No more wilderness expeditions for me without a tampon on hand.
In the wilderness, knowing how to start a fire can be a matter of life and death. One ideal survival plant that can aid in this crucial task is the humble birch tree.
Birch trees, known for their distinctive white bark, offer more than just a scenic backdrop. Their sap, drinkable in the spring, and their bark, usable for starting a fire, make them invaluable in survival situations.
To start a fire with a birch tree, you'll need birch wood, birch bark, a knife, and a fire steel. These essential tools, when used together, can create sparks that ignite the birch bark, setting the fire alight.
But it's not just traditional tools that can help you start a fire. For instance, Stefan Winkler, a wilderness survival instructor, demonstrated three unconventional methods. One of these methods involves using a tampon, Kinder chocolate, and birch bark.
The metal in the Kinder chocolate wrapper conducts electricity, allowing fire to ignite. Winkler explained that by rubbing the wrapper against a battery, you can create sparks that, when placed on the birch bark, can start a fire.
Winkler, the founder of EarthTrail, a company providing practical survival training, emphasizes the importance of carrying these seemingly unrelated items on long hikes. He has gathered his experience since at least 2016 and leads a team that offers extensive real-world crisis involvement training.
Once the fire is started, it can be kept going by adding more birch bark and gradually adding birch wood. This method, while simple, can be a lifesaver in a survival situation.
So, next time you're out in the wilderness, remember the birch tree - not just for its beauty, but for its potential to keep you warm and safe. And who knows, you might just find a Kinder chocolate wrapper comes in handy too!
