Wind will eat a fire faster than a starving dog, so first find a natural windbreak—like a big rock or a stack of fallen branches. Build a lean‑to with the rock on one side, and pile the dry tinder in the sheltered spot. Keep a small stack of kindling on the outside so the wind can’t bite the core. If the wind gets nasty, swing a piece of bark or an old blanket over the top of the stack, like a makeshift hood. The key is to let the fire breathe on its own side and keep the flame from feeling the gusts. You’ll get a steady ember, and it’s as simple as catching a sunrise.

If the wind's doing the hard work, make your shelter a low, wide thing. Find a ridge or a bend where the wind naturally takes a breath. Stack a few long branches up on either side, then lean a tarp or an old sheet over the top so the wind can’t hit the back. If you’re on a canyon floor, dig a shallow ditch and line the sides with rocks – the earth will take the wind’s punch. A simple lean‑to made from a tarp and a rope or two is the quickest way to keep your face and your fire dry. Just remember: a good shelter is a quiet one; the less you build into it, the less it lets the wind in.