Building shelter?

[bushcraftboy]

I'm still a beginner, and I'm not very good at building shelters, so what would be the fastest, easiest, warmest shelter to build?

Preferably of the cold ground.

[Silverback]

I'm still a beginner, and I'm not very good at building shelters, so what would be the fastest, easiest, warmest shelter to build?

Preferably of the cold ground.

lean to type debris shelter with fire pit and heat reflector and build in a sleeping platform of logs and fir boughs

[Martin]

I'm still a beginner, and I'm not very good at building shelters, so what would be the fastest, easiest, warmest shelter to build?

Preferably of the cold ground.

A tent. :)

Martin

[bushcraftboy]

lean to type debris shelter with fire pit and heat reflector and build in a sleeping platform of logs and fir boughs

Any videos?


A tent. :)


Martin

I have a 2 man tent, but I mean't building shelter, when a tent is not at hand.

[Silverback]

A tent. :)

Martin

He he he he

[Silverback]

Any videos?



I have a 2 man tent, but I mean't building shelter, when a tent is not at hand.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud09whYb-fA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWf95ld6nz8&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHdOEVK6U6I

just a small sample of whats available on youtube hope its of use - I like Seans vids in particular

[bushcraftboy]

Thanks they were brilliant.

[RuralSurvival]

A tent. :)

Martin

You will never stop Martin using the trusty tent! :)

[jbrown14]

You will also never stop Martin answering with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek... :D

To attempt an answer: Debris Hut (http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/shelter/debrishut/ds2004/index.html). (follow the link)

Fast, simple, warm. Use a downed tree, uprooted root system and you've got 1/2 the work done.

[bushcraftboy]

You will also never stop Martin answering with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek... :D

To attempt an answer: Debris Hut (http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/shelter/debrishut/ds2004/index.html). (follow the link)

Fast, simple, warm. Use a downed tree, uprooted root system and you've got 1/2 the work done.

I'd prefer the shelter to be off the cold ground.

[Martin]

I'd prefer the shelter to be off the cold ground.

With tongue very firmly NOT in my cheek. That's why you build up an insulating layer of dry material between you and the ground. If you haven't taken a roll mat or such like with you then use bracken, leaves, spruce boughs covered with leaves etc etc etc. Build up a good layer, say 6" thick, and lie on top of it. It will keep you off the ground and stop your body heat being lost to the ground.

Martin

[bushcraftboy]

With tongue very firmly NOT in my cheek. That's why you build up an insulating layer of dry material between you and the ground. If you haven't taken a roll mat or such like with you then use bracken, leaves, spruce boughs covered with leaves etc etc etc. Build up a good layer, say 6" thick, and lie on top of it. It will keep you off the ground and stop your body heat being lost to the ground.

Martin

I have decent knowledge with trees but I always cannot find spruce, what do they looks like, they are just like pine.

[jbrown14]

You do know I was referring to your "tent" answer, right, Martin? :D

With regard to your concern about the shelter being off the cold ground: as Martin says, building up an insulating layer of spruce or fir boughs for a bed to lay on is a great way to keep warm.

Spruce needles are short, usually about 1/2" to 3/4" long, are approximately square in cross section, and usually surround the branch. Fir needles are flatter in cross section, and form flatter groups on either side of the branch. Pine trees have longer needles, usually around 3-4" long and sprout in something like tufts.

Fir needles are usually softer than Spruce, and Pine needles are not distributed thickly enough on the branches to make them useful for a bed. Spruce needles are more dense, though, and quickly fill out a bed. Not too prickly. :)

I have raked together beds of dead White Pine needles from the forest floor to make a mattress 4-6" thick under my tarp shelter. Super comfortable, very warm insulation from the ground, and even kept me dry, allowing a small rivulet of rain run-off to run right under my bed.

[bushcraftboy]

I just finished building my A frame debris hut, the first one I've ever tried to make, I didn't have any pine or spruce or fir, so I used ostritch fern and some sort of willow, which I also used the bark to tie the shelter to make it more secure, I will get a picture in a bit.

[Edwin]

Debris Hut (http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/shelter/debrishut/ds2004/index.html). (follow the link)

Fast, simple, warm. Use a downed tree, uprooted root system and you've got 1/2 the work done.[/QUOTE]

I have read that one should be wary of downed trees it is suggested that a tree could right itself if top branches/trunk break or are cut off. Don't know if this is true but certainly a fresh fallen tree in particular may well settle if stuff it has squashed compresses some more, for example.

[Martin]

You do know I was referring to your "tent" answer, right, Martin? :D



Yes mate, no problem at all. ;)

Martin

[bushcraftboy]

I can't find my EOS DSLR charger, and it's dead :(

Anyway I will use my phone to take a picture of my A-frame debris hut.