Buidling Winter Wilderness Shelter & Fire in Maine

[dubuque2010]

Smoke means ignition, try blowing sometime.

[billwho62]

Could'nt you just use gasoline and matches?

[NorthSurvival]

That was just stupid to try, you can not make a friction fire when it literally snowing outside, the humidity is too high.

[nitroflesh]

Don't listen to the pessimists. You can make fire while snowing if you're under a shelter wich you obviously were. But your friend didn't do it the right way. You should be more energetic. His skills with the firesteel were also poor. But you've tried and that's what counts. Next time you'll do it better. Cheers

[sjappienl]

Assuming they took dry wood for the bow drill from home it was worth the try and he got pretty close to creating an amber it seems, but I was expecting him to fail in those conditions anyway.

[solobackpacking]

Obviously the rednecks are NOT happy with the video.

[neuroleptika]

so many wrongs and so few /none) rights in one video....hopefully you learned something haha

[1s1t1e1v1e1]

When you have enough wood you have to worry about your fire melting down through the snow.

[bander87]

Give the guys some credit, they are actually out int the woods practicing - the only way to gain experience.

[SteveWaddell1]

I am sorry guys. Please don't venture too far out in the woods and always let someone know where you are gonna be!

[SeigSel]

OK I highly recemend ( Jerven Fjellduk Thermo ) Then you dont need to make a shelter--Youre a walking shelter.And nothing is  compared to that ..you could just blend in with youre eviroment also and combine it with a good snow shelter also-.And i now what im talking about.And im a little shocked about youre lack of knowlege surviving in the snow and youre building of a shelter and location of youre campsite..damn..But still hey.. you would survive..but freeze almoust to death.haha.Americans....

[sogi5326]

Fucking clowns. . .

Go home and suckle mom. You have no business in the wilderness. We have to rescue dozens of cunts like you every year

[sogi5326]

Fucking clowns. . .

[ukguy]

FAIL

[MrPhreeradical]

you guys used a lighter to light your fire....flammable liquid and half a steel worth of sparks. Go back home so mommy can tuck you into bed. F@KKIN AMATEURS.

[kutuphane]

İt was good and hard work but it is not natural exactly ...

[themightyparthos]

Go back from whence we came struck me.

We must be akin.

Bowdrill is totally possible in the snow and rain, you just need a dry area and dry kindling and tinder.

It is however hard as hell.

[SteveWaddell1]

I am not even gonna start on saying what you guys were doing wrong. I don't have the time to type that much. A+ for walking 200 feet into the woods and trying though, lol.

[offgridmontana]

I hear yeah, wet take a bit to get started. Going to be camping in rainy soaked Oregon.

[JDN420]

what area of maine are u from, im near waterville?

[maxpowersstp]

two words "donner party"

[04Grouse]

Why did you even bother? You're just a poser city boy pretending to know what he's doing after reading a book or something.

[tapoutish]

my words of wisdom would have been..."bring a lighter..." but i know that wasnt the point of the video lol ;)

[obpkplayer1]

you guys suck if you like to die try bow drill hahahahahahah if you take a bow drill in to woods you will come back in a  body bag some day and it was not bad out try it in - 50 to -40 and wind in alaska and rain to that suck i no

[MrEnglandForever1]

Aint no Ray Mears. But nice video anyway...snow is goooooooooood!!

[SpiderMatt1111]

MORONS!!!! watch these guys ,now you know how to die,

[SpiderMatt1111]

MORONS!!!!

[plasmawafflez]

You people are pussies, sitting behind a computer calling this guy "bad", get a fucking life and go try it, nice video, thanks a lot.

[MrNishi]

I think a lot of people are missing the point here, "what works Vs what doesn't" it's not about showing off your bushcraft knowledge it's about going into the woods and having a practice, learning from trial and error is the only way to get good at something, keep up the uploads guys and keep having fun.

[vesiclife]

the best thing you could have done with the bow drill method would have been to lay down a layer of branches, even green ones below the piece of wood. Also some wood shavings from the end of that soft wood could have been used to kindle the fire while he was causing it to smoke. I suggest you get a better fire starting kit than that.

[cslr11]

lol this video is how to fail and try to talk like you know what you are doing

[aseglkj]

to even try to make a bowdrill fire in these conditions shows complete delusion and detachment from reality

[rhonbell2003]

@aseglkj - If you were to get lost while snowshoeing in the Maine winter, would you just curl up and die? Preparedness is key. You must live in Florida.

[aseglkj]

@rhonbell2003 your reply makes absolutely no sense. preparedness is key? I agree. that's why I'd never go into a winter forest without a bic lighter, a peanut lighter, a firesteel and an assortment of firestarters and tinders. (I wouldn't get lost anyway because I always carry a GPS and a compass.)

the point, which flew completely over your head, is that you will simply not be able to get a fire started with a freakin bowdrill in heavy precipitation like this. to even try so shows poor judgment

[rhonbell2003]

@aseglkj - that's ridiculous to even say, let alone argue on youtube. If you are telling me that knowing how to start a fire with natural materials is unnecessary, you wouldn't have survived 100 years ago and you would never survive nowadays if there were a disaster and you ran out of "bic lighters". Please never go into the woods.

[aseglkj]

@rhonbell2003 dude, do you have ADHD? I said it depends on the conditions. If it's dry and sunny, a bowdrill fire is no problem. In the snow, while it's snowing? Impossible. that's why people never used bowdrills in northern climates. They used flint and pyrite and then later flint and steel. Oetzi had flint, pyrite and tinder mushroom with him 5000 years ago. with these tools I can make a fire in the snow, no problem. in short, you don't know what you're talking about or what you're doing

[rhonbell2003]

@aseglkj - That's why we got fire with bow drill 15 minutes after this video. When you get experience instead of book knowledge - let me know.

[aseglkj]

@rhonbell2003 haha right. too bad you didn't record that one on video, huh? :D

[mars6190]

@rhonbell2003 well as you said back 100 years ago that 15 minutes of physical exhaustion would have made you wet with sweat in you animal skins and wool witch would have frozen to your body killing you in 2 hours tops, with flint and pyrite you could havhad a fire in about 1 minute that will not end up killing you in the end

[Schutzstaffel23]

@rhonbell2003 after your buddy froze his fingers off lol.

[mattfuzzy]

@rhonbell2003

not to be an ass.. but if you got fire with a bowdrill 15 minutes after this video was filmed... the air could have been dryer than when you first started (obviously) but anyone can tell that theres too much snow on the gorund to use a bowdrill... wheres the snow clearing?? wheres the tinder pile next to the drill to put the embers into?? poor prep means you will never survive in the wasteland of fallout 3 (lol) and i dont even have much experience just common sense.. good vid bro

[EightTrigrams]

@aseglkj Google "The bow-drill in North America". So Alaskan and Canadian climates don't count as "northern" now, eh? Maybe you should stfu and go back to jacking off to Bear Grylls in your European townhome, n00b.

[branni79]

@aseglkj

dude your logic is badly flawed. he's not saying dont take all that kit with you, hes saying what you gonna do if that kit gets lost, damaged or stolen? all do happen. Friction fire is an invaluble skill and should be practised in all weathers to be profficient at it just like they are doing here. And yes the bowdrill works in very wet and snowy conditions. What if you lose your flint and steel/pyrite in feet deep snow and cant find them? Friction fire or freeze?

[mars6190]

@rhonbell2003 not that knowing the skills is not useful but in those conditions it is a waste of energy to try and while you are trying to make a fire in the most illogical way you will probebly sweat and freeze to death, have fun with that

[SoundPath]

@aseglkj: A bowdrill fire can be started in these conditions; once you get a shelter setup and have a place to work that is out of the wind/snow/ rain. If the wood around you is wet, you can split a large, wet log down to access they dry core. Split that core down into tinder and kindling, and bowdrill components, and take it from there. Even if the spindle and hearth become damp, if you keep spinning it, the friction will heat the wood enough to dry it out. just takes practice.

[SAMSIZZLE123]

@aseglkj Iv actually started a fire with a bowdrill in condition like this. I had a much better shelter and i cleared the ground under my shelter from almost all the snow. It took awhile but i did it. You sir, have been proven wrong.

[dreamthinker79]

@aseglkj

not really, but needs to be done right, need to split into dry wood, and keep it dry. Cottonwood makes a great base. if its your only way of making fire. its worth the effort. specially after you build a nice shelter, and have a dry protected spot.

[mars6190]

wow nice insolation those walls you dont have will really keepout the wind

[rhonbell2003]

@mars6190 we didn't sleep there, just a place to enjoy a sip of whiskey and a cigar. man things you don't know about.

[iwanttoseerightnow]

much easier if he use a lighter

[L2FlyMN]

Any birchbark, cattails, tree moss or tree fungi in your area? They are the best sources of tinder I've ever found in the wild, then you don't have to haul things with you. Give it a try, get confident with all types. Happy camping!

[1001samurais]

sleep there like that = dont wake up, in boston i have seen dead bumsicles in the morning going to work

[rhonbell2003]

@1001samurais I actually live in Boston, but am from Maine and I've never seen a "bumsicle".

[SniderMitchell]

You guys get an A just for getting out there and practicing. Nice job and keep taking video you will like to keep for memories. Don't post as 'demonstrating how to' yet until you get the skills practiced up a bit more. Good always to practice 2 techniques like you did. Pick up dry tender on the hike or keep cotton balls in vaseline for when wet. Pull firesteel out of tinder. Nice work and keep it up!

[downstube]

Tinder in the warm, wet condition I saw in video:

Dress in layers dedicate a very long time to gather the dry tinder you can glean from a large area usually cat-tail fluff, dead sticks/grasses sticking in the air or hanging. Or cut into a stump like other commenter said. Knife carve shavings. But for very fine shavings, scrape dry wood with back of knife, for powder like consistency.

If you think you have enough, go back and get more. Pace yourself so not to sweat. Gather for a minimum 3hours.

[downstube]

They do not claim to be experts.

All hateful comments posted to this video are naive, short sighted, and mean. Constructive criticism looks to be in order.

Here's my helpful criticism:

MUCH more material for bigger shelter. Tie a tarp as a wind shield for your work area (loud in wind but helps tons).Don't sit on the snow, sit on an insulating object. my fav is styrofoam cup, split and opened up. Char cloth for firestarter. Flint&Steel w/ Magnesium back is good for a tiny bit more $.

[SDSpike]

Looks warm out there. Pete never had gloves on. Try all this in South Dakota in a 15-20mph wind at 0F or colder.

[smallenginemods]

@SDSpike haha try this in northern canada -40 celcius(also - 40 f) now thats cold haha

[SDSpike]

@smallenginemods True. My method would be a propane torch and diesel/gas soaked wood :) .....or just staying inside. At least these guys are out there doing it. I recently came across this video of how to make a fire. Called Swedish candle log here on youtube. Looks interesting. I may have to try it.

[rhonbell2003]

@smallenginemods You gotta have fire there, too. This would be a perfect method if you were without tools.

[JROCTIONARY]

Don't make videos

[rhonbell2003]

That's Nicks natural look. Pete's a survival expert, of course he made it back alive! haha

[solobackpacking]

Why is does Nick have a grin on his face?

He seems to look at Pete with a look of anticipation as he plays with the axe in his hand.

Did Pete make it back to the parking lot?

[horton71]

Thanks for the vid! Makes me want to get out in the great outdoors and have some fun!

[SSS613south]

u guys fuckin suck... at everything!! hope ur doin this close to home :P words of wiz.. watch videos... not make

[rhonbell2003]

@SSS613south actually u suck dick weed

[rhonbell2003]

@SSS613south We got a fire going, you wouldn't have been able to do even that in the snowy conditions we had.

[jimmysjogren]

He's using the firesteel wrong as well...

[vinternatten]

I like the way you start off with the bow drill, then go over to the swedish firesteel, then fuck it......out comes the fire paste. Haha, but don't worry I'm sure you can do it without the flagpole, the camera girl? and the talk show host in your face.

[primitiveskills]

Nice work gentlemen! Would like to get you down here, North of Augusta, ME, for our winter survival skills weekend. Keep crankin' out the videos!

[rhonbell2003]

The guy starting the fire, Pete, actually has been to your classes. I think you must know him. I'll leave his last name out.

[skynug]

Starting a winter fire isn't the hard part. The hard part is maintaining it to where you have a coal bed where larger diameter thumb size wood is used.

I find the best fuel wood in wet snowy conditions is inside a dead tree or stump. Also, gather 3 times as much tinder than you think you need.

You may only get one shot at this when you're hypothermic.

[dreamthinker79]

snow, and cold change everything.

a bic, a fire steel, and a tender of your choice is all thats needed for fire

[rhonbell2003]

This video was filmed just north of Bangor.

[aarontheairsofter]

Hey! what part of Maine?

[samson98]

Thanks for your post. What I like most about your video is that it shows the most important thing to have when you are out in the woods: PATIENCE!!! I live in Maine as well and am looking forward to doing lots of outdoors activities including building and sleeping in a quinzhie and making an outdoor sauna to go roll on the snow afterwards. Thanks again!

[RUCKSACK292]

Patience is as important as ur arctic gear in the cold up here in Alaska.../.everything takes 5x as long when your out there on foot...

[johnnygiv]

Do you know what brand of fur hat ur friend has on...?

Thanks

[rhonbell2003]

A majority of his clothes are Filson. But that may be a custom made hat his brother purchased in Portland or New Hampshire.

[randy109]

Pour melted wax on a big chunk of dryer lint. Wax keeps lint from getting moist and you can use small pieces for a short, hot fire starter and bigger pieces if necessary. Doesn't take up any space and is only a couple of ounces for a pretty big "chunk" in a baggie. Works like a charm!!

Also, ALWAYS carry a handfull of wood matches and a couple of Bic Lighters in a sealed baggie. Lightweight and compact, even in a daypack. Fire IS essential, even in good weather. Cool Vid Guys!

[rhonbell2003]

I've actually tried that a few times. They had a how-to in Backpacker magazine last summer on it. I didn't find that it worked well, but there may have been a number of variables.

[m6dm90]

you really have to clear out that snow

[theamazingabe]

pretty cool i ive in northern maine woods between madawaska and caribou

[gasdorf]

you guys need the cotton balls with vaseline ....spark hits it puff a ball of fire that last a long time

[PorterRP9]

Lol! that's not the North Maine Woods!

[bg0821]

Where in Maine were you at that day? I used to live in New Hamshire downstate Nashua and traveled often to the

white mountains to camp. An we did use matches or a lighter lol.

[rhonbell2003]

haha... we were in the middle of Maine - above Orono, ME.

[rhonbell2003]

That's a pretty neat idea Jason. That actually makes complete sense when you think about it. Feel free to impart any other expert wisdom you'd like :)

[jasonklass]

Nice Video! Wow, those were harsh conditions to try a bow drill. A tip on the Light My Fire Scout: instead of sliding the striker toward the tinder pile, hold the striker still and pull back on the steel. This just makes more of the spark hit the tinder pile.