How Would You Make A Shelter?

[Thumper]

How would you make a shelter if you were out in the wilderness and didn't have anything to use? Would you gather limbs and make a lean to? Or would you search for a cave. It would be hard to do without anything on you.

[Michael]

In my area, I'd definitely use limbs.

If you really have nothing on you, it's simple enough to make what I've heard called a junk shelter. You lay down a thick mat of leaves and pine needles and the like to insulate you from the ground. Then you put a basic frame over you and put more of the same on that.

If it's cold, you can pile branches with leaves on them over you to use as a makeshift blanket. I can't imagine that spending the night doing that would be the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's better than freezing.

If there's snow, dig what amounts to a coffin in the snow, down to dirt if you can. Then put a nice, thick layer of pine branches down; it needs to be thick enough that if the snow melts under you, you don't get soaked. Then lay a framework of branches over the top, and layer that with more pine branches. Snow is actually an excellent insulator, so the space should warm up pretty nicely if you've cover the top well enough.

[hummingbird]

Sounds good Michael! I was thinking along the same lines. If there would be any way to tear branches from trees that would help. Or you could take a rock and batter the branches from the tree if need be. Then make a lean to with leaves and needles from pines as bedding.

[northernbushape]

For me it would depend on the time of year, weather conditions, availability of resources, time-to-nightfall, and terrain.

The most effective quick shelter is a simple debris or tree bough hut. I can almost certainly say that my first night or 2 would be in this style of shelter while I assessed and possibly built something larger if I felt I needed to stay put for more than a few days.

That being said, I cannot imagine being caught in the wilderness with nothing unless I were fortunate enough to survive a commercial flight that crashed. If it were unsafe to remain with the wreckage then I could see having nothing, but otherwise the very least I would have on me at all times is a good knife and a fire steel. the rest i can make on the go if I need to.

This topic is why it is so important to learn wilderness survival skills if you plan on traveling through wilderness areas. Even a car breaking down in the middle of the night on a frozen, remote highway can become a tomb if no proper knowledge is possessed. Something as simple as a gas lantern in your vehicle can provide both warmth and light, and make it easier for others to spot you. Just make sure you crack a window to let oxygen into the vehicle and to vent carbon monoxide.

Caves are tough to find around here so I would not waste any time trying to find one. I would also not shelter under a large boulder unless it were for a single night and only a small fire was used. The heat from a fire can cause the rock to expand and crack, and even break off. You run the risk of being crushed by your own shelter.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by northernbushape

That being said, I cannot imagine being caught in the wilderness with nothing unless I were fortunate enough to survive a commercial flight that crashed. If it were unsafe to remain with the wreckage then I could see having nothing, but otherwise the very least I would have on me at all times is a good knife and a fire steel. the rest i can make on the go if I need to.

I'm in a similar boat, actually. In my pockets, I have an LED flash light, a pocket knife, a lighter, fire steel, and a few other useful items. If I have my backpack with me -- which I generally do -- I have a fixed blade knife, another flash light, backup batteries, a rain poncho, an emergency blanket, and a bunch more.

[SAR Guy]

Originally Posted by northernbushape

the very least I would have on me at all times is a good knife and a fire steel. the rest i can make on the go if I need to.

Nuf Said....

[Mountainman]

One of the easiest shelters to build is with a piece of tarp or parachute canopy. Nothing fancy, just set up between a few trees close enough together to run some cord to hold it in place. Don't worry about grommets holes or cutting slits, just use a small rock to wrap the material around and use a slip knot over it. Get down to bare earth or as close as possible, especially during snowy conditions and make a bough bed to help keep warm. Some other ideas are here - EMERGENCY SHELTER and some more ideas are at - Wilderness Survival: Shelters - Types of Shelters

[paloma]

Of course the men would know what to do in that case. But if it were me, I'd be shivering with cold and fright trying to sleep under a tree.

[sh4d0wm4573ri7]

Most any area i venture into has plenty of material supplied by nature to easily construct a decent shelter (warm,dry), without tools or cordage just takes time

[sh4d0wm4573ri7]

like this:
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No tools required