[pct-l] Fire Starter

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

T_ortoise73 at charter.net_ (mailto:Tortoise73 at charter.net)   writes:

making  your own tinder using big cotton balls and half saturating them with 
petroleum  
jelly (Vaseline).
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I have had those, but never  actually had a chance to used them on the trail. 
 
 
Like most of you, I have started  fires in very wet conditions to warm up.  
Not actual rainstorms, but I  think it was  misting after a big storm in the 
Sierras on the PCT.   You know, the cold wet foggy conditions that sometimes are 
around after a long  rain.  Everything is super wet.
 

Go to wwwREI.com and put in "Fire Starter" in the product  search box.  Some 
items will come up, including the _Coghlan's Emergency Tinder_ 
(http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=1
17643&parent_category_rn=4500638)  that I mentioned before.  I think on 
December  26, when I head to REI with all my gift cards from presents (people 
actually  give the Trail Pirate gifts) and get some for my emergency items kit  --- 
may be carry 2-3 starters.  They look flat and easy to store in the  pack 
kit.  I have some REI windproof matches I carry too with a very small  BIC 
lighter.  The whole fire starter thing should be around .5 ounce.   Not too bad for 
something that could be very useful if needed.
 
Say, my post about the PCT Yo-Yo-Yo and the Orchard Hill  Resort in Julian 
was partly true.  If you get a chance to stay there, do  it.  Take your 
significant other there on a mini vacation in PCT Section A  country.  I have really 
only stayed there once several years ago, but plan  to stay there again one 
night before the 2007 April Kickoff.  I came across  the old dinner menu from my 
stay when cleaning the garage, so I had to work  it into a harassment for all 
of you.  I think I did a good job and it was  pretty funny.
 
Holiday cheers, Switchback the Trail  Pirate