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Borrow a Dog
This describes the joys of borrowing a dog and in particular Roger, an aging squirrel enthusiast.
I sit in prescribed meditation posture in my morning attempt at spiritual practice. Bringing my mind back from a very non-spiritual gallivant, I...
Casinos – What Do They Offer?
Casinos often offer much more than gambling. In Las Vegas, casinos are famous for their live entertainment, free buffets and much more. At Caesar's Palace, there are regular shows by all types of famous celebrities including singers,...
Five Myths About The "NMP" (No Meat Or Poultry) Eating Style
Are you being held back from choosing a healthier lifestyle because you believe one of the many myths about going meatless? Many people who could greatly benefit from going what I call
"NMP" (no meat or poultry, yes to fish, dairy products and...
Hike Bike Kayak San Diego
Hike Bike Kayak San Diego Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Read this entire feature with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/sports02/kayak/calif/hbk/hbk.html Hike Bike Kayak, Inc. was founded in 2000...
How To Blast Your Bench Press Through The Roof!
Let’s face it, we all want a big bench press. There is something magical about the bench press. It's the feeling you get when you pump the chest, deltoid, and triceps up, working the weight up and down.
There's no other feeling like preparing...
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How to Build a Campfire
Everybody wants to build a fire when they are camping. Sitting
around the campfire talking is one of the most enjoyable parts
of camping. But before we lite our fire we need to be sure we
are safe and ready. The most important aspect of starting a fire
is the preparation. This can't be understated. For safety,
before you light the match you must be sure that: 1. the fire
site is properly prepared 2. you have enough tinder, kindling,
and wood for the fire 3. you have cleared away all flammable
debris, down to bare earth. 4. you must have a means of
containing the fire. All of these steps are extremely important
because a fire can get out of control if you are not prepared.
You need to make sure the fire is contained and will not spread.
You want to be certain that you have enough wood because you
don't want to leave a fire unattended while you are out looking
for more. It is also very important to check above the fire site
for low hanging tree branches, and below it for exposed tree
roots.
Once you have the fire site prepared, you can turn your focus
to the fire. Depending on weather conditions, this may or may
not be difficult. You never know when you may need to start a
fire, like in an emergency, or a downpour or the middle of
winter. I always carry some matches in a waterproof container on
any journey into the woods. You never know what will happen so
it is best to be prepared.
Since you have gathered everything you need for a fire now you
can begin to build the fire. Be sure you have everything ready
before hand, the fire may not light on the first match but you
want it to work the first time. The first thing to build a fire
is tinder, small, dry twigs. Frequently, tinder on the ground it
too wet to use. Another method is
to break of tinder off of
small dead branches. Another excellent source is birch bark.
Birch bark will burn even if it is wet. It lights fast and burns
hot.
Once you the tinder is lit, you can add the kindling. Kindling
is larger sticks that will burn for a longer duration than
tinder. These pieces are between 1/4 and 1/2 inches in diameter
but lots of kindling around the small side works great. Once you
have built up the fire and there is sufficient heat and burning
embers, you can begin to add larger and larger pieces of wood to
the fire. This is the fuel of the fire. If the fire is going and
all you have is wet wood, you can dry out the wood by placing it
next to the burning fire.
Another good thing to bring with you is fire starters. Fire
starters will light and burn no matter what the conditions are.
Trioxane bars have been used by the military for this purpose.
They don't weigh much and always work well. It is important to
be prepared.
It is important to know how to make a fire and to have practiced
it. I can't stress this enough. Every time you are out camping
try to light the fire with just one or two matches. When you
really do need to get a fire started in an emergency, you will
be able to do so. You don't want to find out that you can't do
it when you really need it.
About the author:
Michael Savio is an avid outdoor adventurer and owner of Compass Monkey, which is
dedicated to help other outdoor adventurers get the information
they need about places, skills and gear. Featured activities
include backpacking, hiking, mountain biking and road cycling.
Visit www.compassmonkey.com
for more tips and advice.
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