--- A-Frame Shelter ---

Best in any season, and great if you have spruce in the area.

An A-frame is a simple shelter which consists of one long pole that runs across, and is leaning, or on top something (eg a tree, rock, mound of dirt).

The best is if its leaning on a rock, that way you can make a bigger fire and not risk burning down your shelter.

Having a deep firepit is a good idea, make sure its all rock or sand.

Having a big rock reflect the heat is also good, and try to make it so the wind is not going inside the shelter, or else it will be a wind tunnel, and
your shelter will be plagued with smoke!

To make one, just lean branches on the sides and cover them with leaves, spruce etc. (Whatever you can find to make it better).

Below is a very basic image (Notice how i stress the word basic, yes its a horrible picture)

Here is one I made early this year.

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

I must say, i like the A- frame shelter. To me it conforms to so many situation's.
If it's cold, great, your covered, if you need heat, start a fire at the entrance.
If it's hot, no fire & sleep in your underware Shocked

If it rain's out in the middle of the night, it will shed it off. Smile

It's just a great design, & simple.

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
We are Known By The Tracks we Leave Behind
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

very true, i love how you could build them anywhere.

IF you have time you could even raise the whole thing up under. So incase it rains, there wont be a puddle underneath

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Thanks for that visual explanation it really helps, Great shelter, Les Stroud would be proud! Cool

_________________
It's not climbing the mountain to get to the top; it's climbing the mountain to enjoy the climb.

Looks a little exposed from the inside.

I dunno, I woulda put more branches on or something.

Get some Spruce leaves or whatever there called....

I just did it as a demonstration to show how to make it.

But good observation Cool

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

real nice im going to go out and build one of those this weekend i will take some pics and post to show how it went thanks for the great idea by the way Very Happy

hey just an idea i had correct me if i am wrong but once your done building your shelter like this say your in the winter and you used strong enough branches wouldnt it be a good idea to put snow on it for more insulation?

	NorthernHunter wrote:
	hey just an idea i had correct me if i am wrong but once your done building your shelter like this say your in the winter and you used strong enough branches wouldnt it be a good idea to put snow on it for more insulation?

Snow is a great insulator NorthernHunter. Smile

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
We are Known By The Tracks we Leave Behind
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Drummer Dave wrote:

	NorthernHunter wrote:
	hey just an idea i had correct me if i am wrong but once your done building your shelter like this say your in the winter and you used strong enough branches wouldnt it be a good idea to put snow on it for more insulation?

Snow is a great insulator NorthernHunter. Smile

Snow is a great insulator when it 's light & fluffy, with lots of tiny air pockets in it. Once it's packed down, it loses a lot of its value as insulation. Let the snow fall on your shelter if it's strong enough to support it, but don't work it very much. Packed snow is a good windbreak, though.

Very well said.

Ray Mears made an awesome snow cave, i'll try to get the video and post it on youtube. There are many things you can do to make a warmer shelter Smile

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Well, I must say, you did a good job. Very Happy

_________________
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. - Prov. 27:17

Thanks, it was a quicky though, took about an hour. I was planning on making much more this year but its jsut not happening (they are giving me lots of hours at work). Which is good but bad for wilderness hobbies

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic