>>678289The dark greens are to keep the tinder (can't see under the twig tepee) off the snow.
Had a small handful of dead pine needles and a few small twigs underneath. When I grabbed my flare, the other guys just built the bigger tepee since even the flare alone could probably get those started.
I think it took me longer to hike to my sled, dig through my pack to grab a flare, and hike back to where we had the wood set up than it took me to get a fire going with it.
Some people like the challenge of starting a fire rubbing sticks together or with a small spark from firesteel. I'd rather get shit done and have fire than fuck around for an hour or two with other methods, especially in the winter. Hence the flares, gasoline, etc.
