~Dakota Fire Pit~

If you are camping or stuck in the middle of the wilderness, a great way to stay warm with less wood is to make a Dakota fire pit.  This is also a great way to have a fire and not give away your position, if you are in a hostile survival situation. 

Steps

1. Start by digging 2 holes about 9 inches in diameter about 9 inches away from each other. After you are about 12 inches down, connect the holes to create a tunnel with the top of the holes being the entrances.
2. At this point, you should have a tunnel in the shape of a "U". At the bottom of one of the original tunnels, light a fire like you would a regular campfire.

You are now the proud owner of a Dakota fire pit!

Tips

• Even though you expend a lot of time and energy making this, it is definitely worth it. Its design combats heat loss into the air, giving you more warmth with less wood used. This way, you can focus on more important tasks than collecting and chopping firewood.
• Additionally, since the fire is in a pit, it throws less light. This makes it harder to see your fire from far away,which is invaluable in a hostile situation.

Warnings

• Always be careful, safe, and responsible with fire. And make sure to obey any fire bans or restrictions in your area.

Things You'll Need

• Wood
• Shovel / Some type of digging tool
• Tinder
• Ignition source (lighter, fire stick, matches, etc)