modern take on Scout fire and question on vapor barrier

[Mike M]

in the 1700's soldiers/scouts would often wander into enemy country trying to remain undetected, but still needing to stay warm, a large fire was out of the question- they would cover themselves with a large outer garment/blanket and build a very (very) small fire that let out very little smoke, but still able to provide enough warmth to make it through a cold night- a "scout" fire

something along the lines of this

my thought for such a setup for an unexpected night out, is using a emergency blanket to wrap up in, a small beeswax candle and a sit pad- relatively low volume and probably doable under 8-10 oz

obviously not the most comfy way to spend a night out, but think it might work in a pinch????

to my question, knowing that there would likely be a fair amount of condensation w/ the emergency blanket, would it behoove one to put their hardshell on under their insulating layer, acting as a vapor barrier????

[Bob Gross]

Isn't this a scene out of the movie, Jeremiah Johnson ?

–B.G.–

[Mike M]

I've seen that movie several times, but it's been a long time since I've viewed it- possibly????

[Bob Gross]

Where is Robert Redford when we need him?

–B.G.–

[Terry Sparks]

This might seem a little funny to you but. What you outline is almost exactly what the U.S. Army has taught in their winter survival school.

[Mike M]

that's certainly encouraging :)

I'm going to give it a go one of these weekend

[Ken Thompson]

Eric Blumensaadt was a winter survival instructor. PM him if he doesn't chime in. I'll wager that he'll tell you to take a Caldera Cone with the inferno insert, lol.

[George F]

I remember seeing that technique in a story about frontiersmen, it seemed like a very cool idea. While it should still be a great survival trick the big problem I see with a modern take is modern materials. Wool, leather, canvas didn't melt or burst into flames when hit by a spark or kissed by a tongue of flame. Be careful.

[Mike M]

Ken- :)

George- good point, will definitely be cautious- I think I would put the candle slightly below ground level in a hole and then build up a little " V" mound of dirt around it where my legs would go to help them from sliding over the top of it

[Jim Colten]

Mike's question being:
knowing that there would likely be a fair amount of condensation w/ the emergency blanket, would it behoove one to put their hardshell on under their insulating layer, acting as a vapor barrier?

A vapor barrier underneath insulation in this kind of marginal or sub-marginal insulation will help you be less cold … the less breathable your hardshell is the better for that purpose

[Mike M]

^ thanks, that's kind of what I thought- I'll have a light down jacket w/ me and possibly a fleece vest as well, I figured I'd put the hardshell over my base layer and the other layers over the top

the hardshell is Pertex Shield +, not overly breathable

[Dan Yeruski]

I've spent quite a few years burning wood to heat my water. Burn your wood from the top down. The best paper to use to use as a starter is telephone book paper(white pages)

The greatest volume of smoke and
particulate pollution from a wood fire occurs
during a cold start. Wood fires lit from the
bottom in a conventional manner promote
a dirty burn and waste a large amount
of potential heat in the form of unburned
gases.
A clean and efficient method for kindling
a fire is a top down burn. This
almost forgotten ancient European technique
places the largest wood at the bottom
and the wood pieces criss cross in a crib
fashion and get smaller as each tier is laid.
Kindling and a small amount of paper is
placed on top and then lit at the top.
When the top down burn fire is lit, the
flames are always above the fuel load. The
smoke and flammable gas from each tier
of wood will always travel up through the
flame and burn, thereby reducing particulate
pollution and unburned fuel.
Top kindling a fire also produces large
and less compacted bed of glowing coals ,
providing excellent long lasting radiant
heat.

[Mike M]

^ that's the way I do fires in the winter out of necessity as I'm often on 5'+ of snow, so you have to have a large platform for the fire to burn on- have to say it works pretty well

I'm hoping that a candle will be sufficient w/ this particular setup :)

[Dan Yeruski]

I agree, a candle will be sufficient. Wear the appropriate clothing and don't worry about the condensation……..don't sweat the small stuff.

Scout fires are still in use in modern times for guys like me :) Little fires, minimum smoke.

[Don Morris]

If you happen to have a carbide lamp and fuel for it, hunchup and light the lamp. Works great in caving situations, as should a candle…

[Mike M]

don't have a carbide light, but do have a UCO candle holder- I wonder if the heat would be sufficient, the cover would make it safer certainly (albeit add a little weight)

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