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Feather Stick Fire Prep
Create a high-surface-area tinder bundle from damp wood when dry tinder is unavailable.
Critical alert
Keep fingers behind the blade at all times. A dull knife slips — sharpen before field use.
1
Select the Stick
Choose dead, dry inner wood from a standing dead tree or split a wrist-thick branch. Avoid green or rotted wood.
2
Feather the Stick
Hold the stick firmly and slice thin curls toward yourself, leaving each curl attached at the base. Aim for 15–20 feathers per stick.
Required gear
3
Build the Nest
Bundle 3–4 feather sticks with curls facing inward. Add birch bark, dry grass, or char cloth if available.
4
Ignite Low
Strike the ferro rod into the nest at curl level — not above it. Shield from wind until flames catch the main stick.
Required gear
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