How to build the perfect fire

Photo by Carl Wiens

Step 1

• Gather some dry pencil-sized twigs.

• Find a downed tree and, using your camp saw, cut some branches no thicker or longer than your arm.

• Collect strips of birchbark, dry pine needles or a piece of dried lichen for a fire starter. (Or you can take along one of these homemade fire starters: a cotton ball covered in Vaseline; pieces of wax crayon; dryer lint dipped in paraffin wax; a squirt of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.)

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