First Fire

Part of the Red Cliff Ascent Program is to create fire using a bow drill method. In order to complete our  internship period, we have to get 8 fires. After that we are expected to get at least four fires per shift. When we’ve reached 100 fires, we get our fire patch. Once we have the fire patch, we only have to bow coals, and we’re not obliged to blow the coal into flame. 

This last on-shift, we both got our first fires, and on the same day too!

This is my full fire stet.

The set includes the bow, cut from a juniper tree. There is also a palm rock, that I use for down pressure, on a spindle. Look for the small indentation in the center of the rock. I carved that out using a harder rock. The cluster next to my palm rock is called nesting, made from bark off of a juniper tree. After a coal is bowed, then  you place it in the nesting, and blow it into flame.

 Then there is a board, usually made of juniper tree root, or sage bush root. Mine was given to me, and I'm not sure what it's made of. The spindles are straight pieces of sage bush.

 Here I am, showing the bowing position. My left leg is an anchor for the fire board, as well as for my left hand. My gloved left hand is holding my palm rock, and is snug against my left leg so that I can get the maximum down pressure. My right leg is kneeling behind me. My right hand is bowing.