Exposed: The dangerous fallacy about starting a fire with ice in survival situations

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👉 The key facts from this guide

In the wilderness, starting a fire can mean the difference between life and death.

Fire provides warmth, allows for cooking food, keeps wild animals away, and can serve as a signal in emergencies.

There are numerous methods to make fire, but not all of them are as practical as they might initially seem.

One such method is making fire with ice, which is often mentioned in survival books and films.

But how realistic is this technique really? Let's take a closer look.

The theory behind the myth

The idea comes from movies like "The Edge", where a clear ice lens focuses the sunlight and thus ignites a fire.

Sounds great, doesn't it? A lens made of ice theoretically works like a magnifying glass, focusing light.

Can I make fire with an ice ball like with a lens?

Yes, it is possible to make fire with a ball of ice, similar to using a lens. However, this requires some extremely specific conditions and careful preparation.

Basics of Light Bundling

To understand how an ice sphere can ignite a fire, we need to consider the principles of light focusing through lenses. The shape of the lens must be designed to focus the light. Typically, this is a convex shape (thicker in the middle than at the edge).

The lens then focuses light rays into a focal point, thereby increasing the energy density of the light at that point. This increased energy density can generate enough heat to ignite flammable material, such as tinder.

Try it out: Experimental Procedure

Here is the complete guide:

1. Making the Ice Sphere
   • A clear ice block is needed.
   • Using tools like a scraper or knife, the block is shaped into a spherical structure.
   • The surface must be smoothly polished to ensure maximum transparency and efficiency in light focusing.
2. Positioning:
   • The ice sphere is positioned to capture direct sunlight.
   • A flammable material (e.g., dry grass) is placed behind the focal point.
3. Adjusting the Focal Point
   • The distance between the ice sphere and the flammable material is adjusted until a small bright spot appears on the material.
   • This spot is the focal point where the sun's rays are concentrated.
4. Ignition
   • With sufficient sunlight, a clear lens, and correct adjustment, the flammable material will start to smoke and eventually ignite.

Sounds simple at first, right?

The harsh reality: Making fire with an ice lens is almost impossible

Now comes the "but", because in practice, unfortunately, this is almost impossible.

Here are the 3 reasons why making fire with ice is barely applicable:

You see, the requirements are high, very high, and surely, there are methods that are easier.

Practical Alternatives to Making Fire with an Ice Lens

Instead of relying on this extremely insecure method, use other techniques:

Practical alternatives to making fire with an ice lens

Instead of relying on the extremely unreliable method of the ice lens, there are other techniques you can use in the wilderness without modern tools:

Friction creates fire: The fire drill

One of the oldest and most reliable methods is the fire drill. You will need:

• A straight, dry stick as a drill
• A flat piece of dry wood as a base
• A piece of string or a flexible branch to turn the drill
• Dry tinder

Instructions:

1. Cut a small notch in the baseboard.
2. Place the drill in the notch and wrap the cord around the top part.
3. Move the cord quickly back and forth to spin the drill and create friction.
4. When embers form, carefully transfer them to the tinder.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun: The Water Lens

On sunny days, you can make an improvised magnifying glass:

• Fill a transparent plastic wrap or bag with water.
• Shape it into a spherical lens.
• Focus the sunlight through the water lens onto dry tinder.

This method requires a lot of patience and optimal sun conditions.

Flint and Steel: The Classic Method

If you are lucky, you will find a hard flint in nature:

• Strike the flint against a hard piece of carbon-rich metal (e.g., an old knife or a file).
• Catch the resulting sparks with fine, dry tinder.
• Blow gently to ignite the ember.

This method requires practice and the right materials.

The Fire Plow: Another Friction Method

For the fire plow you need:

• A soft wooden board with a groove
• A hard wooden stick

Instructions:

1. Rub the hard stick quickly in the groove of the soft board.
2. The resulting friction heat generates fine wood dust that can ignite.
3. Transfer the ember to prepared tinder.

Important tips to avoid being without fire

Here are a few tips to make your life outdoors easier:

Pack multiple types of fire starters:

• Lighter: Simple, reliable, and always with you. Pack it waterproof.
• Fire steel: Even if it gets wet, it works. Super reliable and always worth a spark.
• Matches: Waterproof matches or ones in a waterproof container. Light and compact.

Take care of your environment:

• Dry Tinder: Birch bark, fatwood, charred cotton or dry grass are great. In my guide "Collecting and Making Tinder to Start a Fire" you will learn how to collect and make tinder. There are over 20 examples, like birch, fatwood, and tinder fungus that will make your life in the wilderness easier.
• Wind Protection: Protect your fire from wind with stones or an improvised windbreak.
• Build Gradually: Start with small twigs and work your way up to larger pieces of wood.

Errors and Myths about Fire Making

There are many myths and mistakes that can mislead you:

• Wrong tinder: Not every tinder is suitable. Fresh leaves or grass do not ignite.
• Myth of striking stones: Often in movies, it looks easy to make fire with two stones. This is not possible in reality. Flint stones are used because of their hardness to chip off sparks from iron-containing materials, which then ignite.
• Friction does not immediately produce flames. Initially, only embers are created, which must be carefully transferred to tinder.

Preparation and Equipment

Being well-prepared is the be-all and end-all:

• Paracord: Versatile and robust. Perfect for all sorts of things, including as a cord for a fire drill.
• Multiple lighters: Distribute them in different places in your gear.
• Fire steel and tinder: A small kit with fire steel and prepared tinder is worth its weight in gold. In my guide "How to quickly and easily start a fire with fire steel" there's a great tutorial on how to quickly and easily start a fire with fire steel.

Conclusion: Making fire with ice is almost impossible - Preparation is everything

Making a fire with ice may sound exciting and looks impressive in movies, but in reality, it is hardly practical.

Even without modern tools, it is possible to make a fire in the wilderness. However, it requires knowledge, practice, and often a considerable amount of patience.

Rely on proven methods like lighter, fire steel, and waterproof matches.

Never forget that nature can be both a friend and a challenge. Good preparation and respect for the forces of nature are your best allies in any survival situation.

Always be well-equipped and practice regularly to be prepared in case of an emergency.

Stay warm and safe out there!