Building a good shelter is important to your survival. I am going to show you an easy and good shelter as an example for you to study. It is NOT the ONLY shelter you can or should build, but it will at least give you some ideas on how to build one if you need to.

All the below examples utilize the simple "A-Frame" type structure.

ONE MAN SHELTER

Pictured is a simple and quick shelter that you can construct without using a lot energy or time.

The central beam can be either tied to the upright tree or (even better) set in the fork of the trunk or branch. This makes a sturdy support for your shelter.

Next you can either use a tarp or plastic sheet over it to make the top and sides. IF you do not have that, you can use branches to line the sides to make a frame and cover this this frame with smaller branches, leaves, mud or snow.

Either way, this type of "A-frame" structure is a good one to hold up to hostile weather.

Making a larger Model

You have a couple of people with you so you want a larger shelter. Same idea as above, but now you use larger and longer beams and set them higher in the tree.



Tarp Tents:

These are very much a hobby for some hikers. They are easy to make, fast to setup and cheap.

Using the same "A-Frame" idea, but this time there is no central beam and you just tie the top corner of your tarp via a 3 foot piece of twine to the tree. (see picture right.)

A tree is much more sturdy that using just a vertical pole. Tie the twine at about eye level on the tree and then stake out the other corners.

This makes a fairly large shelter even with a small 6' x 8' tarp. You could also substitute a larger Poncho for this.

Here's a You Tube video link to a Poncho Tent. The video is rough and the narrator isn't very fancy (just be patient and listen), but this is a good video for the instruction of a quick shelter using either a poncho or tarp.

There are lots of You Tube videos on making shelters, so utilize them and then go PRACTICE!


This should give you some ideas.



Ironhand