Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
the body is slowly pumping water into the air at all times. Mountaineers often use
“vapor barriers” to minimize water consumption and the use of fuel to melt snow for
water. Vapor barriers are created by wearing waterproof clothing and using plastic
bags as inner sock liners. In subfreezing temperatures, and especially when using
down sleeping bags, the use of a vapor-barrier sleeping-bag liner helps to prevent the
daily loss of the sleeping bag's insulating value due to the condensation of perspira-
tion into its outer layers.
• Do not waste potable water to cool yourself or wash clothing. Wash in untreated wa-
ter, if available and not polluted. You can spread clothes out in direct sunlight to de-
odorize and disinfect, at least to some degree.
Fire
Your ability to start a fire is important for staying warm in cold climates, for cooking food, and
for sterilizing water. I'll start with simple instructions for city folks on building a campfire with
matches and paper, and then proceed through the more Spartan methods, ending with the diffi-
cult process of starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together.
Note:
I have been camping and building fires in the backcountry since I was a little kid. I
am usually able to start a fire with a single match, but I have seen people who do not know how
to build a fire go through an entire box of matches and still not have a fire going. For me, build-
ing a fire with a flint and steel, or a primitive fire drill, is an extremely difficult process, even
with bone-dry tinder. I suggest you practice some of these techniques and don't blindly count
on that “cool survival fire-starter flint” that you bought in some store to save your you-know-
what when you are wet and cold and trying to start a fire.
Starting a Fire with Matches
Materials
I like to separate my materials into piles by size. Start by gathering a couple of handfuls of
tinder, about a third of a shopping bag's worth of kindling, at least a half shopping bag's worth
of small sticks (½ to 2 inches thick), and at least a shopping bag's worth of thicker wood (2 to
12 inches thick).
Tinder
