Tracker, My comment was not a blanket condemnation of Tom Brown. I too, have taken a class with him. Failing a task, and being miserable under the watchfull eye of instructors is one thing. Failing a potentially critical task as firemaking on your own quite another. The first post gave this impression. There have been many casualties from overzealous, or inadequate training. The drowning of Marine recruits years ago demonstrates no organization is immune. My concern is only with people who THINK they are prepared after a given course.