First, sorry I have been absent. Alot of big tests coming up and the review sessions take up ALL of my free time. To answer your question as to why I want to go more primitive, it's mostly a reason of diversity. If I can make a fire with just the stuff I can gather from the land, I feel much closer to it and better able to survive. I have, however, organized a survival pack with a lighter 2 different sized knives and various other things I find would help me out. They arn't the best knives ever built, but I can easily make do. Anyway, I can see myself having to flee from humanic disastors, and not having time to get any lighters or stuff. I'm trying to be efficent, but I think I went too far so now I at least have them already to go.

Your not the first one to point out the chink in my armor. Thanx. I have spent my fair share of time outdoors freezeing up under a tree or bank. I have a long list of things I'm going to purchase as soon as I get a liscence, and you can bet fire starting equipment and knives are on it. I agree with you that a lighter is the easiest way to start a fire. But what happens when it runs out, or you fall and break it. Maybe I'm just thinking Hatchet too much. Maybe I have watched too much Tremors I dunno. I don't mean to evade the question. Actually, for shear ease of fire starting, an acetylene torch would be the best <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />