Like the idea of putting some oil on the T-shirt pieces. I need to keep a careful eye on my shirts ... Ive now lost 2 T-shirts to my wife, who does the cooking and manages the fires.

I agree with everyone ... it takes a lot of nursing to get a fire going under wet miserable confitions. You cant take your eyes off it, it demands careful attention.

I am now preparing kindling in advance, any time we have a place with shelter from wind and rain. I have learned the hard way to safeguard that kindling in a place that is completely dry. And I agree with the advice ... the starter kindling has to be matchstick size ... it can be longer, but small diameter.

I have gained a lot of new respect for the early explorers and trappers who went to Alaska, Montana and the northwest. They were tough people.

Thanks for all the feedback.