Ed, wish I could take your wilderness course, though it is not likely for me to manage that. As the title of this thread indicates, I've tinkered and learned while doing but like all self taught people, we never know what we don't know!
Of more value than my pics of cutting up fatwood is your field instruction on how to find such wood in the wilderness and how to use it there.
We got a fresh tracking snow within the past two hours and if it doesn't melt, I might be tempted to get off of my couch and venture out tomorrow. If so, hope to survive enough to return alive!
Best of the New Year to all on the Backpack Forum!
