The concept of being a “survivor” has fascinated numerous television viewers. However, a survivor encompasses more than just a fictional figure on TV. A survivor is an individual who is ready to adapt and maintain a healthy lifestyle when faced with unexpected situations in an unfamiliar environment.
In order to be prepared for survival in the outdoors, it is important to understand the potential challenges you may face. While it is possible to go without water for several days and without food for weeks, the main cause of death in outdoor survival situations is usually the loss of body heat, rather than hunger or thirst. It is crucial to know how to start a fire and, most importantly, how to construct a shelter that can protect you from harsh weather conditions and help retain your body heat.
Here is a list of instructions on how to seek shelter in the wilderness.
DRESS WISELY
The initial line of protection against the weather relies on the clothing or “shelter” you decide to put on. By wearing multiple layers of synthetic fabric or wool, and having a windproof and waterproof outer shell, you will be well-prepared for any circumstances. This allows you to retain your body heat instead of wasting it on the external environment.
THE RIGHT SPOT
Selecting the ideal location for constructing a survival shelter is crucial. It is optimal to locate it in an area that is as dry as possible, as moisture tends to deplete body heat rapidly. In case the weather isn’t excessively cold, it is advisable to build the shelter on elevated ground. The presence of breezes will deter insects, and it will also enhance visibility if a search team happens to pass by. However, in the event of a chilly wind, prefer a spot that is protected by trees. Nevertheless, avoid building the shelter in the base of deep valleys or ravines as cold air accumulates there during the night.
When thinking step by step, select a location for your wilderness shelter that is:
- Dry
- Flat
- Not right next to a body of water.
- Not underneath any cliffs, falling rocks, or dead limbs which could fall on you
- Is readily visible or very well hidden (depending on whether you want to be found or not)
- Have a good place for a fire right in front of the doorway
Let’s discuss the importance of selecting a level ground for your shelter. It serves a purpose beyond just providing comfort!
If your shelter is located on a slope and rain begins to fall, it is possible for rainwater to enter your shelter.
If you are unable to find a level surface for constructing your shelter and there is a high chance of rain, it will be necessary for you to dig trenches in order to redirect the water away from your shelter.
THE COCOON
If it is nearly dark and you are able to quickly gather dry debris (such as leaves, pine needles, and bark) from the ground of the forest, construct a pile that is two or three feet high and longer than your height. By burrowing into this pile, you will find yourself enclosed in a natural sleeping bag that guards against losing heat.
THE FALLEN TREE
To maintain the same meaning, the text can be rephrased step by step as follows: 1. The most basic form of shelter involves finding a fallen tree with sufficient space underneath for crawling inside. 2. Place leaned branches against the windward side of the tree, ensuring that the wind blows into it rather than against it, in order to construct a wall. 3. Make the wall thick enough to prevent the wind from entering. 4. If possible, construct your shelter in a way that allows you to build a fire on the uncovered side, as the heat generated will aid in keeping you warm.
THE LEAN-TO
If you come across a fallen tree, rock, or small overhang but don’t have enough space underneath it, you can construct a basic lean-to. First, prop fallen branches against the object, like the upper edge of the overhang, to form a wall. Angle the branches to provide some protection from rain. Use leaves, boughs, pine needles, bark, or other materials from the forest to cover the leaning branches. Once you have formed a solid wall, you can crawl inside the shelter. Remember to make the shelter just big enough to accommodate yourself and anyone else present. The larger the space, the more difficult it becomes to retain warmth.
To build a lean-to, start by placing one end of a long stick on a low tree limb and supporting the other end with two additional sticks. Connect the ends of the sticks using boot laces or a belt. Lean more sticks against the horizontal stick. Next, stack leaves and other forest materials against the leaning sticks to create a wall. Finally, starting a fire on the open side of the lean-to will provide warmth to the enclosed space.
THE A-FRAME
If you are unable to construct a lean-to, an alternative is to create an A-frame shelter. This requires two sticks that are approximately four or five feet in length, along with one stick that is 10 to 12 feet long. Begin by positioning the two shorter sticks in the shape of the letter A. Place the longer stick at the top of the A structure. Secure the three sticks together at their meeting points using a tie. The resulting formation will resemble that of an A-frame tent, with one end pressed against the ground. Proceed to prop up additional sticks against the longer stick and pile forest debris against the sticks until you have an open and insulated shelter at the higher end.
A TARP
To construct an emergency tent, start by tying a line between two trees using a tarp, sheet of plastic, or Space Blanket and some rope or cord. The line should be tied low to the ground, allowing enough space for you to lie beneath. Stretch the tarp over the line and secure it in place by placing large rocks or logs on the ends, ensuring the edges are close to the ground. In snowy conditions, tie the line off higher on the trees to create steeper walls, which will effectively shed snow.
YOUR BED
You must not consider your shelter as finished until you have created a bed to rest in. Dry leaves prove to be a suitable option. Ensure that your bed surpasses the dimensions covered by your body and is at least eight inches in thickness. Once you cozy up in it, you will be prepared for an unplanned night outdoors.
Other Types of Shelter Depending on Your Need
Tarp Teepee with Poles
To create a sturdy teepee structure, gather long branches and prop them together, but keep in mind that this process may appear easier than it actually is, so practice beforehand.
Wrap your tarp around the poles first. In case of rain, a small amount of rain may come through the opening where the poles intersect. To address this issue, you can place an additional tarp or poncho over the top. Alternatively, you can enlarge the opening and even have a fire inside your teepee.
Tarp Teepee (no poles)
To create a teepee, start by folding your tarp into a triangular form. Place a rock at the tip of the triangle within the tarp. Proceed to fasten the stone securely by using cordage. Afterwards, suspend this cordage from a tree. Finally, secure the lower part of the tarp with rocks to complete the teepee.
Snow Shelter
In a situation where you are outdoors in snowy conditions, what actions should you take in case of an emergency?
If you have an emergency shovel, you can make this survival shelter very quickly, considering that it will be too cold to spend a significant amount of time on it.
1. Find a tree and position a branch leaning against the trunk with a 45-degree angle. 2. Clear the snow to create a barrier. 3. Position another branch to offer support for your tarp. 4. Lastly, cover the branches with a tarp.
To maintain warmth inside this survival shelter, you can line it with pine needles and brush, which will serve as insulation.
Hammock Survival Shelter
In certain situations, particularly in jungles with insects and animals, it may be necessary to have your survival shelter elevated from the ground.
This survival shelter design, which is a slight modification of the tarp tent, is ideal for that purpose. It involves suspending the survival hammock above the ground and utilizing your spare clothing to enhance insulation.
One advantage is
Off the ground
Debris Tipi Shelter (Teepee)
You are likely aware of this shelter design, and perhaps you have even created some (I remember making them in my childhood). Constructing these is fairly straightforward, but having an abundance of lengthy branches is essential.
The tipi shelter is relatively unstable during high winds due to its tall and vertical shape, which is another drawback. Additionally, its size prevents it from effectively retaining body heat compared to a smaller brush shelter.
The process of constructing the shelter:
- Find three long branches that are relatively the same length. Prop these up to make a tripod frame. This can be somewhat difficult to do without a rope. Alternatively, you can prop the branches against a tree to make a modified tipi shelter.
- Add more long branches to the tripod you built. The more branches you build, the sturdier the frame will be. Remember to leave a gap for the doorway to the shelter.
- Keep adding branches, including shorter ones. There should be as few cracks as possible in the frame.
- Cover the frame with leafy branches. Brush doesn’t work very well for covering because it quickly blows away. Birch bark also works great for a covering – don’t peel all the bark away unless you are in an actual survival situation as it will kill the tree!
- If you do use brush for covering the tipi shelter, you’ll need to add more branches to the outside to prevent them from blowing away.
Brush Shelter with a Smoke Hole
There are multiple methods to create shelters that have smoke holes. One option is to construct a shelter in the style of a tipi and include an opening at the top. Alternatively, you could excavate a pit house shelter made of earth, with an aperture for a fire within it.
Unless it is truly freezing cold, never make a fire inside your shelter! The risk of burning your shelter — and yourself — is too significant. If you do need to make a fire, it will need to be VERY SMALL and controlled.
There are numerous alternative methods available to construct a wilderness survival shelter without the use of supplies.
Go out and give it a try!
