I don't have any and I'm looking for an alternativeAny recommendations?
Wet wood won't burn that is true so the key is finding the driest wood possibledead fall on the ground is the most common thing to look for first however that is usually also wetThe trick is to look up, yes dead fall comes from dead branches on the tree this wood will be dry and ready to burnUse some of that dead fall on the ground to knock it out of the tree and your set.
If you are going into an area during the winter where you know wood will be wet, a machete may be the answerA machete is highly efficient tool for stripping wet bark off wood, skinning the wet outer layer off a piece of wood, or spitting sticks to expose the dry inner woodA lot of your problem may be the selection process, go out a little further from camp in your searchWhen I decide to have a campfire, I look for an easy source of good wood and camp there, not camp and then look for woodShort answer: Camp somewhere elseAdded later: Cutting down standing trees, even if they are dead, breaking or cutting branches off a tree, even if they are dead will get you in serious troubleIt is not allowed at any time under any conditions on any federal property without a special permit only issued after reviewOn National Forest, National Parks, B.L.Mproperties, and Wilderness areas it is an offense for which you can be citedPretty sure the same thing goes for any State Parks or properties.
You can definitely start and maintain fires with wet woodHowever, it is not always an easy taskAs someone stated previously, the best way to start the fire is using your knife and shaving down each piece of kindling to the inner, dry woodUse your top lip to feel for moisture as you shave it down (your top lip is super sensitive to moisture)So, you will need to shave down both your kindling and your squaw wood (squaw is the wood that is about the diameter of your thumb)Have all of your materials ready before attempting to start the fireUse the tipi method to start your kindling and once it is started use the log cabin method to quickly begin to dry your other woodYou literally build a log cabin around the fireThis dries the wood quickly so that once you get the kindling going you will not have a problem with trying to burn wet wood because it will be dry woodYou do not have to have any type of fire starter and you get more street credin the backcountry.
It's NOT POSSABLE TO KEEP A FIRE GOING WITH WET OR DAMP WOOD! As it drys steam will be released puting the fire out! All BBQ lighter fuel Or alcohol will do is to give you a few minutes of blaze +a little heat then its back to your damp wood! Cutting the bark away will not help ether! You need to seek out dry wood or carry a good sleeping bog and warm clothing!
If you can find tin foilAluminum foil is much more common and works fineYou may have to fold so it is 2 or 4 layers thick to make it stiff enough to span the wire grid in the oven.
