Battery dies at 1700. Overcast. Mixed hardwood forest. You have 90 minutes of daylight. What are your first three priorities — in order — and why?

Collected birch bark and spruce kindling, prepared some birch wood chips and curls, and readied the Migizi Wanderer Stove. I had two cups of water and needed 1 and 1/2 cups for rehydrating the Mountain House meal. If you’re going to boil water, make coffee or food, one or the other. I shaved some magnesium dust from the block with the Migizi Companion and collected it on a piece of birch bark and some birch curls. I need practice with the magnesium because I had trouble keeping it under control. I sparked the pile with the included ferro rod using the Companion. It quickly caught the birch bark and curls which I used to get the stove going. I poured one cup of water into the canteen cup, SRO SS, and just as it was about to boil - I knocked it off the stove onto the plywood and delay of lunch. I replaced the water, made more chips, and boiled it again. Made and ate lunch. I set up the hammock and tarp just for exercise. Practice points: Magnesium dust control, size of the fuel for the stove, control of a canteen cup. The spilled boiling water could have been much more serious and control of the stove and canteen cup is critical. It was also a waste of materials and time. I need to get the fuel size and firing of the stove down. I tend to try to use fuel chips that are too small and starve it of air too large and beyond the capabilities of the stove. I find I have to tend it constantly - that may be the nature of the beast. Good thing today was not a timed event. I got fire with the appointed tools. I boiled water and ate lunch. Probably an hour late by my wife’s estimate. I was outside in the sun, thinking about results and using tools I carry. OK - Having fun.

Hey all, Wanted to ask what you could all recommend for a sleeping system, what are the pros/cons between a sleeping bag versus camping blanket, what brand or specifics should I look for when shopping around for one, etc. Thanks in advance

Goal: Boil 1 cup of water in under 5 minutes using: - A magnesium strip + ferro rod - Only natural materials No shortcuts. No cheating. ⚠️ RULES (READ THIS FIRST) You are NOT allowed to use: - Lighters - Matches - Store-bought fire starters - Paper, cotton balls, dryer lint, etc. ONLY: - Magnesium strip - Ferro rod - Natural materials you find outside 🔰 CRAWL (Set Yourself Up to Win) What to do: Before you even strike a spark: 1. Get your materials ready FIRST Tinder (very small, fluffy, dry) Kindling (pencil-lead to pencil-size sticks) Fuel (finger-size sticks) 2. Shave your magnesium Make a small pile (about a quarter size) Keep it tight and together 3. Build your fire lay Don’t light first and then build Build FIRST, then ignite Tip: If your tinder isn’t good, nothing else matters. 🚶 WALK (Make It Work) What to do: Now execute. 1. Spark the magnesium into your tinder 2. Get flame 3. Feed it carefully 4. Build it into a real fire Then: Place your container with 1 cup of water over the fire. You pass this phase if: - You get a flame going - You build it into a sustainable fire (No time requirement yet—just make it work) 🏃 RUN (The Standard) Now do it for real: You have 5 minutes total to: - Ignite your fire - Build it - Get 1 cup of water to a rolling boil ⏱️ Time starts at first spark. Conditions: Pick at least ONE: - Damp ground - Slight wind - Slightly wet materials What matters: - Speed - Efficiency - Decision-making ✅ PASS / FAIL PASS: Water reaches a rolling boil in under 5 minutes FAIL: Anything else No partial credit. 📸 PROOF (POST THIS) - Video or pictures of your setup - Your tinder and magnesium - The flame - The boil 🧠 AFTER ACTION (WRITE THIS) - What slowed you down? - What almost caused failure? - What will you do differently next time?

Just uploaded a bunch of old YouTube videos into the classroom for extra references.