Building a fire in the snow is not an everyday piece of skill, but knowing how to can be a lifesaver, should you ever get caught in a snowstorm. Surprisingly, setting up a fire on snow isn’t a complicated task. You’ll see how to do so below.
Materials for Building a Fire in The Snow
- A firestarter (matches or ferrocerium rod);
- Tinder/firewood;
- Coffee;
- Cooking pot;
- Knife; &
- Sugar.
Here’s something important to note, though. Staying for long in the cold can be very disastrous. Even if you can make a fire in the snow, it is best to get to a safe, warm place as soon as you can.
Steps for Building a Fire in The Snow
Do not attempt to make a fire in the snow if there’s no proper equipment or clothing.
Prepare the Base
You need to flatten the ground to some extent, as the fluffiness of the snow can cause the platform to move back & forth. Get the air out by stamping it down.
Gather Kindling & Firewood
To make your platform, you have to gather wood for kindling. I recommend that branches & twigs are collected too, as they make good fuel for fire building. If you can get some rocks too, that’ll be great.
Set up a Tripod
You have to find a stick that looks Y. Reduce its height, after which you stick the branch upside down. This way, the Y would be the hook for the tripod. Make a notch at the other end to make a pot hanger. Gather three long sticks & tie them together at the stick top.
Start Building Your Fire
Now, with the wood, kindling & sticks gathered, it’s time to make your fire. Position your tinder properly over firewood. The platform refers to the piled firewood. You should now position your tinder in the middle of the platform & light up the tinder.
When this starts burning, spread some dried branches on the burning tinder, but avoid putting weight on the budding fire. If necessary, add more firewood to the fire. Remember not to pack your platform too tightly so as not to block oxygen, which your fire needs to breathe.
When you’ve successfully built a fire, you could start heating up food or water.
Time to Cook
Usually, you know how to cook & nothing’s changed much. However, the idea is that you’re stranded, so I assume you’re not with many supplies. If there’s no water, you should make plenty of snowballs, ensuring they are well compact so air level is reduced & water content is increased.
If you were making a coffee with this, put the balls in a pot, and when the pot is done boiling, take it off the fire. Add your coffee & sugar.
Enjoy!
Needless to say, you’ve worked hard to set up your fire. It’s only necessary that you enjoy whatever you’re cooking.
Conclusion on Building a Fire in The Snow
Building a fire in snow puts you in a great position to tackle the cold. This is an important piece of skill too. Fire can provide warmth, which is very important in a snowy environment. You should be able to build a fire no matter where you’re caught.