Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

[Huw Powell]

>     Anyone remember the proper title and the Author?

it is a short story, called "To Build a Fire" by Jack London.  A 3
second search on amazon.com will find you various compilations that
include it.

> > >Now that was a good story, Huw! I've never heard anyone mention it, but
> have
> > >thought about it now and then when stranded in the bush by broken down
> > >snowmobiles or other misfortunes. I've never built a fire under a tree
> since
> > >reading that cautionary tale as a pre-adolescent youth!
> > >Obviously you are a well read fellow....
> >
> > Didn't ALL us more mature folks read that story in our youth?  I recall it
> > being something I read in association with school.

5th grade for me, yup.

> > I generally don't build fires

I do... in fact my brother and I became adept at removing unwanted
objects from Exeter's scenery by rapid oxidation.  The best one was a
hollow tree fifteen feet tall at the edge of the frozen river.  Winter
is the best time to play this game for many reasons, one which may not
be immediately obvious is the ready availability of extinguishing
materials (snow).

> > but I've thought
> > about that tale every time I've driven in a snowstorm.

Wool blankets and a new container of unsalted nuts should be checked
every fall as part of the winterization process of the vehicle...
there, we've got Audi content!

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/