Camping Today...

From books and moving pictures we all know that Native Americans had the ability to maintain smokeless fires, and that trappers could blot out the sites of their fires without leaving the slighest trace behind.

But we\'re not always able to imitate these models. We gaily follow the recipe: take some wood and light it. ... But there\'s far more to it than that.

Finding The Right Type of Wood

Before you build a fire, you must first have a good supply of firewood on hand.

It\'s embarrassing to realize that there\'s no more wood when your hot dog is only half done.

For a smokeless fire you need completely dry, brittle wood. The dryest branches are those that have lost their bark and never feel cold; cold wood is damp and heavy, and it is useless to you unless you want to dry it out at a fire first. You can find dry brittle wood even after a rain.

Look for branches under dense shrubbery (that\'s a bit of old gypsy lore) or find the lowest dead branches of young pine trees, which are especially suitable for starting fires.

Only a greenhorn would start a fire with wood that still has green leaves hanging on it. Such wood is usable only if you already have a strong fire.

Thick, dead limbs of old oaks, dried roots and trunks make good heating material. In rainy weather, cut away the top layer of wet sticks; the center will be dry.

From: 101 Camping-Out Ideas and Activities
by: Bruno Knobel
Edited by Donald Trosper
Rebublished by DMC Enterprises, Inc.
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