Splitting your firewood is the only feasible way to expose the dry heartwood of the 12" sticks you have cut. Even in good weather, you'll need to split larger diameter wood to appropriately build small cooking fires. The best tool we've found for canoe trips is the durable Lexan Handle Gerber Hatchet. Specs: only 1 1/2 lbs, the sturdy 14" handle is molded tightly around the precision forged carbon steel blade. Comes with a quality nylon sheath.