Cold weather and lighting a fire
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:04 am
Morning all
I'm new to the Forum but not to Prepping so I thought I'd start to share initial thoughts this cold late Dec AM. Many of you probably will know about this tip but some might find my musings of benefit. I'm ex RAF and have picked up a few survival tips over the years and thought to share. I'm based near Basingstoke so if anyone is local just let me know.
Here goes. I went down to the log cabin today to get a fire stoked and a brew on - in-laws were doing my head in over the Christmas break grrr. Try as I might my lighters wouldn't work. DOH - of course they won't! Butane won't 'boil off' and turn to gas at these low temperatures. So Turbo Flames can be temperamental - but the one I use is usually quite good. Not today. Neither was the household long nose lighter I'd left near the firewood. It took me 20 mins in a pocket to get the gas warm enough to light. So the upshot is - when it is uber cold (2.4 deg in there this am) - always have some storm matches as back up or keep lighters in a 'close to body' pocket. 20 mins is a long time to wait for a brew in a cold environment - and that's before you get heat into your fire. Lack of fire will drop morale and could be the difference between life and death. Speak soon! RobRAF.
I'm new to the Forum but not to Prepping so I thought I'd start to share initial thoughts this cold late Dec AM. Many of you probably will know about this tip but some might find my musings of benefit. I'm ex RAF and have picked up a few survival tips over the years and thought to share. I'm based near Basingstoke so if anyone is local just let me know.
Here goes. I went down to the log cabin today to get a fire stoked and a brew on - in-laws were doing my head in over the Christmas break grrr. Try as I might my lighters wouldn't work. DOH - of course they won't! Butane won't 'boil off' and turn to gas at these low temperatures. So Turbo Flames can be temperamental - but the one I use is usually quite good. Not today. Neither was the household long nose lighter I'd left near the firewood. It took me 20 mins in a pocket to get the gas warm enough to light. So the upshot is - when it is uber cold (2.4 deg in there this am) - always have some storm matches as back up or keep lighters in a 'close to body' pocket. 20 mins is a long time to wait for a brew in a cold environment - and that's before you get heat into your fire. Lack of fire will drop morale and could be the difference between life and death. Speak soon! RobRAF.