Shelters To Avoid

Not every shelter is a good shelter, some can be too much work and others can be just plain dangerous.

The first shelter I want to talk about is a dugoutshelter. That is when there is a steep hill, and on the edge you build a shelter that goes into the ground:

This shelter is not very good becuase if there is a rain storm your shelter will be a giant drain causing you to get soaked. Aboid this shelter unless its in a very dry area.

The second shelter is a snow cave. This shelter is good if you could find one, however you have to be carful with the source of heat. The only source you can have is a candle and that has to be done properly not the melt the whole thing down. Another reason I dont recomend this is becuase it takes a long time to build if you want to build it. There are many other shelters you can make that are faster and safter. I doubt anyone lives in the arctic here.

Picture from: http://www.call-wild.com/quinzee.html

There are many more shelters out there, but remember in an emergency situation you need to know the fastest way and safest way.

Sure its good to know how to make everything, but know the basics first then move up the ladder.

You dont have time in a survival situation, you need to be fast, dont over work.

Cheers

Cool

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"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'd suggest staying away from rock faces due to the risk of massive boulders falling onto you, especially if you have a fire that heats them up too quick.

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Never explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

True, also if you have no fire or source of heat staying away from rocky areas is also a good thing to think about. You heat is sucked right out of you if you lie on or lean on a rock.

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"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

good point troup, completely forgot about that. they are a tricky shelter thats for sure, good way to get soak'd unless they are deep too b/c water hugs the rock and follows it to the furthest point before dropping off the rock, and probably onto you.

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Never explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

Also when it rains its even more miserable, since water holds the surface of the rock and will soak everything.

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"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

BAD PLACES TO CAMP

1)exposed hilltops (go down, seek shelter on leeside)
2)Vally bottoms and deep hollows - damp and more liable to frost at night.
3)Hillside terraces where the ground holds moisture.
4)Spurs which lead down to water, whicha re often routes to animals' watering places.
5)Too close to water: you will be troubled by insects, and heavy rainfall may cause rivers to swell and flash floods to occur. Even old, dry watercourses are at risk.
6)Near solitary trees, which attract lightning.
7)Near bees' or hornets' nests (no explination required)

Source - pgs 103-104 the ulttimate survival guide (previously published as SAS Survival Handbook)

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Never explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

about the snow cave. IF you could find a tree that was burried up to the bough's in snow you could dig out underneith the bows and use the fallen snow as walls and the tree itself as a roof/windbreak.

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Never explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

I like the last one, i havnt heard of that before. When did you take that picture, you havnt had that much snow yet? Rolling Eyes

The snowcave is really cool but hard to get atree with the proper proportions. Ushally theres trees grow in a cluster so its hard to find one good big tree that is just right. Also it needs to snow a lot. However if you get a shelter like this your infor a treat. Its often pretty warm and keeps the wind out.

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"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

lol yea i know it's a rare thing to find, but i thought i'd post it anyway as to give a second type of snow cave...

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Never explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe you anyway.

Dugout shelters can actually be pretty great and effective long term shelters. The only thing is you have to choose a spot on the topography that's fairly elevated, and take preventative measures to avoid floods, like building a dyke around the edges. I built a pretty elaborate dugout shelter three years ago, during the summer heat it's beneficial to be partially underground.

	Daffy wrote:

I've seen one of these before, you need a massive tree to make a good one, but when it's done right it's a spacious and comfortable winter shelter. The only drawback is finding a way to heat it.

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Never take anything for granted.

Yes and it's one of the most comfotable sheltes out there. When i was a kid I found a tree like this (when we still got tons of snow back in the day) I found this massive tree and it had a mini room underneath. I would spend time there because it was so cool. The wind was always brutal at winter but in there it was awesome. I wasnt into surivval then so I didnt make the best of it but It was cool

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"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