While rain can certainly put a damper on a camping trip, you don’t have to let it ruin the experience altogether. With the right materials and proper knowledge, you can still enjoy a great campfire even if your kindling and tender become wet. Have a backup plan and you will still have a good time.
You can still enjoy a campfire during a rain storm as long as you come up with a backup plan. This may seem impossible when all of your kindling and campfire supplies are wet, but with a little extra thought beforehand, you will be able to build a quality fire.
First, you will need to find dry kindling and tinder. To do this, head out into the woods. You will have to go in a bit before you begin finding dry materials. Search for dry kindling, tinder, logs and even pine needles. As long as the pine needles are dry, you can add them to the fire. Be sure to move the needles around in the fire to ensure that your fire is still receiving enough oxygen. If you have charcloth or a torch lighter, you will find them helpful for starting the fire. Otherwise, try using the friction and oxygen method.
Pack a tarp with you in case of inclement weather. You can use it to hang over a spot where you will start your fire. Make sure that the tarp is high enough that it doesn’t run any risk of catching on fire from flames or sparks. To begin your campfire, place tinder below kindling in the fire pit. You should also surround the kindling with tinder. Next, light the tinder or, if you have a charcloth, place it on the kindling.
Charcloth can come in handy when trying to create a fire. Consider bringing it along with you on any camping trip. While it is not a necessary item for building a fire, it helps to get it started much easier by creating a strong flame. Build your fire up by adding larger pieces of kindling in the center of the fire. This will help it to stay strong. Continue to add dry sticks and logs as necessary. As long as you follow these guidelines, you can build a great fire and will not have to let rain ruin your camping trip.
