subject: Hiking Essentials Fire Starting Gear [print this page] Hiking Essentials Fire Starting Gear Hiking Essentials Fire Starting Gear
When on the trail and winding down for your day, the theory would be to build a good base camp as quickly and safely as is possible. Essentially, this should take about 10 minutes to mark a perimeter, 15 to set up tents or other sleeping arrangements, and another 15 to build a fire pit. Don't rush, but don't spend a long time or else you will be found after dark trying to hurry things up. Below, I'm going to identify some fire starting equipment which can make sparking your fire a piece of cake.
First, a note on the fire pit itself. It is essential to scrape the pit so it will be lower than the ground. Next, build a barrier of rocks. It will mark the fire pit for you, as well as prevent lower flying embers from popping out horizontally. Clear the area just outside the ring from debris, so you do not have flare ups. Lastly, ensure once you are all set you double check to be sure there aren't any fire hazards like low hanging trees and shrubs or tents. You need to make sure you have no less than a 10-15' radius from anything that could light.
There are three different methods of fire starting I'll discuss here.
One: Matches and Lighters
Matches are needless to say the most obvious and famous of fire starting utensils. The sound of a match scraping is synonymous with lighting a cigar or a campfire. Water-proof matches should be in every rucksack, but should not be your primary fire starting tool. A simple big plastic lighter or two will serve you well as your primary spark. While they dry quickly if wet, throwing one in a water-resistant zip-lock bag is a cheap solution to ensure a flame. A zippo adds a further degree of protection from the rain, but if you have to drop the lighter you will end up out twenty dollars or more.
Two: Magnesium
Magnesium strips are a cheap and effective secondary method of starting a fire. To put it simply, you've got two sides on the strip: the magnesium and the spark material. The magnesium is scraped off into approximately a quarter size, and then the spark material is scratched to ignite the magnesium. Done right, it should be quick and effective.
Three: Tinder Quick
This type of spark is thanks to the US Military. These kits have a few large bits of chemically treated cotton and a special sparker. Inserting several bits of cotton within your tinder and scraping with the sparker quickly ignites a flame. It's waterproof and good for a very long time.
Every one of these methods are trustworthy and inexpensive. Carrying just one method of starting a fire is poor planning; all of these could be obtained for under $12 total and occupy little space. Carrying one in your ruck, another on your person, plus a third in another location is a smart decision. You will never know when you will find yourself in need of a cooking source, warmer, or should it come to it, a signal fire.
If you are in the Southwest, check out a Grand Canyon rim to rim hiking trip. They are a great way to get out in to the wilderness and see one of the eight wonders of the world. If you're farther west, consider a Yosemite backpacking trip for a weekend of fun and adventure. Have fun and stay safe!
