January 2025 - 41

Knowing how to build a fire in the outdoors, especially when something bad happens like falling through the ice, can save a person's life. (Adobe Stock Photo)
build me a fire, or do I have to run to the
car right now? "
" Okay, I'll build a fire. "
We were both capable in the backwoods,
and I knew Dave could build a fire in short
order because we were located in the heavy
pine trees, and pines have small, dead branches
up against the lower trunk that can be collected
to start a fire even in rain or snow. These
branches can be piled up and started with
one match. That is to say, you could build
a fire with one match using the old type of
stick matches made back then - the kind of
matches the cowboys in old Westerns used
to strike across their pant leg; the kind you
could hold in one hand and drag the edge of
your thumbnail across and it would ignite.
Having good matches and the knowledge
of how to build a fire can be crucial in an
outdoor survival situation - as it was that
day. The temperature was well below freezing.
There also was a strong breeze. When Dave
finally got the fire blazing, I attempted to roll
up my pant legs, but my Levi's were frozen.
I snuggled up to the fire to thaw my clothes.
After the jeans thawed, I rolled the pant legs
up and continued to warm my skin.
After a while, I noticed an extremely bad
smell. I looked down to see the wind blowing
flames around my bare legs, which burned
every hair off and accounted for the horrible
odor. This was a real eye-opener as I realized
that I could not feel my legs. I tried to jump up
and get away from the fire, but my legs didn't
work. My arms and hands were clumsy as I
tried to move away, and I rolled over on my
side to get away from the fire. It never occurred
to me at the time that I was not thinking
clearly, or I would not have sat there wondering
what the bad smell was while the flames
were wrapped around both legs. Hypothermia
comes on gradually, and you don't know it is
happening. My mind and body were numb.
However, it was not painful. I stayed by the
warmth of the fire for a few hours while Dave
kept it burning. Gradually I warmed up. As
soon as I was able, we hiked out. I was glad
when we reached the car with a heater.
Wyoming Wildlife | 41

January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025

January 2025 - 1
January 2025 - 2
January 2025 - 3
January 2025 - 4
January 2025 - 5
January 2025 - 6
January 2025 - 7
January 2025 - 8
January 2025 - 9
January 2025 - 10
January 2025 - 11
January 2025 - 12
January 2025 - 13
January 2025 - 14
January 2025 - 15
January 2025 - 16
January 2025 - 17
January 2025 - 18
January 2025 - 19
January 2025 - 20
January 2025 - 21
January 2025 - 22
January 2025 - 23
January 2025 - 24
January 2025 - 25
January 2025 - 26
January 2025 - 27
January 2025 - 28
January 2025 - 29
January 2025 - 30
January 2025 - 31
January 2025 - 32
January 2025 - 33
January 2025 - 34
January 2025 - 35
January 2025 - 36
January 2025 - 37
January 2025 - 38
January 2025 - 39
January 2025 - 40
January 2025 - 41
January 2025 - 42
January 2025 - 43
January 2025 - 44
January 2025 - 45
January 2025 - 46
January 2025 - 47
January 2025 - 48
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