by Todd Walker
From time to time I get comments on my blog from folks wanting to see more survival stuff without modern equipment involved. These types of comments appear more frequently on my YouTube channel. Here’s a recent one from a my One-Stick-Fire in the Rain video using a ferrocerium rod as my ignition source…
“pleeaaaaase im just waiting to see if some “survival” channel teaches how to do it without these gadgets like fire rods and matches and stuff like that…. come on!”
Spark ignition in the rain is not hardcore enough for some folks. Comments like this don’t offend me in the least. It highlights the symptoms too often seen in of our modern online survival community: We thirst for knowledge but lack real, hands-on experience.
You can certainly gain knowledge if the information comes from reputable sources. However, no matter how reputable or experienced the presenter may be, you can only gain experience by actually Doing the Stuff in the field.
This is a natural progression of what flows from Hollywood minds. Joe Q. Public’s hunger for entertainment and the “next-level” survival show keeps TV production companies scrambling for ratings… all the way to the bank.
The stuff I do is quite boring I’ve been told. I’ll admit, I’m not the most exciting guy in the woods. I like to think I’m smart at times, though. Sensationalism is not my thing. Over-the-top TV stuns shouldn’t be yours either if you ever need to survive in the wilderness.
Skills in Context
Our level of field experience and skills should determine what we carry to the woods. I carry modern tools like a ferro rod, Bic lighter, matches, and other so-called “gadgets” when camping or tramping in the woods. Does this make me less of a woodsman? It may in the eyes of those insulated by technology who have never had to light and maintain a fire in a rain-soaked forest.
Could I start a sustainable friction fire in the rain with resources collected from the forest landscape?
Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never gone on a self-imposed survival trip without modern fire tools. I practice primitive fire craft while in the woods but always carry backups. In theory, I should be able to leave modern fire starters at home. One day soon I’ll have to trade this theory for action.
But for now, let’s address keeping skills in context.
“if it’s not in context, it’s just arts and crafts.”
~ Steven M. Watts (1947-2016)
Wilderness survival skills are often taught in a vacuum without background information on how these skills personally relate to the student, locale, and history. I’m fortunate to be a student of Scott Jones in the field of primitive technology and experimental archaeology. Scott wrote his latest book, Postcards to the Past, with the intent of developing “practical perspectives for observing, interpreting, and utilizing the natural world” by modern primitive practitioners like myself.
Scott Jones firing the bamboo atlatl at a class this summer
I may have hands-on knowledge of fire by friction, but do I have the wisdom to know “when” and “why” to use this skill? I have been humbled on more than one occasion attempting to spin up a coal with friction fire techniques on “dry” days in Georgia. Our humidity sticks to you like fly paper. Add a steady rain or a slight drizzle and I reach for my thumb drill (Bic lighter) or other modern devices to start my fire.
Should you add friction fire methods to your skill set? Is it even practical?
The more I sweat, the less I freeze. The meaning of this statement should not be taken literally. Sweating in cold weather is big no-no. What I mean by this is that the more I practice primitive, the more confidence I build in using a bow and drill or hand drill as a survival insurance policy.
On my journey of outdoor self-reliance, I have found that nothing beats preparedness. Even on day hikes with Dirt Road Girl, I carry my haversack packed with emergency shelter, water bottle, sheath knife, tarred mariner’s line, with room for other essentials… and the occasional rock that catches her eye. Instead of making shelter from forest floor debris, a time and labor intensive doing, my emergency space blanket or GI poncho can be strung up with little effort if need be.
Again, context is essential. Do you want to Learn to Return or Learn to Stay?, as Chris Noble wrote in one of his excellent articles at Master Woodsman a few years back. Skills to return or stay may overlap. The tools and mindset to acquire comfort in the woods are what distinguishes the two. However, the logical choice for most outdoorsy folk is the later.
One of my favorite quotes from Scott Jones in Postcards to the Past is…
“one of my goals is to get people to think about what the think they think.”
The first peoples to settle a land had to make do with what they had, not what they wished they had available. Skills to accomplish this task were passed down from generation to generation. For us moderns, through practice and experimentation, we too can incorporate these wilderness living skills to expand our options.
The main reason I practice primitive fire is the integration into the natural world I gain. My senses sharpen when woods trekking if I plan to make fire by friction. With a keen sense of urgency, I take note of overlooked trees and their dead limbs to determine if a tree swallowed fire, and, in return, will pass fire onto me. As Native American stories go, not every tree swallowed fire.
Another practical reason for friction fire practice is the attention to detail required. Preparing finely processed tinder material which will turn a small coal into fire is a practice which transfers nicely when using an open flame or 3,000 degree sparks from a modern ferro rod.
Friction fire demo at my school
Mastering different fire by friction techniques is my goal. My middle school students love this stuff. But it’s not a method I try first when I’m cold and wet. Add the stress of a real survival situation with accompanied elevated heart rate and the fine motor skills needed to craft an effective bow drill set from the landscape is quickly lost. This bit of context is lost on most folks watching entertaining videos from the comfort of home.
But our pre-history ancestors did it. That’s the only choice they had. I’ll bet Grok would have used a Bic lighter or ferro rod if that technology was available.
As I’ve said before, fire covers a multitude of survival sins. Even if you’re improperly dressed for the environment, fire can help you sleep. As Mors Kochanski says, “The quality of a survival kit is determined by how much it can help you when you need to sleep. If you can sleep well at night, you have it made.”
Until you’ve done enough friction fires that you can’t get ’em wrong, and ironed out all the pesky nuances of twirling sticks together, and you’re ensured that physically injured will never happen, go prepared with modern fire tools. If not, be prepared to be vexed with a cold, wet, miserable, sleepless night in the woods… or worse.
This is not to say you should ditch primitive skills. Nothing could be further from the truth! You just need to keep them in context.
Related Resources on our site:
Keep Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance,
Todd
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Survival Sherpa 
This is an excellent article. I would contend that the people who target you for using too much tech are not your target audience. I believe you are absolutely correct in your assessment of those types of people being “armchair survivalist” (my words, not yours). I feel compelled to state that I love your content and delivery. I understand your approach and see value in the skills you demonstrate. A northwest coast Native American woodcarving instructor I had once said, “I don’t feel that using modern technology lessens the experience, because if my ancestors had access to chainsaws they would have used them.” If our goal is to survive then we should use whatever means we have to do so. I don’t remember where I heard it, but my mantra is, “practice primitive, prepare modern.” Keep up the good work. I enjoy your stuff.
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I really appreciate your kind words, my friend! Thank you for the support, and, as always, keep doing the stuff of self-reliance!
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This article really touched a nerve, albeit in a good way.
For so long, I’ve constantly said a similar thing— In a survival situation, when I want to start a fire, I want a road flare. During my classes, I share with my students, “My litmus test for a survival fire starting tool is… Can a five year old use it?” If the answer is no, it has no business in your survival kit.
I believe I read somewhere, Ishi was asked what his greatest marvel of the modern world was. He, in his way of communicating, was fascinated with the lighter.
If we look around us, the question begs… If so and so was so great, why then didn’t we just stick with it? Most things around us is an example of how modern ways are superior.
Give me a working lighter over a ferro rod all day every day.
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“Can a five year old use it?” That may be the best line, and actual truth, I’ve heard about kit! Thank you for your feedback, Alan. I really appreciate the value you add and the challenges you make to “collective” common sense in our community. And now you’ve gone and inspired my next blog post. Many thanks!
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you’re welcome and thank you.
I look forward to the article
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Very good views and points expressed here. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you, Chris! Appreciate you stopping by
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