I have been very fortunate to live in a place which is so near the countryside, I live in a place in southwest Scotland which is surrounded by ample mixed Woodland of varying age and nature. I have had access to this area since I was six years old, but it is only now that I realise the true value of the area and the nature which can be enjoyed, observed, and resources which can be utilised.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been concerned with fire making, and the pursuit of proficiency in fire making by different means. I think the benchmark to which any bushcrafter measures himself against is the ability to make fire by friction. In this case I think I am no different to anyone else, I remember seeing heroes like Ray Mears do this on his numerous television programmes and was fascinated and amazed at the same time. I knew that I had to gain the skills somehow. The first attempts I made were nothing short of a disaster with barely a wisp of smoke been produced during anyone sitting. My technique and the woods which I used were completely wrong for the situation, it was only until my father insinuated that I would never have any success with this method and that I simply wasn't up to the task that I relished the challenge and really started making an effort. I found as much information as I could on bushcraft UK, and a book entitled bushcraft essentials by Ray Mears and set it my business to make this a reality!
I have once read on the tag line of a user of bushcraft UK, that if something doesn't work, pause, change something, and try again. I found this motto of great use to myself, as I pledged to set about the task with patience. And it was with this in mind that I set about my challenge.
It seemed for my first successful attempt, willow upon willow was the choice to be made with regards to wood. I suppose that this makes sense because both the hearth board and the spindle wear away at equal rates. I found a nice piece of dead standing material in the copse next to my house where the river is lined with willows. And an ingenious solution to the bowdrill slipping on the spindle, came in the form of the Egyptian bowdrill method courtesy of bushcraft UK. A regular clump of sun dried grass was used for the tinder bundle.
When finally, completely exhausted with hands sore from trying I finally managed to create my first ember, I tentatively placed it into the tinder bundle I had created tightly packed and dry as a bone, smoke billowed out of the bundle in my hand, tears welled up in my eyes as the smoke entered them, but finally flames were produced and with my father as a witness the record was set straight. It was a truly wonderful day and I managed the feat a total of six times before my arms gave way and no more fire could be produced. It was on the seventh time that I had prepared materials for a proper fire, and for the life of me I could not get the ember this time. In the end a spot of teamwork with my father as an assistant produced an awesome ember and the fire was produced once more. We sat by the fire we made in the dwindling evening sunlight, glowing with the gentle heat of the fire, the exertion with which it took to make it, and from the sense of satisfaction of our newfound achievement.
The fire was all the more appreciated as a result, every lick of flame, every crackle of wood, all seemed unique, and all the better for the way it was made.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been concerned with fire making, and the pursuit of proficiency in fire making by different means. I think the benchmark to which any bushcrafter measures himself against is the ability to make fire by friction. In this case I think I am no different to anyone else, I remember seeing heroes like Ray Mears do this on his numerous television programmes and was fascinated and amazed at the same time. I knew that I had to gain the skills somehow. The first attempts I made were nothing short of a disaster with barely a wisp of smoke been produced during anyone sitting. My technique and the woods which I used were completely wrong for the situation, it was only until my father insinuated that I would never have any success with this method and that I simply wasn't up to the task that I relished the challenge and really started making an effort. I found as much information as I could on bushcraft UK, and a book entitled bushcraft essentials by Ray Mears and set it my business to make this a reality!
I have once read on the tag line of a user of bushcraft UK, that if something doesn't work, pause, change something, and try again. I found this motto of great use to myself, as I pledged to set about the task with patience. And it was with this in mind that I set about my challenge.
It seemed for my first successful attempt, willow upon willow was the choice to be made with regards to wood. I suppose that this makes sense because both the hearth board and the spindle wear away at equal rates. I found a nice piece of dead standing material in the copse next to my house where the river is lined with willows. And an ingenious solution to the bowdrill slipping on the spindle, came in the form of the Egyptian bowdrill method courtesy of bushcraft UK. A regular clump of sun dried grass was used for the tinder bundle.
When finally, completely exhausted with hands sore from trying I finally managed to create my first ember, I tentatively placed it into the tinder bundle I had created tightly packed and dry as a bone, smoke billowed out of the bundle in my hand, tears welled up in my eyes as the smoke entered them, but finally flames were produced and with my father as a witness the record was set straight. It was a truly wonderful day and I managed the feat a total of six times before my arms gave way and no more fire could be produced. It was on the seventh time that I had prepared materials for a proper fire, and for the life of me I could not get the ember this time. In the end a spot of teamwork with my father as an assistant produced an awesome ember and the fire was produced once more. We sat by the fire we made in the dwindling evening sunlight, glowing with the gentle heat of the fire, the exertion with which it took to make it, and from the sense of satisfaction of our newfound achievement.
The fire was all the more appreciated as a result, every lick of flame, every crackle of wood, all seemed unique, and all the better for the way it was made.
