Dakota Fire Pit: A Great Start to Surviving the Wilderness
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It’s a simple technique that’s been around since before the first Americans pioneered into the West – yet it’s taken its name for being resistant against the gusting winds found coursing over the plains. The Dakota fire pit is an ingenious way to both get a fire started and to keep it burning no matter what gets thrown your way. This video demonstrates the basics of how to construct a Dakota fire pit. Simply put, dig two holes and connect them at the base. The first chamber will be where air flows in and fuels your fire while the second is where you can develop those long lasting coals great for staying warm, cooking food, and purifying water.
One Survival Fire Pit That’s Great for Multiple Uses
Fire is an essential survival tool. While we can’t always anticipate when we’ll need to use it, it’s good to know that even in the blustery cold and blowing wind there’s still a way to construct a fire pit that doesn’t kick off a bunch of smoke. In a previous article, we discussed constructing a smokeless above ground fire. It entailed feeding a small, controlled fire with small sticks and twigs – keeping it hot enough to burn up available energy without kicking off smoke.That technique is great for small scale fires needed to fashion tools, cook a quick meal, or simply stay warm. A Dakota fire pit is what’s necessary when you may need a fire for an indeterminate amount of time. Easy to set up, the pit structure is perfect for resting pots and pans over top.
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Skills that are necessary to truly set up a Dakota fire pit with only items you find around you:
It can even be modified to heat a make-shift shelter or just be protected from the rain with a makeshift flap. Coals kept inside of it can be stored overnight and used to heat
It can even be modified to heat a make-shift shelter or just be protected from the rain with a makeshift flap. Coals kept inside of it can be stored overnight and used to heat rocks for portable warmth. Additionally, it’s much easier to control to keep from accidentally having the fire spread.
The Dakota Fire Pit Keeps Survival Well in Reach
No matter if it’s simply a camping expedition or an emergency situation, the Dakota fire pit is the one basic setup from which life is possible. Because of its unique properties, it’s easy to cook over – enabling the rapid purification of water. With the mastery of fire starting techniques such as the wood bow method and flint and steel – even the most desolate regions of North America can be made habitable. Most importantly, the Dakota fire pit transitions well into medium and long-term survival living situations where help is not necessarily anticipated.
The biggest threat in the wilderness is running out of energy. In order to stay alive, the human body needs to convert chemical energy into heat. Dehydration, a lack of food, and cold temperatures all seek to prevent that state of living. That is why the Dakota fire pit is such a fundamental idea to master. It can be dug with sticks or with rudimentary tools just as easily as it can be made with shovels and a pickax. Once started, it’s easily fed and it doesn’t give away a person’s position due to the smoke which usually accompanies a traditional camp fire. And most importantly, it can easily be put out by simply caving in the walls.
Simple Add-Ons to Make Living Easy
Using some Y-shaped branches, it’s a rudimentary matter to emplace supports for a spit or a kettle hang to get food hot and bring water to a boil. The Dakota fire pit doesn’t have to be watched as rigorously as an above ground fire, so it can be left running with little supervision. Strong gusts of wind may knock over your cooking kit but more than likely they’ll only give added air to your in-ground fire pit – making the coals burn hotter.
Of course it’s always handy if you have these basic survival items on your person. And we’ll list them out for your consideration should you like to plan for those sorts of situations:
• Cutting tool – ideally a knife
• Combustion device – matches, wax or lanolin soaked cotton balls, magnesium strip
• Cover – something as simple as an 8 x 10 ft tarp can do
• Container – preferably metal because it may need to be heated
• Cordage – anything from string to fishing line to military cord
With these five basic tools, you can begin to make full use of the Dakota fire pit for survival. Without them, it’s going to be a long – but completely possible – road to living. All of those Top 5 pieces in your kit, however, can go a long way to making your Dakota fire pit as useful as possible. Next check out how to make a smokeless fire.
