Final answer:
Bringing careful attention to the seriousness of his cold environment, Brian attempts to build a fire by lighting birch bark with a match and feeding the flame with dry grasses and tiny twigs. This act is a battle against freezing temperatures, numb fingers, and the urgency for warmth in the life-threatening cold.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brian tries to start the first fire with great care in order to avoid failure, as he is keenly aware that at seventy-five degrees below zero, with wet feet, success is critical. He first creates a foundation on the snow to prevent the flame from being extinguished by the melting snow. Then, he ignites the fire using a match to light birch bark, adding dry grasses and tiny twigs to the young flame. Despite the challenges of his numbing fingers, he methodically feeds the fire, recognizing that it meant life, and it must not perish. Unfortunately, his attempt fails when he inadvertently causes an avalanche of snow to fall from a tree, extinguishing the flames.