I love learning new bushcraft skills!
No matter how long I practice bushcraft, there is always so much more to learn. There are techniques aimed at specific environments, traditional knowledge from indigenous cultures, and new techniques that use modern materials. If you are thirsty for knowledge, learning bushcraft is like drinking from a fire hose!
The Cross Stick Fire
Not long ago, I came across a video that demonstrates how to make a cooking fire that is raised off the ground. It’s called the cross stick fire. The fire provides a raised cooking surface and insulates the fire from the cold, wet ground. The raised fire also takes advantage of convection to keep the fire burning hot.
I have not tried this technique. But I like the concept.
Trying a new skill is vital when learning bushcraft. You can read all the books in the world, but until you do the skill for yourself you won’t learn the subtle nuances that make it work.
You also won’t learn its drawbacks. For example, I worry that the raised fire in the video will eventually collapse as the fire eats through the bottom. Or perhaps the cordage that lashes the supports will fail as the fire descends through the stack of wood.
The only way to find out is to try it!
Here’s the video. Let me know what you think about it in the comments below. If you try this technique, I’d love to hear how it worked for you.
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I try many many times to make it work like this, there is no problem with the cord, if you Keep the main fire in the Center and it burns very Long before it breaks down, best way is to use beech wood for the frame and the layer outsite and fill the insite with pine wood, thanks for sharing, Taro
Taro, thank you for taking time to answer my questions about the fire. Your videos demonstrate useful techniques with clear explanations, and I enjoy watching them very much. Thank you for making these excellent videos and keep up the good work. Ciao! 🙂
What a great idea! In the infantry I used to build low mounds to keep my fires out of the wet and occasionally built small tables, piled then levelled dirt on them an built cooking fires on them. A whole lot of work. I will be using this trick the first chance I get.
David, I think it’s a clever idea too. Let me know how it works for you.