COLD AND WET AT CAMP? WE ASKED SURVIVAL EXPERT DAN WOWAK FOR HIS TIPS TO DRY OUT AND WARM UP QUICKLY IN DAMP WEATHER. HE GAVE US THESE FOUR ITEMS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY AROUND YOUR CAMPSITE AND HELP START FIRES IN NO TIME!
1 of 3
2 of 3
3 of 3
Birch Bark
Any birch tree that looks like it is beginning to shed its bark is perfect for starting a fire. Collect bark directly from the tree and simply light it with an emergency fire starter or a lighter. The oils in the bark keep it water resistant and will ignite in any weather.
FATWOOD
Pine trees are very resinous, and this resin is flammable. When a tree dies, the resin begins to settle downward. The resin gets caught in the branches where they meet the tree trunk. Break off a branch. If it looks glossy and smells like turpentine, it is most likely fatwood. Scrape the branch to create fuzzy shavings. These shavings will ignite quickly and burn for a long time.
Gum Wrapper and Battery
Remove a battery from a headlamp. Take the foil wrapper off a piece of bubble gum. Next, cut the wrapper into a bow tie shape. This is important because the center of the bow tie (the smallest, thinnest part) is going to ignite first. Touch one end of the foil side of the wrapper to the + side of the battery and the other side of the foil wrapper to the – side of the battery. This will cause the middle of the wrapper to catch fire.
duct tape
Begin with a strip of tape. Pull small strips lengthwise from the strip. This will expose the fine fibers within the tape itself. These fibers, along with the adhesive in the tape, make a great long-lasting fire starter that can be ignited quickly and will burn for a long time.
