Survival Night

[Oisín]

Me and my fellow explorers are going out on a survival night sometime in June. We are allowed a limited amount of items, as far as I can remember they are as follows:

- 6 matches
- A cooking Pot
- 1 Large sheet of Tarpaulin
- 15 metres of twine/seisel*(Spelling)
- A shovel
- A saw (apparently you're not allowed hatchets anymore  )

All food and drinking water provided.

I've been allocated the job of Firemaster (Best job title ever!) and the idea of being in charge of a fire and only having six matches to use daunts me. They never light anything.

Any advice guys? Advice on other issues bar fire would be welcomed too.

[Eamonn]

Keep your matches dry

[Oisín]

Keep your matches dry

That will be the top priority. 

[LennyJ1]

Replace the matches with a fire steel.

[Oisín]

Replace the matches with a fire steel.

Sadly this isnt an option. These are the things we have been told to use. Although I can never find the patience for firesteel either. 

[spartan00117]

Gather plenty of kindling and keep dry.  If your allowed to take your own matches dip them in candle wax to keep the heads dry then simply peal off before use.

[RedLeader]

Fires aren't that hard but only having 6 matches is a nightmare. A rule that always served me well is "gather 3 times the wood you think you need" - this counts for kindling, medium wood and logs. Seems like overkill but it has worked for me every time. For the 6 match situation I'd go with as much really dry, light kindling as you can lay your hands on - you couldn't possibly have too much. Something easily burned like straw or very fine twigs would be best. Then light your fire between two big (dry) logs that are sheltered from the wind. Be prepared to blow gently to get it going. Don't even start to light it until you have all the wood you need for a few hours. If it's wet, give the firemaster hat to someone else, it wont be a fun job

Maybe ask if you could prepare something like char cloth - it's a well respected bushcraft firelighting basic, as are strips of bicycle inner tube.

Also look into feathersticks. I've never tried but I see it plenty in Bushcraft.

We should have a weekend like this, it sounds blummin awesome (as long as we can bring a tipple to keep the cold out, we're not animals )

[Drongo]

6 matches... Lucky sod...!!!

No matches, No firesteel.... Now there is a challenge...

[RedLeader]

Bah, easy-peasy, I do that all the time with a bushcraft art I like to call piezo-electric with gas

6 matches... Lucky sod...!!!

No matches, No firesteel.... Now there is a challenge...

[alanrsv]

use the hardened or cristalised sap of  a pine tree to light your fire it ignites easily and burns well

[LandyLiam]

twine burns well  just detach from tarp first 

[Paul72]

We should have a weekend like this, it sounds blummin awesome (as long as we can bring a tipple to keep the cold out, we're not animals )

I'd be on for that, should we organise it?? 

[RedLeader]

Yep. We should pick a night and head for Donard wood.

We should have a weekend like this, it sounds blummin awesome (as long as we can bring a tipple to keep the cold out, we're not animals )

I'd be on for that, should we organise it?? 

[Oisín]

If yous organised it I'd tag along. Saying I would of had all the experience as Firemaster!(Joke, I'm not taking responsibility for fire)

But I'd be up for that in all seriousness.

[RedLeader]

Too late. OISINS THE FIREMASTER EVERYONE 

If yous organised it I'd tag along. Saying I would of had all the experience as Firemaster!(Joke, I'm not taking responsibility for fire)

But I'd be up for that in all seriousness.