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HomeSurvivalFireBowdrillIn the Winter

Extreme Fireboards #1
Bow Drill in the Extreme Cold

by Allan Beauchamp

February 11, 2003

(photographs and narrative by Allan "Bow" Beauchamp)

  
I am going to take my fire board outside by the igloo, and crank away. It says its minus 39 C with the wind, however I think it's actually minus 25 C.

How many guys have you heard of doing fire boards in actual cold?

I'll be the first I am sure! :) :)

 

So, we'll see how cold I can actually do one in -- we'll start with minus 25 C or minus 30 C first!

Here goes!

  
In the smoking stage.... the small coal is growing!
  

Success!!

This is the first picture I know of a coal being started in extreme cold weather.

So you now have it complete, and notice my hands are "glove-less" in the photo above!

Try that in -30 C. below with no gloves on -- my fingers are hard! And frozen!

Not easy, but, as I have shown, it can be done.

Fingers are still froze ... oh well, the price you pay to learn!