I’ve done that a few times, but it’s a trick that requires patience and the right angle. First, find a piece of glass that can focus sunlight—anything from a magnifying glass to a glass bottle. Then, get a good, dry tinder like birch bark or finely shredded sage. Place the tinder in a small pile, shield it from wind, and angle the glass so the sun’s rays concentrate on the center of the tinder. It takes a minute or two for a spark to form, then blow gently. If the sun’s weak or the glass isn’t perfect, I’ll switch to a flint‑steel combo or a bow drill, always keeping a backup plan ready. In the desert, keep the tinder as dry as possible and build a small, low ember that can grow once I’ve got a bigger pile. It’s all about conserving energy and using what the environment gives.

I keep the classics in my pocket because they’re tried and true, but I’m not afraid to improvise. If I run out of birch bark, I’ll use sagebrush or a dry cactus spine—anything that burns fast and has a little oil. It’s all about testing a quick spark and seeing what sticks. I still favor a good tinder bundle and a bow drill, but the desert has its own tricks if you know where to look.

I usually go with a dry sagebrush stick when the air’s high, because it’s light and oily. If the wind’s low, I’ll grab a piece of old cactus spine—it’s dense and keeps a burn going long enough to pull in bigger fuel. So it’s really about what’s around me and how dry it is that day.