cigarette lighter and I should be ready for everything except the Antarctic and Mount Everest (because neither have any wood to burn).

I have used wax based lip balms on cotton as well, and they work, with the same cautions as the PJ, do not over saturate.

If an overly saturated cotton ball is difficult to ignite, you can bring along an unsaturated cotton ball, lint or anything else that will catch a spark easily. Ignite that clean cotton ball/lint right next to the (possibly) overly saturated cotton ball. This may sound more complicated than it really is. I recommend experimenting once.

I like cotton balls mixed with PJ because it's nearly idiot-proof. It doesn't tax my fine motor skills. What I like perhaps even better is cotton balls mixed with Burt's Beeswax lip balm.

Even better than these is a candle-in-a-can which can be ignited multiple times to start a fire (e.g., to get kindling going). To get the wick on the candle going, you will need some shelter (to keep the rain off), dry cotton and a flint. Or, instead of the dry cotton and flint, just use a lighter to get the wick going.

You need a flame. Which you carry. Personally the lighter is always my first option.
Lighter, matches, ferro rod, everything else (bow drill, fire piston etc).

I also carry the Spark Lite in my PSK, along with the cotton tinder and an added tube of PJ. All I need now is to carry some of those fire logs from the grocery store and I will be set for fire starting!

Leigh,
Not trying to be rude but I side with Montanero.You should check his profile.He has real world experience.I have had Wetfire fail on me also.All it takes is a tiny pinhole in its packaging and the volitility gases out.Tinderquick or PJ cotton balls work period.Again practice makes perfect.


BOATMAN
John