Fire Lighting in a wet Pine Forest

[luvhambo]

About the "purism" type comments on this video - all the ancient folks whose purism you are entranced with would have used a lighter if they had one. Bush skill development is about having a variety of skills, not about doing things the "pure" way (except in authentic, traditional ceremonial settings). So, relax and learn from this man; he knows a lot.

[luvhambo]

Great video, with the honest common sense that can escape a cold, wet, tired hiker. I just posted what might be a good companion video, "Wet, cold resin fire," on luvhambo's channel. Near the end you can see my always-carry BCNW01.

[goldatra3]

Great vid !

[wiking3r]

bushcraft... with matches??? FAIL!!!!

[wescobts]

Brilliant !!

[misternylon]

Excellent clear video, thanks for the tips.

[xMrjamjam]

here is a little tip that i have found out myself about fire

when you see you fire is dying down and all that is lit is embers bring your head right down to the ground or as low as you possibly can then blow slowly on the embers speed up your blowing slowly and you will end up getting flame back

it does work for me ive been using this methood for 2-3 years and its never let me down

hope this helps

mrjamjam (jamie)

[blkwulff]

Great video but pine sap will even start wet pine needles and wet wood works great hand only down fall you get all over youhands

[shortymcsteve]

You should make more instructional videos, this was fantastic.

[thenofxer]

I live on the kenai pen of Alaska and this video was very helpful as it can be very wet... Constantly! I stumbled to this video and now i am subscribing.

[wescobts]

A very good video, I will carry this info with me. Thank you

[Axbent]

this is Id say the normal way to start a fire here in Sweden.

[ShoeManShoe68]

Love your videos! Keep it up and make some more :)

Thanks

[pladampa]

I thought to be a bushcrafter you were not allowed to use matches? That was the only thing stopping me from becoming 100% pure bushcrafter. I guess I am a bushcrafter now since I thought using matches was stopping me. Who do I write to or Email to get my plaque or diploma?

[TheStrotsky]

This was a nice video, containing some real bushmancraft, as compared with the hollywood-style usually shown in other videos.

I have never used pine pitch before, so thanks for the advice. I usually go for birch bark when I can, since it burns longer than pine needles.

Dry "fire ladders" can usually be found under the lower branches of a dense pine, even if it has been raining for days.

[kimokanka]

Hey....its Phil Kessells twin brother !!!

[skiie]

now all we need is something to sacrifice.

[Erbag46]

Great video. I've placed this video on my online bigfoot magazine, Bigfoot Ballyhoo. If you don't like the idea tell me and I'll take it off. Thanks, Linda Newton-Perry

[citys4]

Washington is the way to go

[cyberjackcyberjack]

ppl always say you can use "birch bark" to start a file & in most case's thats TURE, however its not so true when its being raning and it's a nighmere to get lit, But ppl argu this point and say it dont matter its wet as "it's full of oil" But in my experience it dont make any difference, i could never get it to light. so whats your view / experience of this ?

[AMULDARRY]

thats some bigass pinepitch rocks dude awesome :)

[captainpegs07]

Good vid!

[Rhinoch8]

Man this is a dry day! I mean the soil is damp but the branches are dead dry! Try when you are in a cloud, and it rained 1 hour ago. Even in the tightest spruce forest, "fire ladders" will be then wet and will have hard time to snap...

[wmdrtr]

Very good demonstration. Thanks.

[kevbe144]

at 0:33 animal to the left

[underterraingrunter]

Nice video. I once walked all day in heavy, cold rain and got soaked through. When I came to prepare some wood to light a fire I pulled out my Opinel folding knife with my cold numb hands and found the wooden handle had swelled so much it was jammed shut! I had a few minutes of that hopeless feeling before I finally got it open. I haven't been too keen on Opinels since then.

[penguinopera]

where was it in central washington i live inellensburg

[snaponjohn100]

Great video & great website! 5 stars & a sub!

[goodnight4u]

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Chris Elliott.

[valandill1]

Gd video nice to see how effective pine pitch is, you say it's wet but it's not raining, so what would you do if it was raining and your fire ladder sticks and pine needles were wet?? Thanks valandill1

[OnRappel]

I do enjoy your videos and website. You really caught my interest with your intro to this video. I was all excited about how you were going to start a fire without any "tools"! Pine pitch and the "fire ladders" tip was great then you pulled out a MATCH?!?! Bushcrafters don't use matches!

[syknyt]

Great video. Thank you.

[c9ari]

Go East of the Columbia River where there is no trees, when it is all covered in snow an start us a fire there.

[CherokeeTwilight]

nice video, pinecones have some pitch and will work to if dry and available, if there green pinecones and sticky you can smear the pitch on dry wood. Pitch burns so hot that it can cause creosote in your chimney to ignite if you use to much.

[emel60]

what's the difference between pitch, resin, sap? All the same?

[JimboJitsu]

wow that was a lot of pitch compared to fir trees we have around the bottom of Puget sound. Great video, thanks for sharing!

[jjjtubo]

What about a bic lighter inside a ziploc bag, along other tools to start a fire? Good old bic always did the trick for me... Am I taking chances? I mean, I know how to use the magnesium bar/flint stuff and I carry it, but the lighter is so much easier...

[TheLonefeather]

Great learning video for those of us who love the outdoors!! Thanks!

[ben710]

cool, I didn't know about pine pitch, seen it but would have thought it wouldn't burn!

[bushcraftnz]

Great video, proves you don't even have to break a sweat to start a fire with the right skills and knowledge.

[FatDaddy4Fun]

Very good! I look forward to more videos. I have always wanted to live in the northwest. I appreciate the way you showed the pitch actually dripping fire. Very cool. Thanks for the vid. Thumbs up. ~Wolf

[BillyGoat4x4]

If I was a tree, I wouldn't leak a flammable material.

Seems counter intuitive,

Just sayin...

[dtalaga]

@BillyGoat4x4 LOFL!!!!

[IIIsticksone]

Great vid, thanks for sharing.

[flintstone9812]

Great tip, it may one day save someones life.

Once lit, that pine pitch burns almost like kerosene.

If really desperate pine needles can be dried by stuffing inside shirt. Use body heat to dry so you can start fire.

Use knife to skin off wet outside wood till you find dry wood on inside.

[BumJuiceDrinker]

so all i need is dry wood and a match, gotcha

[BCNW1]

@BumJuiceDrinker The purpose of the video was to show where to find the driest wood possible and how to use pine pitch to light wood that is otherwise too damp to start easily. Many people are not aware of how to use pine pitch in this way. The source of ignition wasn't the point. Your other comments were removed because while constructive criticism and conversation by people who have something to contribute to the pool of information is appreciated, sniping is not welcome.

[wiking3r]

@BumJuiceDrinker damn right!!!

[FireFrantic]

Wow you wouldn't last one night in the woods.

[remadmc]

i spend alot of time in the woods. i use a fire steel or bow drill. i hunt forage, and make my shelters. i do just fine

[FireFrantic]

@danfunkman. Not you.

[EddieErion929]

No you dont lier , you watch tv and go to sleep and dream that you did!---If your so great at the outdoors ,get a video camera and teach us all of your tricks that would help keep you alive--I'll wait one year till you post that video--More then enough time for you to learn something and cover your lieing tracks----Its the people who talk the talk that cant walk the walk!!!!!!!!!!!

[boomtao]

How much pine-pitch did you use?

[nicknoface]

what is bushcraft is it fire starting???

[klintonlee0711]

really?

[BumJuiceDrinker]

Bushcraft is a term used to describe skills that allow us to live comfortably in the natural world, using natural resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.

[ministercreek]

I wish you used a firesteel. That's what I use to start fires.

I camp at the Lamping Homestead Recreational Area here in Ohio's Wayne National Forest. The place is full of white pine trees.

[mediamst]

all that stuff you used is DRY! What if its pouring out?

[juliannorman92]

i was wondering the same......

[thecannabislover420]

THANK YOU HAHA

[spitfirepyromaniac]

BCNW1 I have a highly important question. WHERE DO YOU GET THE STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES FROM!? Thanks. Your videos are generally highly informant and this was no different. Best of luck in the future, and keep making videos!

[noordwinter]

buy non-safety matches with the red tips

[bierstadt77]

Great video. In Western Washington and Oregon you can use fir balsam in place of pine resin. It is similar but can be found in a liquid (like honey) or solid state depending on the season or other variables. It burns like crazy.

[Madman2k1]

im from sultan washington. thats about central washington

[scottc20]

Here's a little tidbit of info, over here in the UK we call the pitch 'pine resin', and it's used in candles, as a glue to secure bindings, and, as in the video, as a tinder.

[noordwinter]

turpentine

[noblebeech]

Excellent. I shall use this technique when next bushcrafting in the Scots Pine forest close to where I live!

[nph993]

there is a animal 0:33 on the left

[BCNW1]

That's my dog...good eyes!

[MuhsinTheMomin]

its pine resin

[oneraindog]

good vid. definitely added to favs.

BUT what if its been raining all day, or for multiple days straight (i live in western washington) and the stuff you were pulling off trees was wet also? the dead branches and pine needles etc. where do yuo find dry fuel when its solid rain for a day+ ?

[BCNW1]

I certainly understand as I used to live in Western WA. Still, your best bet is to find wood that's not in contact with the ground. Pines aren't in your area so you won't have pine pitch to help. You do have cedars whose bark can be shredded and buffed until fluffy (even takes a spark from a firesteel). Sometimes you have no choice but to split thicker pieces to get to the dry centers which is why carrying a good knife at the very least is so important. Space is limited but I hope this helps. ML

[OneWithGuns93]

a real bushcrafter knows how to make fire without matches.

[BCNW1]

First, I do know how to make a fire without matches. I make all the bow drill kits we sell and teach friction firelighting here at Bushcraft Northwest. Secondly, the purpose of the video was to demonstrate where to find dry wood and how to use pine pitch...two skills I find most people who attend my workshops need help with. Finally, this idea that "bushcrafters" can't use matches is ridiculous and irresponsible. I've never worked with anyone in my field who didn't carry matches in their kit.

[scottc20]

Even the mighty Ray Mears uses matches on his shows, as do all of his staff in his bushcraft school on courses.

[familyphotoshoot]

Hell, I've seen Ray use lighters before.

[noordwinter]

haha why not :)

[icychap]

Very important information for any wilderness camper to know. Great video! 5/5

[HelmerandRawlins]

Nice video man. Btw you put some kindling as a ground layer to prevent the fire from sucking up ground water and putting itself out right?

[scottc20]

Whilst a base layer of kindling improves your chances of success, it's not utterly necessary, as you can see from the video... the oils in the pine branches and resin act as a flammable accelerant that gets the kindling burning quickly and fiercely - as long as feed it, it's not going out!

[HelmerandRawlins]

Fair enough, thanks for the info

[EarthBlue2]

Hey brother great vid love to see more. Would really be cool to see you start fire with only flint and knife.

[2771726304]

Got to be careful about lighting fire under overhanging branches as was done in this vid - or you may end up with a bigger campfire than you wanted! Matches, magnesium shavings, etc. are fair game in these demos as preparation is 99% of survival... but it's good to know how to start with nothing.

[DirectRegister]

okay sure most "bushcrafty" types would probably have a firesteel. In that climate there are so many easy tinders to use with a firesteel (pitch, fatwood, etc.) but for demonstration purposes I'd still give this 5 stars because most of the content was about finding fuel and kindling anyway, not about lighting it. You can find that knowledge anywhere

[Caveman0713]

I would comment on your use of a match in a "bushcrafting" vid, but apparently it would start an all out war. I do carry multiple firestarters but I would like to see how you would do this if say, your matches had been ruined or lost. Its a great way to show preparedness.

[screamingmeanie]

Yeah, I was floored when he broke out the match. It had potential right up to that point.

[multitoollover]

awesome that what i rated

[Paul07901]

Good illustration, Thanks! Makes me want to get out of my armchair and go start a proper campfire right now. Thanks again for being so informative to city slicker folk like myself. Peace to you 2009.

[Softouch333]

Thanks. How did you collect the pitch? Do you take some of the bark too or just scrape it off with the branch?

Learned a trick about blowing on fire you might like. Form a small diamond between the indexes and thumbs of both hands (like you would blow a straw cover). This creates a venturi that allows a good steady air flow, further from smoke and has almost as good direction control. Learned this in the Wind River Mountains one beautiful night. Stay alert, walk quietly, leave no trace,

[BCNW1]

Bark will sometimes be removed as the pitch is collected, but it doesn't help much...it's the pitch you're after. The soft stuff can be scraped off easily but the harder pitch pops off in pieces. Thanks for the tip and take good care... ML

[btjm83]

Great vid. Always liked using the snags, but never thought to use pine sap like that. Genius...

All your vids are good; I wish there were more!

[nbelt1919]

nice way to start a fire i'll remember that in the future.

[1800papergun]

its ok but i want u to make it with flint and steel

[stairway2000]

i'm sorry. but it's not bushcraft if you have matches!

[BCNW1]

Tell that to Ray Mears and Mors Kochanski who both use and discuss the use of matches in their books. How is a firesteel, which is considered standard bushcraft equipment these days, any different from a match?

[stairway2000]

you can still use a piece of flint if it's wet and waterproof matches suck!

[BCNW1]

Matches and lighters have a real advantage in poor conditions or when you are injured as you can go directly to fire. Any type of spark requires some form of tinder to take the spark to flame. Usually not a big deal, but it can be so why not be safe? I would be more apt to agree with you if matches were large or heavy. I make my living in the woods and carry three ways to make fire regardless of what is considered "bushcraft" or not. Still, I'll never use a match in a video again. :>) Good Luck!

[CampingCoffee]

It is not worth explaining yourself to Stairway haha. he will Troll your every response. Suck? seriously Stairway? How old are you.

[stairway2000]

ok dude. yeah i may talk funny to you. but that's how people talk where i'm from. secondly i was not childishly insulting the creator of the video i was simply expressing my opinions about his methods. afterall this is a comments section that is meant to be about the video not the people write underneath it, and as much as i would love to join you in your how old are you game...sorry your on your own.

[CampingCoffee]

First matches are not Bushcraft and they suck, then they are part of your Bushcraft adventures? Just pick a stance man, that is all I'm saying. Everything is cooool.

[stairway2000]

the matches and lighter i carry with me are for emergencies only. it is usualy young people i take out and i'm not prepared to take the risk of posible hyperthermia with other peoples kids.

as i'm sure your are aware you can not go with only one plan!

[CampingCoffee]

"i'm sure your are aware you can not go with only one plan!"

Well you and I are in total agreement on that one.

[stairway2000]

thank god!

[IHatchetJack]

..so youre worried about the kids suffering sunstroke in the freezing cold?? - all in good fun - IMO matches belong in every kit worth carrying - If you dont carry matches and you have to ask for one..you set yourself up to be on the receiving end of a great joke..

[stairway2000]

you should reading the conversation. and i'm not interested ingetting into another debate about matches. get over it!

[stairway2000]

I'm not arguing with you and i'm sorry if it came accross that way. i too carry matches and a lighter when i take people out on bushcraft adventures. having said that i have never had to use them come rain or shine. anyway i do like your video. i'm just a basics man myself. cheers.

[daveprince13]

I wouldn't listen to that guy and never use a match in a video. It's common sense to bring some back-ups with you along with your firesteel. Stairway obviously doesn't have much common sense yet.

[Puzzoozoo]

What if you don't have a match ?

[BCNW1]

Then you'd use your lighter. :>) All kidding aside, I can't stress enough how important it is to carry multiple means of firelighting. Even airlines will now let you carry a flame lighter. With the emergency scenario in this video of not having a cutting tool or steel, you're pretty much left with making a friction fire set with stone tools. This is difficult in a soaking wet forest no matter who you are or what you know, but it can be done. I hope this helps and thanks for watching. ML

[ROFLpwnedvideos]

Precisely why my kit has 2 lighters, strike anywhere matches, a flint rod and 125 feet of 550 chord. (Bow drill)

I'll get a fire started. Haha.

[jetfuel545]

Excellent video. You made that look real easy. I just discovered the usefulness of pine pitch this year. It is amazing how it burns. You can tell by the smoke it gives off how good of a fire starter it is. Wet or dry. Thanks again for sharing you knowledge. Jet over and out

[EconoChallenge]

This video has great sound and has a professional look. Great content. A must watch fire starting video.

[retusyllib]

Very good information to get out. Like Michigan, Georgia is full of pine trees. North Georgia here in the mountains our pine trees are really big, and loaded with pine resin. Good information for campers and hikers to remember is that resin is full of terpine, and it is very flamable. As a child I learned to take a piece of quartz, a rock that our mountains are full of, and scrap a spark with a carbon steel pocket knife onto a pile of resin and dried pine needles to make a fire start.

[Colhane]

Well done video. Thanks for taking the time to edit it so well. Pine pitch is amazing stuff for fires.

[pocketsea]

very cool !!!!

[hobbexp]

the wood look real wett,,,

[steviezxr]

Great vid shame about the match! Would love to have seen you find a natural flint.

[Polenar]

I also thought he would start a fire without matches

[IAmSofaKingAwesome]

thanks for the tutorial and friendly presentation!

[echocompany540]

i love camp fire the best part of camping next to sleep under the stars. the warmth of the fire and the crackle and pop. the blue and green embers and i love the sweet smell of the camp fire the best ah makes feel nostaligic

[morgan191]

thank you for posting this its helped me alot

[hobbexp]

dont look so wet at all ??

[guiltybystander77]

very cool

[mjcvidmaker]

great method im goin to try that 1

[mysticalwoodsman]

Pine pitch and fire ladders huh? Interesting tips. Thanks :o)

[audiofreeq]

plain,simple,informative all in all a great little video,nice one mate,5 stars,

[cutlerylover]

Great video!

[clearskyblue]

Great tutorial well presented thankyou.

[harkin88]

it was bushcraft and good till you used a match, then i thought wats the point

[BCNW1]

The point of the video is to show where to find dry wood reliably and how to use pine pitch to get this wood burning, even if it's slightly damp. Your choice of ignition will vary depending on your circumstances but don't discount the use of the simple match. Thanks for watching. ML

[memmnock]

Good tutorial bro on how to start a simple fire without use of metal starters i.e magnesium strikers.:) I personally use womens tampons to start fires with as they are densely packed cotton wool and very light and small.:) I just hope i never get stopped and searched by the police one day im going into a forest LMAO try explaining that to a policeman why your carrying womens tampons LOL

[joseph1608]

uhhhh im visiting my mom in the forest and she needs it? would be your excuse

[memmnock]

lmao

[bestes94]

wear do you get the strike any wear matches

[auntyv]

So happy you included NW-centric tips. You know how the weather is her in the PAC NW - fog, rain, snow, hail, sleet, sun - and can be all in one day. 25 years ago I typed results for the Trails End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon. The marathon monitors noted weather conditions at each milepost - we had eveything but tornados and hurricanes during that run. Typical NW! Everyone always asks what its really like in Oregon - I tell 'em we don't have CLIMATE - we have WEATHER!! LOL!

[thanrose]

Very good and clear instructions that can work almost anywhere there are pine trees. Thanks.