Tinder works best to get the fire started , which can be picked from the trunk of trees or from ground litter . Kindling should be placed on top of the tinder . It can be made by scraping an axe on the surface of dry wood or by using small twigs . Pile kindling on top of tinder for best results . Lastly , top off the kindling with some larger branches fashioned in a pyramid or “ log-cabin ” shape before setting the tinder on fire . If you have some commercial fire starter , that will help get a fire started under damp or windy conditions . A cheap , reliable fire starter ( i . e ., tinder ) is lint from your dryer , which contains all manner of highly combustible material . Use two or three matches held together to set the tinder ablaze . You ’ ll need a large supply of firewood to keep a fire going overnight , so plan accordingly . All firewood must be dry .
If you ’ re camping in the backcountry for an extended period of time , pack an axe and a bow saw ; if you have extra room , a hatchet will also come in handy around your campsite .
You don ’ t really need a chainsaw to buck up logs . A “ cutting / chopping axe ” is ideal for splitting wood , instead of a “ splitting axe ” or maul because of the relatively large size of mauls as compared with the lighter weight of cutting / chopping axes . Pick an axe that has a handle length you ’ re comfortable with . An axe with a longer handle is generally safer to use . However , you may also wish to purchase a maul to split firewood if you ’ re going to be travelling primarily in parks that generally
have rather large , unsplit blocks of firewood . I ’ ve used an all-purpose ( versatile ) cutting / chopping axe with a hardwood handle that ’ s 32 inches long for years without any issues . Full-sized axe handles range from 32 to 36 inches in length and handle well . While metal axes are actually the most popular kind of axe on today ’ s market , I ’ m old fashioned and prefer one with a hardwood handle that I find easier to grip , swing , and chop wood . Store axes with wooden handles securely when not in camp . Porcupines have been known to chew up axe handles in search of salt .
A bow saw , also called a Swede saw , is a metal-framed crosscut saw in the shape of a bow with a coarse , wide blade designed to quickly cut through logs and trees . It ’ s indispensable in base camp for cutting firewood . Hatchets are useful for small chores such as chopping off branches and small limbs on trees for kindling .
Pack some work gloves or leather gloves to use when cutting and stacking firewood . You want to protect your hands from injurious cuts and bruises that could lead to infections . Be careful when swinging an axe or maul because you don ’ t want it to bounce off firewood when you ’ re splitting it and hit your foot or leg .
It ’ s surprising how much heat can be generated by a fire under all weather conditions , even when temperatures are below freezing . Don ’ t forget to bring some hot dogs , sausages , and marshmallows to roast on your campfire !
Duane Radford ’ s fire-making skills date back to when he was a kid growing up in the Crowsnest Pass . He loved chopping firewood with an axe and making kindling to set the stage for a roaring campfire . news & views AUTUMN 2022 | 17