[tjwilhelm]

Nice report and pics, sir! Thanks for sharing! Everytime one of us shares these kinds of experiences, it helps us all, in one way or another. You helped me by inspiring me to get off my butt and squeeze in one more trip before the snow flies...if only I didn't have to work for living!!!

Glad you had a good and successful trip!

[sypher96792]

Exactly what TJ said.........work....but thats o.k....camping trips are just that much better when you don't do it as often......who am i kidding they're always great....thanx for posting the pics.......time for me to man up also...lol

[novazer0]

the pics look great glad to see you had a good time...

[Hagusofnwn]

When you worked on the fire making, did you bring along any tinder that have been discussed here? It looked as though you tried to take it from your surroundings and used paper and lighter only as a last resort?

The pictures are great, this is the kind of feedback that really shows everyone that we can do it, just need to give it an honest effort and then bring back what we learned and where we struggled.

Thanks

[mweidner]

I did not take any kind of tinder along with me for that trip, just my firesteel, and of course the backup lighter.

There were alot of lessons learned, and I can't wait for the next trip (Planning one for first thing in the spring at Allegany National Forest in PA). Quick rundown on the firestarting changes I am going to be doing for the next trip:

1) I will have some pre-made firestarters, there are alot of good ideas on the forum here with petroleum jelly, wax, etc. I will probably make several of them referenced here and just see which work best for me.
2) When I show up, if its dry I will be collecting enough local tinder from the area and sealing it in gallon ziplock bags I have in my pack, that way even if it rains, I will have dry tinder (Remember just the humidity from the air foiled me on my last trip).
3) I am going to buy one of the bigger firesteels with the firesteel tube, from being out in the woods getting a blister trying to hold onto the thing, I would say the tube for the handle would have been worth the money and weight hands down.

Of course my plan is always to only use what I can find on hand, so I would rather not have to use a firestarter made ahead of time, but I am a firm believer in being prepared, and part of that is actually working with the things you may find yourself needing in an actual emergency, so I would like to have firestarters and know which ones work best in which conditions so I don't have to spend hours building a fire by hand when time is of the essence.

[sypher96792]

good assesment of your trip....you learned and you learned to nprepare a bit better.....always you wanna use what you find...but on the same token....you wanna be prepared....homemeade tinder's not a bad idea bro' cuz you're gonna collect more....but you were safe and had fun and you learned....awesome to me...