Ok heres the deal. Your on a hiking trail thats a bit less traveled and is hard to tell where your going. you get lost. you dont panic you examin the situation and decide not to get any more lost and stay put.you have a book of matches in your pocket but the book only has 1 left. you gather make some tinder gather some wood and try to build a fire. its getting dark fast. you brought with you only a light jacket and its getting cold. once you have your fire set up u try to light it. your trembeling. it lights but goes out imediatly afterwords. What do you do? make a temp shelter or try building a fire without matches? any tips on how to build the fire (very low to no light)? any tips on what kind of shelter to build for the night? (keeps you FAIRLY WARM) {items on you when u got lost blue jeans light coat t shirt swiss army knife and a leatherman}<br><br>

You should have watched the History Channel.<br><br>

BTW, was on way past my betime here (11:00 pm). We'll see if I programed the VCR correctly this time and I'll watch it later today.<br><br>

Hi Ron,<br>Your chances of building a fire without matches in the dark while cold are 0 or less than zero. Thats why we must BE PREPARED.<br>A debris shelter is probably the best bet, though stuffing your clothes with leaves and moving around may keep you warmer (unless it's raining/snowing.)<br>IMHO a lighter and space blanket are MUCH more important than a knife (despite how comfortable I feel with my knife)<br>JB<br><br>

"You gotta watch the show" - Rudy in tv commercial<br><br>

Exactly what I did. Because we arise at 5:00 am sharp, my head starts nodding by 9 pm. Love that VCR.<br><br>By the way, I carry a lighter everywhere (except maybe aboard airplanes) even though I don't smoke. Carrying a lighter, a Photon II, and a fodling knife is a good idea no matter what your lifestyle is.<br><br>

Will the show be re-broadcast? If so, when?<br><br>

Most likely the show will be rebroadcast, they tend to re air popular shows. As far as Rudy is concerned he has spent the most time in the naval special warfare than any other man. He probably has alot to offer as far as real world survival situations are concerned. He didnt just talk about surviving he actually did it.<br><br>

I would say so. Pay close attention to the History Channel listings.<br><br>

Post deleted by Doug_Ritter

I always carry a magnesium fire block with striker on my key ring along with a Mag-Lite AAA Solitaire. I also carry a 3 blade Old Timer (Schrade) knife that I hae had for about the last 22 years( father gave it to me on my 8th B-Day). With those 3 things I am pretty certain I will not get into too much trouble that I cannot get myself out of. And before anyone says anything, yess I do always have it on me when I am away from home. It goes into my pocket as soon as I put on my pants. The only thing that might change is the type of knife I am carrying but I only use carbon steel blades so I always have a strikable metal with me.<br><br>

A bowdrill is a good way to start a fire with no matches...it takes some practice but after you get it it is nothing another good way is a hand drill but i find it a little harder....Tom Brown Jr. is a great soure for wilderness survival<br><br>

A bowdrill is a good way to start a fire with no matches...it takes some practice but after you get it it is nothing another good way is a hand drill but i find it a little harder....Tom Brown Jr. is a great soure for wilderness survival info<br><br>

tom brown jr .com or something? is it a book? give more info on him<br><br>

May I ask how you clean the blades of your Schrade Old Timer? I have one with blackish stains on the blades and I'd like to get rid of those stains.<br><br>Craig<br><br>

Carbon steel will stain, and the stains protect the blade from rust. They also give the blade *character*. You can remove it with Flitz, or 0000 steel wool, but why would you want to?<br><br>

Oh. Didn't know that. Not to sound too uninformed, but I thought blade stains were "bad," something to be avoided.<br><br>Craig<br><br>

The only carbon steel knives without stains aren't being used.<br>With Old Timers, or any carbon steel, just keep it clean and dry. To protect it from rust when you aren't using it, put on a coating of mineral oil (from a pharmacy- it's edible). <br><br>

Thanks for the advice.<br><br>

I agree that your chances that night of building a fire are less than zero. Tighten the draw strings on the bottom of the light jacket and fill with dry debris turing it into a make shift down jacket. Then start building a debris hut or simply a debris bed.<br><br>Something to get you up off the cold ground. At the same time use branches and debris to make a blanket. If light is fading fast, you don't have much time to build a full blown debris hut. You might get lucky and have a full moon that would allow you to make more extensive preparations.<br><br>While you are waiting for morning light, review all the techniques you know about fire lighting and building. Review all the information about getting found though signaling techniques, wilderness navigation, water collection, etc. Be thankful that you left a trip plan with your family and a trip plan on the dash board of your vehicle.<br><br>When morning light arrives, start implementing the plan you made during the evening. Determine if you are going to wait for rescue or implement a self rescue and walk out.<br>Mark you location with rock or stick signs. Implement the distress signals you reviewed last night. If leaving, drag a stick so you will leave easy signs to follow. If staying put, begin collecting wood for fire, improving debris hut, and building fire machines.<br><br><br><br>