by statesofminds

Created on: November 23, 2009

It's nearly dark when I realize I may be in real trouble; I am over five miles deep in the wilderness in the middle of winter, and that 30% prediction of snow just became 100% as the sky just opened up on me! Oh, jeez-now I won't be able to follow my tracks back to the road because the heavy snowfall will make them invisible rather quickly in the fading evening. Looks like I am going to wait out the storm and find my way out after.

Many folks would think this a life or death situation, and it can be-but it does not need to be, as long as you are ready for the possibility. The Boy Scout motto says it best: Be prepared. For me, that means carrying two lighters/boxes of matches secured in separate waterproof casings (even Ziplock bags will work), along with other supplies (maybe a few sheets of newspaper, etc.) when I embark on anything more than a stroll in the park-in any season.

Caught in the wilderness, at dusk, in a snowstorm, I would quickly take stock of the situation and first seek an appropriate place to camp. This is possibly more important than having a fire; I would want a place that is protected from the worst of the wind, yet not under a heavy tree canopy (which may collapse under the weight of the snow/force of wind, or at the least, douse my fire with a ton of snow in the middle of the night). On the downwind side of a hill/mountain, preferably near a large and solid boulder would work perfectly.

After locating a site, I would set out to quickly find enough tinder and wood to get a fire burning and keep it burning for an hour or so, being very cautious not to lose site of the camp; I can venture further for more wood after the fire is burning, giving me a bright beacon to follow back to camp. I would look for small evergreen twigs and branches that snap crisply (telling me they lack moisture) to start with. One or two armloads of small tinder should be plenty, along with some dry grasses which will light easily (or newspaper, or even a dry dollar bill!), then I would search for some larger branches. It is important to note that tree bark does not burn well-it would seem like it would, but bark is actually nature's fire retardant.

I would next clear the fire pit of snow; an area about three feet across should be a good starting point. I would simply pile the snow around the rim for a good windbreak. Next, I would lay down some of the bigger tinder twigs, making a buffer between the fire and the ground (this serves to keep the leftover snow

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