Lost my flint & steel

**nhCyclist** · 01-03-2009, 06:11 PM

Decided to head out for a hike this morning and practice some survival skills. Temp was about 18 degrees, with 15 mph shifting winds.

Items that I brought.
Folding Buck Knife (Typical)
5 Feet of Cordage (Typical, wrapped around the knife)
Compass (Typical for a longer hike, not typical for the 2 miler today)
Flint & Old Knife (Not typical, but I wanted back up)

I hiked up almost 700 ft. of altitude and about 1.5 miles (the AT runs behind my house) and then bushwacked another quarter mile off trail to a sunny spot.

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and was planning on using the small magnifying lens to start a fire after building a small shelter.

After about an hour of shelter building, I wasn't having much luck, and was disappointed with how it was turning out so I switched to fire making.

Built a tinder-bundle and set it up with the compass stuck in the snow, so the mag lens was focused on a particular spot. Watched it for about 10 minutes, but my feet were getting cold so I left it and continued collecting and processing more wood. (god, batoning with a little folding knife sucks). Checked on it every 5 or so minutes, but NO luck, not even a burnt spot or smoke.

Switched to flint and steel, but the wind really picked up at this time and after 2 or 3 minutes, I finally got a spark to flame and we were off to the races. Because of the wind, I was working really fast. In my rushing, I put my flint and steel down (I thought, I was being careful about where I put it). After 10 minutes of effort to get the fire going, I had a few minutes to collect myself and by that time, I couldn't find the flint and steel!

Stupid.

**crashdive123** · 01-03-2009, 06:16 PM

Come back when the snow melts. You bring up a really good point with the thread. Having a back-up method for the chores that can save your life is a good idea.

**Stairman** · 01-03-2009, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Come back when the snow melts. You bring up a really good point with the thread. Having a back-up method for the chores that can save your life is a good idea.

especially when it comes to blades and flames!

**MCBushbaby** · 01-03-2009, 06:26 PM

Numpty mistake but at least you learned it then rather than when you could really use it. I'm in the habit of dropping my mitten shells when I do dexterous work so I made some dummy lines. Maybe put your flint/steel on a retractable clip line?

**nhCyclist** · 01-03-2009, 06:31 PM

I will seriously consider putting some cordage (even just a foot of brightly colored) on small items like that. usually I try to save weight, but it may be worthwhile.

**tipacanoe** · 01-03-2009, 07:44 PM

I really appreciate you bringing up your misfortune during your hike. I'm on my way to the basement and fix mine with orange cord. Once I was out sledding with my son when he was small, we hit a jump, and the right lens flew out of my glasses, by some dumb luck we found it.

**RichNH** · 01-05-2009, 09:38 PM

If the line you attach to the flint and steel is useful in itself, I wouldn't consider it excess weight. No?

**rebel** · 01-05-2009, 10:08 PM

In my old mil vest, back-in-the-day, everything was tied. The reason was, if you hit the sheet or went for a swim everything went flying. Anyway it's a good lesson, have it tied on and then your chance of losing it will be lessened.

**skunkkiller** · 01-06-2009, 11:34 AM

nhcyclist what i do is when i have a sprak in my char i put the char in my tinder bundle and put my flintand steel back in its tin if the wind will almost the the fire for you.

**tsitenha** · 01-06-2009, 11:48 AM

nhCyclist, make a routine of replacing items that you use in their appropriate places. Can't tell you how many times I have seen/picked up a knife, compass, lighter, watches, etc... that some one laid down and "lost".
Being mindful about your routine is better...
good reason to carry a "E" spare (only a needed item)
Now putting lanyards or such on all your tools, well you can see that you will snag a lot of branches when all is said and looped.
I do tie off a few items that are placed in a special "go to" pocket just in case but they are not my regular source...just an "E" source.

**nhCyclist** · 01-06-2009, 12:15 PM

I went back and found the flint & striker the following day, it was under about 4 inches of packed snow.

When I used it again, and got the tinder bundle going, I definitely made sure to put it back in my pocket right away.

I am not skilled enough yet to let the wind keep my fire going at an early stage. I was sparking directly onto my tinder bundle, no char cloth... so the sparks were barely keeping more than an instant.

**primeelite** · 01-06-2009, 12:19 PM

I think fire and blades are always the best things to carry one or two backups for. I usually carry a Zippo type lighter, magnesium fire starter, and another bic lighter. I guess I do it the lazy mans way but just not great at starting fires. The cordage is a good idea wrapped around the handle because I have various cordage in my pack but it is taking up a small pocket which I could use for something else now.

**skunkkiller** · 01-06-2009, 12:59 PM

i always carry char cloth in the tin with my flint and steel that way it does not take long to to catch a spark it's easy to make char or you can use punk wood or the inside pod of a milk weed pod.