Building a campfire is an important skill to have while backpacking. Not only can it provide heat and light, but it can also be a great way to cook food, boil water and make coffee. A successful campfire requires a few key elements: tinder, kindling and fuel.
Tinder is the smallest piece of material that will ignite when exposed to flame. It often consists of small twigs and leaves, however, paper or cloth can also be used. Once the tinder has been gathered, it should be placed in the center of the fire circle as this is where you will want to light your flame.
Kindling is slightly larger than tinder and serves as a bridge between the tinder and fuel. It should consist of small twigs no more than 1/2 inch thick and can be arranged in a tepee-like structure over the tinder.
Fuel is the largest material that will provide a sustained flame for your campfire. Larger branches about 2 inches thick are ideal for fuel as they will burn for an extended period of time without needing to be replaced often. These should be placed around the kindling in order to create an air pocket which will help keep the fire going.
Once all of these elements have been gathered and placed correctly, you can light your fire. First use a lighter or match to ignite your tinder then once it has started burning add small pieces of kindling at a time until you see flames beginning to appear from within the kindling structure itself. Once this happens you can add larger pieces of fuel around the sides in order to create a larger fire that will burn for several hours with minimal tending required.
Building a campfire while backpacking may seem daunting at first but once you understand what materials are needed, it becomes much easier. With just tinder, kindling and fuel you can easily create a fire that will provide warmth and light during any outdoor excursion.
Conclusion:
Building a campfire while backpacking is an important skill that can come in handy during any outdoor excursion. By gathering together tinder, kindling and fuel you can easily start up a blaze that will last for hours with minimal tending required.