I am a great fan of AoM and read it from the UK; I work with school groups in a woodland centre over here as a volunteer and fire lighting is my subject. For the bow drill I would suggest using the same wood for the drill AND hearth board; as long as you have the right wood in terms of hardness then the set is very efficient as you get equal wear of both friction surfaces and thus generate the all important combustable dust more quickly.

Secondly, the single most important tip I was told was to set a small shell or indented stone in the bearing block. Crush green leaves into this every time you use it and you have a completely zero friction bearing; when you are learning this method and your stability isn’t perfect then simply trying to overcome the bearing friction can get very tiring.

Great site!

Granted, I don’t frequent jungles with venomous snakes and bugs the size of my head, but I wholeheartedly agree with the statement “right gear, right place, right time” by Darren above, and for my environment, boots are overkill at least 9 months out of the year.

I would suggest adding a tidbit about the tinder bundle that you mention. Maybe just a paragraph about some possible good materials and basic construction. For someone without any background in the subject, I think including that could make a big difference.

Thanks,
Simon in CT

Anyways, another great article. It is good to challenge one’s self and build a fire without matches or a lighter.

hose mukluks have been across the Boundary Waters in winter, showshoeing to the top of fourteeners, and a few dozen other places where they performed quite admirably. No boots have ever kept my feet as warm…none. The uppers have been replaced at least twice, and it’s probably time to retire them.

By the way, this guy has done okay with them as well… http://www.willsteger.com/

As I always say, your mileage may vary. I do wear thicker leather boots if the occasion calls for it, but from November to April I pretty much live in mukluks here in Wisconsin. I have another pair of unlined mocs I use for canoe tripping — kneeing with the top of your feet against the bottom of a canoe feels a lot better with a piece of leather there instead of laces and a tongue. And I have a pair of Bean (no hard feelings) boots for sloppy slurpee snow and bird hunting in the fall. And a pair of ballet slippers if I want to perform a pas de deux with Mrs. Canoelover. It’s all about the right gear, right place, right time.

And in the countless days I’ve spent outside over the past 48 years, I’ve only injured my foot once. At age 16 I stepped on a board at a construction site and sent a 16d into my instep…wearing a pair of Red Wings Irish Setters I didn’t blame the boot, I was being careless.

Y’all walk safe. DB

Thank you, Darren!