Survival gear

Merc63

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All this talk of start a fire. How do you get a fire going and staying in 3 plus meters of snow?? Isn't the fire just going to
melt the snow and fall apart? What's the technique?
 

imdoo'n

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gathering branches might be a lot of work but it could also be the best thing for your mind.. the whole thing about survival is your mind keeping positive and working is a great distraction... if your cold and cant sleep, go cut some wood it will warm you up and will make you tired so that you can sleep

I would be concerned with sweating and hypothermia. you will be hard pressed to gather enough wood to keep fire going, without a chainsaw! not saying can't be done, but you are going be worn out, best to try it out in some deep snow beforehand.

the guy from drayton did the right thing in digging a snow trench, with side panel as cover, a couple candles may have kept him warm?
 

imdoo'n

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like avalanche gear, no one expects to be involved in one! best to know how to use your equipment before you need it. just my opinion.
 

101110101101

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All this talk of start a fire. How do you get a fire going and staying in 3 plus meters of snow?? Isn't the fire just going to
melt the snow and fall apart? What's the technique?

Generally no... people have fires while ice-fishing, and they don't melt their way through the ice... even after a full day. At least not that I've ever seen.

We made a fire in the snow a couple years back at the CC staging area.... on the snow.... we just walked around in knee deep snow (or so) until it was somewhat compacted.... tinder in the winter is also usually very dry.
 

sc800

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Generally no... people have fires while ice-fishing, and they don't melt their way through the ice... even after a full day. At least not that I've ever seen.

We made a fire in the snow a couple years back at the CC staging area.... on the snow.... we just walked around in knee deep snow (or so) until it was somewhat compacted.... tinder in the winter is also usually very dry.
Having a fire in the staging area is different than at 6500 feet with 15-20 ft of snow.
 

101110101101

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Having a fire in the staging area is different than at 6500 feet with 15-20 ft of snow.


Not in regards to having a fire on top of snow..... it works just fine. So long as it isn't just loose powder, which seems obvious.
 

imdoo'n

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Fire is blissfully unaware how deep the snow below it is.... 1 inch or 3 feet, the principals are the same.

lol, yup water puts them out!


fire works, I'm just not willing to bet my life on it though. I have talked to a few caught out in fernie and silent pass, they didn't share your opinion after tryin the fire method after being out all night In snowstorm. you may have had better experience though!
 
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Dooitorbust

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I picked up this https://snowsafety.infusionsoft.com/app/storeFront/showProductDetail?productId=926 https://snowsafety.infusionsoft.com/cart/pimg.jsp?i=926 I have not used it as I am new to mountain sledding as I only have been Valemount once and that was last weekend to do my AST 1. From my course, and from the forums here I went and spent a bunch of money on all the survival gear that people have listed above. If you can afford a sled u can afford the proper gear.

I have this same unit and it works great. I just pack a handful of tea bags inside and it keeps everything from moving around.

i use something like this with as much stuff as i can pack into it along with flares etc ,etc, etc Ive spent the night and its no picnicView attachment 192241



I also Have a spare muff pot that will now be packed with items. Thanks for the idea. 🏻


 

moyiesledhead

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All this talk of start a fire. How do you get a fire going and staying in 3 plus meters of snow?? Isn't the fire just going to
melt the snow and fall apart? What's the technique?

If the opportunity is there, light your fire on top of an old stump. Harder to do these days as they're cutting them pretty close to the ground. I've also seen people light a whole standing dead tree on fire. That would be my choice if I had the chance. It's not going anywhere in the winter, and it's gonna burn for a long time.
 

Bnorth

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If the opportunity is there, light your fire on top of an old stump. Harder to do these days as they're cutting them pretty close to the ground. I've also seen people light a whole standing dead tree on fire. That would be my choice if I had the chance. It's not going anywhere in the winter, and it's gonna burn for a long time.
Yup after building some fires in a lot of snow and seeing first hand the challenges I would just do torch tree and hope it gets some attention too.
 

imdoo'n

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Survivalist Forum - View Single Post - Poncho VS Rain Suit

palmer furnace
this is what I can find on this off hand. you can dig a hole in the snow, light a candle(t-light) etc place between your legs, cover yourself with space blanket, xtra large garage bags,tarp etc. the heat from candle will keep you warm, dry your clothes and stop hyperthermia. easy to carry, light weight, and you don't have to get firewood unless that is a better option, light a couple trees on fire would be good idea too. also you need to keep your head out of cover to breathe, something to sit on would be good to.....
 
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Vance Matheson

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Some have talked about having a tin can ... save some room by a cooker can or muffins pot and now u kill a couple birds with one stone ... another thought I had the other day thinking about what happened last week .. if u knew things where getting bad and I was riding out by myself I would be putting a match to my sled and piling branches on top there is no way u could miss that smoke
Not hard to keep that fire burning

Sent from my 6045I using Tapatalk
 

arff

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Cotton balls and Vaseline in a pill bottle. Small and compact.
Will burn about 3 minutes to start a fire.
We have tested at work.
 

arff

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I have taken some of his classes. A lot has to do with cold water.
But some are on cold survival with great information.
 

imdoo'n

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Cotton balls and Vaseline in a pill bottle. Small and compact.
Will burn about 3 minutes to start a fire.
We have tested at work.

I can recommend this also, good post

dryer lint, jute twine, also.

carry more than one way to light a fire
 
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