My buddy and I recenltly took up backpacking and we're diggin' it.  So, while researching some trails I tripped across this site.  Awesome!

 

We did Eagle Creek last weekend and had some trouble starting a fire. We brought everything but a blow torch, haha However, we were unable to maintain a descent burn.  Any suggestions on getting wet wood aflame?

 

Great site, glad I tripped across it.

Love, I mean LOVE the Field Guide.  I think the Deschutes is calling my name.

I don't know about along Eagle Creek, but in many places campfires are prohibited. They are banned in most wilderness areas above 5,000' elevation. They may be banned everywhere in the dry season. In some popular camping places the dead down wood has been used up, so there's nothing to build a fire with. Fires really don't go with the "leave no trace" ethic. If you must have a fire and it's legal where you are, use an established fire ring, keep it really small and use only dead down wood (no breaking dead branches off standing trees or chopping up logs). Do your cooking with a isobutane canister stove or alcohol stove (saves time and keeps your pots clean). Keep your clothing and sleeping gear dry--that's the best way to keep warm.

Starting a fire with wet wood is a useful survival skill and is also something of an art. Some kind of fire starter is essential to dry out your tinder. For tinder, start with really small sticks (1/4" to 1/2" diameter) and carve "frizz sticks" (little shavings not detached from the stick) with your knife to expose the dryer wood inside the little sticks. Have lots more frizz sticks than you think you need, and also gather a large pile of little tiny twigs--again much more than you think you need. Gather them before you start the fire. You'll need to dry a lot of frizz sticks and twigs with your fire starter and build up a bed of coals. Then you can add slightly thicker sticks. Often gently fanning the fire (a pot lid works, as does a hat) may be needed. If it's raining, you may need to hold the pot lid or hat over the fire until it gets going. (This is one place where a wide-brim cowboy hat works really well.) You're going to need quite a few hot coals built up from really tiny stuff before adding larger (say 1" thick or thicker) sticks. Remember that when the wood is wet, your fire has to dry it out before it will burn. Work up to larger wood very gradually. You have to be careful not to pile on too much wood at once, or you'll suffocate the fire. This is, unfortunately, a very smoky process. Fire-building with wet wood is a skill best practiced in your barbecue at home or in a fireplace while car-camping, before you need a fire for survival purposes.

Be careful to build your fire well away your tent; sparks (especially common with wet wood) will melt nice holes in the tent, and will do the same to your synthetic clothing.

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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey

Welcome, CubFan!

Tom

Well, I read the signs at the trail head.  One sign said "fires prohibited June - September.  There weren't any signs stating "No fires".  As long as I don't break a law then I'm not breaking a law.  (that sounds like something Yogi Bera would say :) ) 

Hope not to ruffle anyone's feathers, but to me using downed wood and an already established fire ring is acceptable.  Especially if I leave no trace.  I would never dream of disrupting nature in any way, but fire is life.  Not only does it warm the body, but it also warms the soul. There's just something about a good campfire that breeds comfort and conversation that bonds people together. Hopefully I don't offend anyone with my belief, but it aint gonna change.  If so, this probably isn't the place for me to talk about anything other than locations.

Thank you so much for the tips on getting wet wood going.  ;)

I agree - I often make a fire.  Have done so up Eagle Creek.  I don't do it if it's prohibited or in an alpine area.

Try to find wood that's as dry as possible, and lot's of small pieces like a fir branch that all the needles have fallen off of.  Find wood that's fallen, but not touching the ground where it soaks up water.  Sometimes there are branches that are somewhat dry but have wet bark that you can pull off.  Collect more wood than you think you'll need like grannyhiker said.

Rather than trying to get wet wood to burn, I try to find dry wood, at least to get it started.  One good place to look is for a big log that has fallen over.  A lot of times you can find dry wood tucked in under them (or tear away the bark on the bottom). 

I make fires sometimes when backpacking, but usually only if I am at lower elevations, and generally I try to keep it pretty small.  At the beach, burning driftwood, I'll make a big fire.  For car camping you have to have a fire, or what would be the point? 

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Dan - Site Cartographer

You can usually find dry wood under blow downs or root wads. Try to find a piece of pitch wood it will burn awhile wet or dry. I use cotton calls soaked in petroleum jelly for fire starter. They burn a long time. The trick is to try to dry out the wood so stacking it around the fire helps. If all else fails call "Survivorman"

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"There is this to be said for walking: It's the one mode of human locomotion by which a man proceeds on his own two feet, upright, erect, as a man should be, not squatting on his rear haunches like a frog." --Edward Abbey

Welcome CubFan!   Glad you caught the "bug" and really glad you found us!  BTW i see y'all signed Reed Johnson.  Hope his back holds up! 

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Jeff - Site Admin

Someday you'll take me home to live forever....up on the mountain
S. Chapman

Everyone, thanks for being so welcoming!!

 

Jeffstatt, maybe he'll give us some depth in the outfield.  Maybe. :)