Was out a little trip in the woods today. Against my rather impatient nature, I made good preparations today. I gathered some bark from a dead juniper tree and some secondary tinder from a birch and had some fine spruce branches ready for starting the fire. The location I chose was the only snow free spot; an old rotted tree stump.
The hearth was made from elder and the spindle from bird cherry (my favourite combination). Both pieces had been dried in my apartment. The string was made from moose tendons and is the absolutely strongest thread I have tried for this purpose.
I got smoke after just a few passes with the bow and steady smoke from the pile within few seconds. Since my tinder was slightly damp, I went for a larger pile of dust than I usually do. After letting the coal develop for a little while I put it to the shredded juniper bark and blew it into flames. Due to it dampness it was a little reluctant to burn steadily, but I managed to transfer a flame right after a blow over to the completely dry (found it in the sun), fine birch bark. After that I added bigger and bigger pieces and the fire was now burning dependably.
Torjus Gaaren
The hearth was made from elder and the spindle from bird cherry (my favourite combination). Both pieces had been dried in my apartment. The string was made from moose tendons and is the absolutely strongest thread I have tried for this purpose.
I got smoke after just a few passes with the bow and steady smoke from the pile within few seconds. Since my tinder was slightly damp, I went for a larger pile of dust than I usually do. After letting the coal develop for a little while I put it to the shredded juniper bark and blew it into flames. Due to it dampness it was a little reluctant to burn steadily, but I managed to transfer a flame right after a blow over to the completely dry (found it in the sun), fine birch bark. After that I added bigger and bigger pieces and the fire was now burning dependably.
Torjus Gaaren
