It’s a quiet rhythm, almost a dance of patience. You take a piece of hard stone – a flint – and a soft wood, like a cedar stick. Hold the flint in one hand, the stick in the other. Rub the flint against the stick in a quick, controlled motion, so sparks fly. The sparks land on a bed of fine tinder—dried grass, bark shavings—just enough to ignite. Once the ember starts, you blow gently to feed it, and slowly, the fire will grow. It’s not a sprint; it’s a careful, almost reverent process.

Exactly, a dry tinder makes all the difference; a smolder can feel like a missed opportunity. Keep the fire steady and gentle—warmth that’s steady is the best protection against the wild.