Shelter Building

Building a shelter is an underrated and often overlooked part of wilderness survival. Most people cannot survive unprotected from harsh weather for more than a few hours. Besides breathing, building a shelter is an absolute priority, particularly in areas with harsh or unpredictable weather. A good multi-tool or pocket knife will greatly aid you in your efforts to build a shelter.

An ideal shelter must:

• Protect you from rain, snow, wind, cold and heat.
• Provide a basic level of comfort for resting and sleeping.
• Be conspicuous enough to be found by search and rescue crews.

To build a basic shelter:

• Look for a transition area between forest and field with good drainage (the trees will provide good protection against the wind and cold but will not completely obstruct the warmth of the sun).
• Find a natural structure, such as a fallen tree or boulder to serve as the foundation wall of your shelter.
• Find a sturdy branch about six feet in length to serve as your shelter's ridgepole.
• Plant one end of the branch into the ground and set the other end on the foundation wall.
• Gather up non-poisonous vegetation and small braches and place them on both sides of the ridgepole to create the roof.
• Line the surface of the shelter with dried leaves and twigs for insulation.

Things to avoid:

• DO NOT use caves, hollow logs or bushes for shelter, as they are likely inhabited by other animals, insects or reptiles, some of which may be dangerous.
• DO NOT camouflage your shelter, as this will reduce your chances of being rescued.
• DO NOT over-exert yourself when building a shelter. Instead, work at a moderate pace to minimize perspiration and loss of water.

For more detailed information about shelter building, see Chapter 5 ("Shelters") of the U.S. Army Survival Manual.