Wilderness Survival (chapter 2)

The Best Shelter

Built shelters

Walkers can utilize lodges or cabins in various parks and wilderness areas. These are often just sleeping platforms, so bring your own sleeping bags, but they can be a nice alternative to a tent and a place to dry out after a few wet days! In good weather, your tent will be cleaner and more comfortable.

Unless you are desperate, you should not sleep in barns or other animal-related facilities. The droppings are packed of disease-carrying bacteria, ticks, and other nastiness.

Camping and Wilderness

Some farmers allow camping on a defined area of their land. Many national parks also feature central campgrounds with tent pitches and showers. These can be highly busy and charge a little fee (the better the facilities). Their proximity to or presence on-site of provision stores makes them ideal beginning or terminating points for lengthier trips.

Once away from campsites, you will be ‘camping wild' and seeking your own area. In a national park, there may be rules about where you can camp. Without a permit, you may need to approach the landowner for permission before camping, but most do not bother.

HABITAT IN

If you require emergency shelter during a planned vacation, bring your tent or, if that can't be pitched, your bivvy bag or survival sack (see the previous chapter). This should keep you warm until aid arrives. If you need to survive in the outdoors without any equipment, you must find or create your own shelter.

Natural abodes

Whenever possible, seek out natural refuge. You can take refuge in warm, dry caves that are clear of animal signs. Large stones often offer clefts in which you can hide or keep dry, and thick bushes or foliage can also give cover. If there are no natural shelters, you must make one.

Natural building supplies

Leaves and branches are good building materials and may be found in many wilderness areas.

A warm and comfy shelter made of grass can be made in a somewhat open location with no knife (a sharp stone can be used instead).

In regions like boulder fields, rocks may be the sole accessible building material. They can be used as a windbreak.

Snow, if it's cold enough, can be used to build a shelter.

Tarps: If you have one or discover an abandoned tarpaulin or plastic sheeting, these can be used to build a shelter.

The best spot

Try to avoid areas prone to flooding (don't camp near rivers) or avalanches. The soil is too shallow to support larger trees, and they are at risk of falling over in severe winds. However, a fallen tree can provide shelter in its own right, so a balance must be struck.

Look for sites that are close to water, have plenty of firewood, and construction materials.

Making a shelter

In an emergency, you have several options for shelter.

Lean-to: A lean-to is a simple frame of material (stripped tree branches work well) supported by another structure. You can use tree branches, palm leaves, turf, etc. as a covering material. Cover it with mud that hardens in the sun. Make sure the lean-to slopes into the prevailing wind and is just high enough for you to crawl under.

If you have the tools (or a particularly sharp stone) to chop a tree, you can cut just enough of the trunk to bend it over to the ground. A tiny shelter can be made by cutting branches and weaving them into the sides, which will assist protect from the elements.

In a snowy location, a tree can be used as a shelter. Snow typically falls around a tree's trunk, creating a little hollow that you can fill with fallen branches.

Snow shelters: If you're stuck in the snow, you might be able to build one. Snow can be used for both the roof and the base if compacted. If the snow is soft, you'll need to build a roof from branches or other materials, and then layer snow on top for insulation.

Keeping Warm

If you have a sleeping bag and a survival sack/bivvy bag, you can stay pretty warm in a survival shelter. If you only have a survival sack, you can insulate yourself by stuffing leaves inside.

Attempt to build a fire if you can. This will not only keep wild animals away but also signal rescuers. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if you do not ventilate your shelter if you keep the fire inside.

Wood collection

To light your fuel, it must be dry. Collect moss and small pieces of wood for tinder, twigs to feed the fire, and larger sticks and logs to feed it as it expands. Build a fire in a cleared space, on and around it with stones to reduce the likelihood of it spreading. If there is a wind, attempt to keep it away from the fire. Keep loose earth and water nearby to put out a fire if it gets out of hand.

Reinvigoration

You may be able to relight a fire that you thought is extinguished. Stir the embers with a dry twig, then push some dry tinder into them. If it starts to smoke, gently fan the tinder to rekindle the fire.

a flame

If you have matches or a lighter, you should be able to light your tinder with them. If you don't have one, there are alternative options.

If you find flint rocks, rub them with a sharp blade to make sparks. This will cause sparks to fall on your tinder, igniting it. If you live somewhere sunny and have access to long-sight glasses (convex lenses), you can use these to light your tinder. Finally, in a pinch, two dry wood pieces can create enough friction to start a fire. This takes a while.