They knew where to find dry tinder, even in rainstorms- and most people today don't. If those trappers and explorers still had any black powder- even if it was wet, rubbing it on the surface of dry tinder will help it catch( black soot draws and retains heat), and retain sparks long enough to blow into embers, and then into fire.
People carried charred ends of sticks from their last fire, to give them something dry enough to start their next fire. Or, they looked for old campsite- people through the years always noted the location of, and explored any caves, overhangs, or likely spots where upturned trees blocked the wind and the roots gave some shelter from snow and rain.
People watched the clouds, and the directions of winds as they traveled, to warn them of changes in the weather. They camped sooner, and made preparations constantly for keeping themselves dry, along with their provisions. None of this was written about, because everyone did it as a matter of common sense. Little kids were sent out to pick up dry wood, and learned early where to find it, and not be taking wet wood back to home, or camp.
This has been called by historians as a " Wood Culture" based on the fuel most commonly used for cook and heating homes. It lasted for thousands of years.
In the mountains, Dry pine needles could be found on the inside of branches everywhere. Use the "Snap" test to find truly dry sticks, branches, and twigs.
I surprised my best friend one day when I got his fireplace fire going, when he had burned up all his newspaper, had forgotten to buy a "firelog" at the grocery store, had not dry sticks or lumber in his tinder box in the basement, and had ONLY a HUGE Osage Orange log sitting on the firedogs to burn.
I took him outside, and gathered dry twigs, sticks, and branches, on the third day of a constant downpour in 40 degree weather that day. He was surprised that I found so much dry wood around his home, that he didn't know was there.
I used flint and steel, with charclothe to start that fire, and part of a hemp rope I unraveled to make my nest, but I could have made that fire several other ways, including using my bow and spindle to make the embers. That Osage Orange stump lit up under my very hot fire like it was an old, dried out piece of soft pine, or balsaw wood. His wife came home after we got the Log burning well, and I had put away my fire starting kit. She asked if he had remembered to buy a firelog, and he admitted he had forgotten. She then, asked, puzzled, how he got the fire going? When he told her that I started it with tinder I had found all around their house, she thought he was talking about INSIDE the house. She started telling him how she had looked for newspaper and tinder in the box in the paper, when he cut her off, and told her I had found it OUTSIDE the house. She sat down, and asked where in the world could I possibly find dry wood outdoors after 3 days of rain. He told her what I did, and her jaw just kept dropping more and more and.... You get the idea.
After that, he labeled me his " Consummate Boy Scout". All I said was, " OH, POLEEAZE!"I am like other people who take the time to learn primitive survival skills. My blood pressure screams upward in frustration while I am mastering the skill, but later, after I have mastered the skill, I don't think there is too much to talk about. :hmm: :thumbsup:
