Smoke has been used as a visual signal for centuries because it can sometimes be seen from a considerable distance. In an outdoor emergency, a visible signal may help rescuers or other people locate someone who needs assistance, particularly where mobile phone coverage is poor….
Wet clothing can make you cold and uncomfortable outdoors, particularly when the weather is windy or temperatures drop. A campfire may help dry damp clothing, but placing garments too close to the heat can scorch fabric, melt synthetic fibres or start a fire. This challenge…
After a spell of rain, a woodland floor can look as though every twig and branch is too wet to burn. Yet not all wood gets wet at the same rate. Some material stays sheltered beneath dense foliage, while the inside of a dead branch…
Getting a fire going isn’t always about adding more tinder or piling on extra kindling. Sometimes, a small amount of carefully directed air is all that’s needed to help an established bed of embers burn more strongly. A traditional fire blowpipe is a simple tube…
Getting a fire going outdoors is much easier when you prepare properly before striking a match or creating a spark. A good fire lay brings together the right materials in an arrangement that allows the tinder to catch, the kindling to ignite and the fire…
Lighting a fire outdoors is only half the job. Before you leave a campsite, you need to make absolutely sure the fire is completely extinguished and that no hidden heat or embers remain to start another fire after you’ve gone. Ash can look cold on…
A feather stick is a useful piece of kindling made by shaving thin curls of wood along a stick while leaving those curls attached. The fine curls catch a flame more readily than a thick piece of wood, making a feather stick a handy skill…
In the previous challenge, you learned how to build a natural shelter. For Challenge 03, we’re getting into one of the most satisfying outdoor skills to practise: fire lighting. This isn’t about building the biggest fire you can. Your challenge is much simpler. Can you…
