[pct-l] Fw: How To Light A Fire Instantly In Snow, Ice, And Wind

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, All,

The gold-standard of hustle-marketing is to sell something that is
essentially free or very inexpensive.  All that air in whipped yogurt is a
good example; and the reduced-fat margarine that has fewer Calories because
they found a way to dilute the oil with water in a way that won’t be
noticed. Most of us have heard people bitch about $4 per gallon gas while
they sip on $1 per liter bottled water.  What’s next? Maybe somebody can
sell rocks.

Years ago along Hwy-97 in Central Oregon -- a tourist route near Crater
Lake -- local kids would set up road-side stands selling golf
ball-size *Mysterious
Oregon Floating Rocks* for $.25 to $.50 each.  Yep, you guessed it: pumice
rock – and yes, it does indeed float.
http://www.eoearth.org/article/PumiceWhat they don’t tell the tourists
is most of the Central Oregon east of
Crater Lake is covered with pumice about 18” deep from the big volcanic
eruption.

I think this fire-starter product is the result of a final exam in a
salesmanship class.  The assignment:  Find a way to sell rocks to
backpackers.

Your cynical correspondent,

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/


On Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com>wrote:

> Hi Gang,
> I thought some on this list might be interested in this. A handfull in a
> small Ziplock wouldn't weigh much or take up much space in your pack.
> MendoRider-Hiker
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: Off The Grid News <info at offthegridnews.com>
> To: "Ed Anderson, Long Rider" <mendoridered at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 1:27 PM
> Subject: How To Light A Fire Instantly In Snow, Ice, And Wind
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> Dear Ed,
>
> Have  you ever noticed that the times when you really need to light a fire
> outdoors  are usually the times when conditions for lighting a fire aren't
> good? It's  damp out, or raining. Maybe even snowing. The wood is wet. It's
> windy. When  you're tired, cold, wet, and hungry, struggling to get a fire
> going is not  something most people enjoy.
> If  you're trying to start a campfire, you need plenty of kindling to get
> it going.  If you're trying to light charcoal briquettes, you have to
> drench the stuff in  lighter fluid. Either way, it takes a lot of work and
> finesse to get and keep a  fire going.
> Until  now, that is.
> Imagine  this, instead. You've been backpacking along a tough mountain
> trail all day,  and you're tired, sore, and ravenously hungry. It's
> raining, the ground is wet,  and everything is damp. All you want is a hot,
> hearty meal. Normally, it would  be a struggle to get a fire going in order
> to cook dinner. But not this time.
> You  reach into your pack, pull out a small handful of what looks like
> gravel, light  a match to it, and poof! Instant fire. Or, to be more
> precise, Insta-Fire.
> Insta-Fire  is a breakthrough technology that provides fire almost
> instantly. It's one of  the most amazing survival supplies we've ever seen.
> This  unique fire starter looks a little bit like gravel or kitty litter
> ... but with  some unusual properties. It's composed of a patented blend of
> volcanic rock,  paraffin, and wood pellets. The volcanic rock hangs on to
> the paraffin, and  acts much as a wick does to a candle. It holds the flame
> until the wood pellets  start burning. The entire mixture burns long enough
> to get a campfire or  charcoal briquettes burning. Just a small handful of
> Insta-Fire will burn for  15 minutes. It's especially designed to make
> starting fires with wood or  charcoal a snap, but you can even use it as
> the direct fuel source in an  emergency situation. (Always be sure to use
> it in a well-ventilated area.)
> The Most Amazing Thing Of All About  Insta-Fire
> But  here's the most amazing thing of all. Insta-Fire is water and wind
> resistant.  If you've ever tried to light a fire when it's windy, you know
> it's darn near  impossible. But Insta-Fire makes it easy. Insta-Fire will
> hold a flame even in  gusts up to about 40 miles per hour. And moisture
> won't hinder it, either. When  you place a scoop of Insta-Fire on top of
> wet ground, snow, or ice, it creates  its own bed that is almost impervious
> to moisture. Damp wood? No problem. The  Insta-Fire burns long enough so
> that the wood will catch.
> Having  Insta-Fire among your supplies means you never have to worry about
> butane,  heating oils, kerosene, or propane to maintain a fire. In a pinch,
> you can skip  the charcoal or wood and use Insta-Fire as the main fuel
> source. Lay down about  2 cups of Insta-Fire and light it. You'll have 30
> to 60 minutes of fire, and  all you have to do to keep it going is stir it
> periodically. That's it.
> Perfect for Outdoor Enthusiasts
> When  it comes to outdoor essentials, put Insta-Fire at the top of your
> supply list.  When you're camping, RV-ing, hiking, and backpacking, having
> a quick and easy  way to start a fire makes your outing that much more
> enjoyable. We suggest you  lay sticks or logs in a log cabin pattern, place
> the Insta-Fire in the middle,  and light. Then move some of the wood over
> the center of the flame. You'll have  a toasty, crackling fire in no time.
> For  winter sports, it's even more important. Whether you're snowmobiling,
>  snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, even ice fishing, having Insta-Fire
> means  you have light and heat right at your fingertips. (If you want heat
> and light,  but not a full-fledged fire, just lay down a cup or so of
> Insta-Fire and light  it. It will burn on top of snow and ice.) Hunters and
> fishers who like to dress  and eat their catch immediately will have a fast
> and easy way to start their  cooking fire. Even boaters love it - there's
> nothing like pulling up to a  secluded cove and starting a campfire in the
> sand. (And if you own a cabin in  the woods, be sure to keep a stash there,
> too.)
> Essential For Your Survival  Preparations
> You'd  think Insta-Fire would be a fire hazard, wouldn't you? But it's
> not. In fact,  it's considered non-combustible ... which makes it the
> perfect fuel-starter for  storing with your emergency supplies. We
> recommend you stash some Insta-Fire  with your 72-hour kit, your bug-out
> bag, your emergency supplies, and your  long-term food storage. Do you keep
> an emergency kit in your car? Be sure to  include some Insta-Fire.
> If you  want to lay in a supply of emergency cooking fuel for your
> long-term food  storage, here's what we suggest you do. Stock up on
> charcoal briquettes (quite  inexpensive), and plan on 10-20 briquettes to
> prepare each meal. Then, pick up  a 5-gallon bucket of Insta-Fire. Just
> one-half cup will start a meal's worth of  briquettes. With charcoal as
> your main cooking fuel, Insta-Fire will give you  enough to prepare 80-160
> meals. If you use Insta-Fire as the cooking fuel  itself, the 5-gallon
> bucket provides enough direct cooking fuel for 30-40  meals. (By the way,
> you don't have to worry about the Insta-Fire going bad. It  has a 30-year
> shelf life.)
> No More Hassles At Home
> Insta-Fire  isn't only for emergencies or outdoor recreation, however. If
> you've ever tried  to get a charcoal grill fire going, you know what a
> laborious process it can  be. Insta-Fire makes it easy. Lay the Insta-Fire
> on the floor of the grill.  Place the charcoal on a rack on top of it,
> being sure to leave a little air  space between the two layers. Light the
> Insta-Fire, and go grab a beer. There's  no need to baby the coals; they'll
> be ready for cooking shortly with no more  attention required. How about
> your outdoor fireplace or backyard fire pit? No  need to collect and lay
> down kindling "just so." Use Insta-Fire instead. One  match is all you need
> ... and then you can just sit back and enjoy the flames.
> How To Get Your Supply Of Insta-Fire ...  and What To Do With When It
> Arrives
> Insta-Fire  is available in 5-gallon buckets (each bucket weighs about
> 18.5 pounds). It costs  just $59.95 plus shipping. To order, click here.
> Once your bucket arrives, here's what we recommend.  Open up the bucket,
> and make up individual packets of Insta-Fire. Scoop out ½  to 2 cups per
> portion and store it in a zippered plastic baggie. (You may want  to double
> bag it.) Then, stash the packets with your 72-hour kit, your  long-term
> emergency supplies, with the camping and boating supplies, and as  part of
> the supply kit in your car. Keep the rest of the bucket of Insta-Fire  with
> your dehydrated food supplies.
> Lighting  a fire and keeping it lit has never been easier. No more
> fighting with the  wind, the wet, or the weather. Whether it's for fun in
> the great outdoors, or  for an emergency, Insta-Fire is something you don't
> want to be without. Click here to order now.
> Sincerely,
> The  Team at Solutions From Science
> P.S.  You won't believe how water-resistant Insta-Fire is! When you get
> your supply,  try this: fill a bucket with water, scrunch a handful of
> Insta-Fire into a ball,  and set it on the surface of the water. Light it
> ... and watch it burn, right in  the water! And if Insta-Fire can burn with
> this much moisture around it,  imagine how easy it is to light a fire
> outside when it's wet. Don't believe me? Order some yourself and give it a
> try.
>
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