Tools you can pack to make fire

Picture of matches Picture of flint Picture of Potassium Permanganate

To make fire you will need to look for tinder in the woods; branches and leaves that are not humid nor rotten.

  • Matches:there are little boxes of waterproof matches that can come in very handy, especially for short trips of only a few days. It is highly recommended to also pack a lighter, stuck to the rope you will carry around your neck. Like these
  • Flint:there are different kinds of flint, but the most important is to practice beforehand because making fire can be very tricky. Flint can last for much longer than matches so it is highly recommended to pack at least one. Hit the flint with the steel and direct the sparks to the dry tinder. Like these
  • Sugar / Knife / Dry tinder / Potassium Permanganate: There’s one more way to make fire. You can crush equal amounts of sugar and potassium permanganate on a flat surface (like a flat stone). Mix both crystal piles of dust and press the mixture with the knife blade until you get sparks. Direct the sparks towards the dry tinder. Potassium permanganate can be found in animal stores since it is used to treat aquarium water. Like this
  • Magnifying glass: Most compasses have a magnifying glass incorporated. With the magnifying glass, the sun is concentrated in a dry tinder point and a hot spot is formed. You can also use glasses. The drawback is the sun requirement, which means that this technique cannot be used in very cloudy climates or at night. Like this

But what's more important than having the right material with you at all times, is to practice beforehand if you plan on going on an adventure. Some ways of making fire are extremely simple, like firing matches, but matches can run out, and for instance lighting a fire stiring a woodstick can be quite tricky.

Crossing rivers

Crossing rivers is dangerous and should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary, so always check the map to see if there are alternate routes before crossing. If you need to cross the river, make sure before that you have another change of clothes, because staying wet in a cold climate can cause hypothermia. If you didn’t have enough clothes, try to pick up dry tinder and keep it dry while crossing. Once on the other shore, make a fire to warm yourself up and dry your clothes.

Always choose the safest spot of the river to cross. Remember the following rules:

  1. Try not to cross through exposed pointy rocks which could be dangerous and slippery
  2. Check the river’s depth with a stick before crossing
  3. Observe how quickly the water moves. Avoid parts of the river with water speed changes, as well as the outside of the curves, where water usually flows faster
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If you are in a group of people, crisscross your arms (as shown in the image above). The person with the least weight should be placed in the middle of the group, and the person with the greatest strength should lead the group. Once you are all well balanced, cross perpendicular to the stream of the river and move slowly and steadily.
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It is never advisable to cross a river on your own. If you had no choice, find a sturdy, long stick to use as a point of support and balance while crossing.
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The use of ropes is tricky, and specific for dangerous rivers and for group trips. The rope is used for security tied up to a tree. Once one person has crossed, they can tie it up to another tree on the other shore. Hence, there will be a rope crossing the river, easily used as balance and steadiness support. The last person should untie the rope from the first tree.

Building a refuge out of a poncho

picture of a poncho

In some situations, you may not have the time it takes to make a refuge out of sticks, leaves, and ropes. This trick might come in handy: make a refuge with your poncho (and you should always have a poncho with you!).

Find wood sticks to nail to the ground on each side, and tie a rope on top of both, which will make the roof. Then, open the poncho to the maximum and place it on the rope forming a triangle. This is especially recommended for sudden rains.

picture of a refuge made out of poncho