Erik Lilliskov, foreground, Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT) organizer of the Nov. 7 outing at KLT's Boston Pond Preserve, speaks to participants before the fire-building demonstration. Also pictured are Dr. Rima Carlson, left, her husband Brian and one of their daughters.
John Hribljan, outdoor educator, displays the necessary basic elements for building a fire without matches.
John explains the type of stick that works best.
Participants in the event pictured here include, from left, Peter and Patricia Van Pelt, Emma Dlutkowski, Dave Harmon and Carrie Dlutkowski. KLT Outing Organizer Erik Lilleskov is in the background.
Step 1: John sets up his wood and bow to start the fire.
Step 2: By moving the bowstring attached to a vertical stick, John spins the stick in the hole made between 2 attached sticks, causing friction.
Step 3: One foot on the double-stick base steadies it so the bow can keep spinning the vertical stick.
Step 4: The friction caused by the fast-moving bow produces heat that starts to smoke in the hole!
Step 5: More friction and more smoke are evidence that the bow is moving fast.
Step 6: The heat is on!!
Step 7: The friction between the vertical stick and the two sticks tied together caused a small fire that left these ashes.
Step 8: After placing the ashes in a nest of dry goldenrod, John blows on them ...
Step 9: Now he holds the kindling to start the campfire. By the way, John carried his fire-making equipment in that handy bucket he made of birch bark (center of photo). Photos by Gustavo Bourdieu for Keweenaw Now.
