In July 2004, while backpacking a section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), I ran into a patch of really nasty weather and bivouacked a night on Lodge Lake (47.408457 N, 121.430168 W), just south of Snoqualmie Summit. I was out of gas for cooking and was soaked to the bone from a torrential downpour that had blown in from Puget Sound. Getting a fire going quickly was imperative. However, everything in the vicinity was soaked and I had virtually nothing available that would do more than pathetically produce smoke. Ultimately, I was forced to shred the footprint for my Kelty Raptor tent to get a fire going. While it was a real bummer to loose part of the tent, I was grateful for the added warmth in what turned out to be a very cold and wet night. This experience taught me to always carry the essentials for getting a fire going. This is especially important in places like the Pacific Northwest where heavy rainfall can limit fuel sources. I’ve found that dryer lint is one of the more effective items to carry. It’s light weight and burns extremely well. I’ve also just recently been introduced to Eco-Friendly Fire Starters made by a company called TerraCycle. For hikers, bikers, campers, and general outdoor enthusiasts who subscribe strictly to Leave No Trace (LNT) principles (and all of you should), this is a product and company you’ll be keenly interested in.

Here's a unique freebie, linking hiking and recycling. A company called Terracycle has taken on the challenging problem of how to recycle the non-recyclable waste which any hiker generates. Examples: juice boxes, Neosporin tubes, and my personal favorite: energy bar wrappers. I don't know about you, but I feel a little twinge of guilt when I come back from a hiking trip and throw all of my foil lined pouches and wrappers into the garbage can. Living in Seattle, a city which takes recycling VERY seriously, it's a shame to have to throw away anything. Now there's a solution, regardless of where you live! It's called the Terracycle's Energy Bar Wrapper Brigade.