Training Primer: Hike out to my resource area and work on multiple tarp configurations based on the Week 6 Challenge. AAN: I set up an A-Frame tarp configurations based, supported using a rope kit without anything being pre-staged. After I disassembled that set, I attempted an unsupported plow-point shelter. Although the concept worked OK, it was very difficult to keep things tight with the tent pads in snow. I disassembled that and set up a supported plow-point, much more successfully. I tried a timed exercise just for grins. It was a modified lean-to which went 9 minutes and 20 seconds. More than two minutes too long.

What failed the first time you tried natural tinder in wet conditions? What corrected it?

I think I fell upon this site in December. At some point, January had a bow drill fire challenge. Better late than never lol

Working on this challenge involved two resource walks and a solid trip to my dry storage. On the first snowshoe walk I identified and harvested grass, flower tops, and birch bark. I also found a pine tree that has great potential for Fatwood. I had cedar bark in dry storage from a harvesting last summer and milkweed pods from last fall. I processed down two piles of cedar bark and kindled one with a ferro rod and one with flint & steel. Actually the charred punkwood was sparked with a piece of flint and my 1095 steel Migizi Bushcraft & Survival Knife. I specifically mention this because until recently, this is a skill that has alluded me. I also harvested two pieces of Fatwood from my dry storage, procured from a job site last fall. You can see on one of the pieces where I tested it in the field. I processed down the punk wood around the Fatwood, which would have been much easier with a hatchet but the Fatwood carved feathers very nicely, I was able to scrape some power with the spine of my knife and this easily lit with the ferro rod (and striker). I was under the impression that milkweed pod fluff was flash tinder but this was not the case. It smoldered just like charred material (and stink) but I was able to blow the fluff into a flame against the actual pod. I used that to start Saturdays fire. My second snowshoe hike was out at the family homestead where I knew there were cattail tops. I found tops of various degrees of degeneration and harvested several of each. I have not kindled this patch of grass and flower tops yet and still need to investigate the uses of the cattail. I will add to this in the comments. Darned wedding next weekend that is going to compromise my availability. Not a relative but close enough that there are expectations.

All right crew, it has been nothing but crickets in here all week. There has been not so much as a church mouse run through. The sound is deafening! What is the plan for the weekend? I am going on two snowshoe resource hikes. One at my home and one at the family homestead. I am planning on finding six Tinder sources and kindling six bundles or birds-nests with my findings. That being said, the milkweed pods and Fatwood may be coming out of my dry storage from earlier harvest. Maybe the same thing with cedar bark. I’m going to be filming parts of the resource walks and photo documenting the Tinder sources. I’m going to be sort of hog-tied next weekend due to a short destination wedding but my wife is hemming baggy leg pantsuit cuffs today ( and tomorrow?) so I’ll stay out of her way. Haha. This is then the weekend for the monthly challenge. So what are you going to do?