They did this on Mythbusters once. They made a lens out of ice and tried to ignite some paper. They were able to consistently get smoke, but the problem is the ice is melting from the process and drips onto the paper as it shrinks and obstructs the production of fire. However, they were able to make a fire when they used an orb of ice about the size of a soccer ball.

Perhaps the lens would work if the temperatures were around the freezing mark as it may keep the ice intact long enough, but would the winter sun be strong enough?

[edit on 19-1-2010 by Kratos1220]

Would it be possible once the ice has been shaped to have some sort of metallic object holding it in place while mounted into the ground? Since the less you would touch the ice, the less it would melt, it would seem that having it mounted on perhaps a miniature version of a tomato cage would do the trick.

Cool idea, nonetheless, and I'm sure someone here could work out a perfected way of using this.

I have seen this done after forming the lens you can't touch it it need to be picked up with a stick, or the likes... I personally saw a multi-tool used and it worked fine, the tender you use is the trick, we used char cloth.

Very much possible. Makes me wonder if you could do the same with a breast implant? "honey, I need to remove one of your Fakieboobs or we'll freeze to death!"

The polished bottom of a coke can works as well.

I wonder if people have actually frozen to death with a camera or pair of binoculars on them.