Scott,

That is a great description of your fire lay! Have you seen the picture of the fire lay in the PSP instructions? PSP Instructions It sounds similar. Air space under your fire lay is one of those magic kind of things. In the PSP fire lay Doug uses a row of sticks to to put the log/brace on then he shows the tinder at the base and kindling formed into an "A" shape leaned on the log/brace.

I think this is an important scenario because it is my understanding that this situation is the one where most people die. They are just out for a day hike, they are not dressed to spend the night, they get lost and bad weather sets in. The next thing you know: lost hiker found dead from exposure. We have the PSKs how would we survive?