shelters

[rg1984]

Hi there,
Could anyone help me with advice about shelter building? Im going to the forest on sat and would really like to build a shelter to sleep in overnight. Are there any good links so I can do a bit of research before I set off? I've looked in my ray mears book and think the dome shaped one is probably best? Are they easy to setup and can you just pile leaves on if ferns are unavailable?

 

[RobertRogers]

You could make a debris hut.

Here is one made in the summer

and another one made in the winter

 

[hanzo]

I would have thought that the debris layer would be thicker, especially for the winter one.

 

[mace242]

One thing I learned on a recent course is that the payback isn't worth it. I takes a long time to build a debris shelter espescially if you need it waterproof, which will require a significant, a foot or more, depth of debris.

Also continued use of debris shelters is not said to be too good to the forest environment unless you are very carefull to scatter the debris after you have used the shelter and leaf litter debris is a limited resource too.

It's a good thing to do once, as I have done, and usefull in a survival situation where you have no other option. But in terms of time to make and do and effort that you will use I'd say you're better off with a hammock/bivi and tarp or even a tent.

Just my 2p worth,

Tim

 

[Bozle]

Hanzo
Yeah it does seem a bit thin.
The small air space around him and all the snow must go quite a long way in terms of insulation and would seal off heat robbing drafts much more effectively than a loose leaf layer.

RG
A few key bits of information I keep in mind when building;
Ground insulation is the key- no prob if you've got a carry mat.
Solid wood will stop rain much more effectively than leaves- remembering my geography lectures- more rain arrives on the ground by stemflow than leafsplatter.
Allow two hours or so for a nice warm one with several feet of leaves all around- leaves being easier to collect and nicer to sleep in than ferns.
The benefits to being able to heat the shelter ihmo cannot be underestimated in terms of warmth and effort of construction.

Also I find the shape, size and quality of the wood available is the deciding factor for the shelter type.

Best of luck, hope you have a blast.

 

[unused[nl]]

Good explanation, isn't the second shelter the same as those army guys had to builld in one of the episodes of Ray Mears Bushcraft?

 

[michiel]

Jep. In military survalal. I think it's in the extreme survival series.

Michiel

 

[Nigel]

Hi rg

If you are only planning to stay one night in your shelter then the quickest and easiest is probably the single A frame and ridge pole. The ridge pole sits in one end of the A frame and the other end rests on the floor, instead of having a second A frame. It is thatched the same as all natural shelters but with the addition of a foil blanket you have the advantage of a waterproof barrier and a reflector to keep you warm. You should be able to construct this type of shelter in no time at all and with the foil blanket you can reduce the amount of thatching.

 

[loz.]

Good explanation, isn't the second shelter the same as those army guys had to builld in one of the episodes of Ray Mears Bushcraft?

Think they were RAF

 

[rg1984]

Thanks everyone for the replies and sound advice. I'll keep it all in mind for sat. Happy bushcrafting to you all!

Ross

 

[unused[nl]]

@Nigel

That's the same as the 2nd debris hut shown by RobertRogers isn't it?

 

[Nigel]

Hi Unused

It’s similar, but you just thatch the front and only one side.

Nigel

 

[unused[nl]]

Ah ok Thought RobertRogers was doing the same, need to pay more attention

 

[Biddlesby]

How about taking a few small plastic sheets with you and build a bender with willow or hazel dome? You can have one side open and a fire going. With this and it being summer I would doubt you would need any insulation.

 

[woodstock]

Hi there,
Could anyone help me with advice about shelter building? Im going to the forest on sat and would really like to build a shelter to sleep in overnight. Are there any good links so I can do a bit of research before I set off? I've looked in my ray mears book and think the dome shaped one is probably best? Are they easy to setup and can you just pile leaves on if ferns are unavailable?

If your in a forest then a lean to is your best bet as it is quick and easy to assemble and if its only for overnight a tarp and bivvi bag would be the answer

 

[RobertRogers]

mace242 - in regards to the winter debris hut, if the weather is brutally cold and you have to spend the night in the forest you may have no real choice but to build such a shelter even if it takes a couple of hours.

 

[w00dsmoke]

With this and it being summer I would doubt you would need any insulation.

Insulation is a must all year round my friend. Even in the hottest night of summer you will feel cold and or damp and very uncomfortable lying straight onto the ground.

 

[Biddlesby]

Yes you are right, i meant no insulation additional to clothes on top rather than below.

 

[hanzo]

Depending on the level of creepy crawlies, it might be a good idea to be off the ground. If that is the case, a debris hut probably wouldn't work too well.

 

[RobertRogers]

Yes, there are alot of variables involved. In the winter there are probably few creepy crawlies.

Of course for the winter debris hut, the more snow insulation on top the better. But you need to bear in mind that there is often a limit to the amount of snow you can readily gather. If the snow ground cover is 6 or 8 feet deep then there is little problem in getting several feet of snow on top of the shelter. When this shelter was built the snow cover was only half a foot or so, and it took a great deal of effort to gather the amount you see.

What I am saying is that every situation is different and you can only use what is available. In a survival situation you will rarely have a text-book situation with all the time in the world to create something.

If I had to stay out over night in the winter I would much rather be in that debris hut than none at all!