11 November, 2013

Building a fire 101 - Dharamsala style

To prepare food and chai in the outdoors, you will need fire - carry a stove. If you don't have one and need a fire for cooking or keeping warm, then in most areas around Dharamsala, you can go to a habitation and ask for some wood. For a few rupees, locals are willing to part with a few sticks, enough for your needs.
Building a fire

For a roaring fire, you need to build it slowly. First select a spot that will not result in a raging forest fire. Clear a bed where the fire should be, making sure there are no dry leaves or grass. You then need three types of materials for the fire itself:

1. Tinder: Dry moss, leaves, paper or anything that lights really quickly. A good tip is to carry some with you as our area has lots of rain all year round. To find something dry enough can be difficult.

2. Kindling: tinder burns fast and cannot light large pieces of wood. You need kindling for that. Twigs and branches not wider that your finger are best. This also needs to be dry enough to burn quickly. If you have wet twigs, try and whittle the bark to get to the dry part.

3. Fuel: This is what will keep you warm at night and cook your food. Try and get branches as wide as your wrist or forearm. The bigger the wood, the harder to light. Keep a large piece of wood, if you have one, as the back of the fire. This will eventually light and can last all night.

Remember, try and not burn plastics as tinder and leave the camp site as you found it. Cheers!!!

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