A Survival Tips and Techniques Blog | UrbanWoodsman.com

Building a shelter in the wilderness is key to survival, especially in harsh conditions, so consider using rain gear, sticks and debris to create a lean-to or tent for protection. Create some insulation to make the most of a shelter with life-saving tips from an experienced wilderness expert in this free video on surviving outdoors. Expert: Matt Preye Contact: www.weu.com Bio: Matt Preye has been kayaking for 15 years in both whitewater and recreational kayaks. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Product Description
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War. After a nuclear explosion, matter vaporized in the resulting fireball is exposed to neutrons from the explosion, absorbs them, and becomes radioactive. When this material condenses in the cloud, it forms dust and light sandy material tha… More >>

Fallout shelter: Blast shelter, Air-raid shelter, Collective protection, Continuity of government, Emergency Government Headquarters, Fallout Protection, Nuclear fission product, Survivalism

Product Description
Survivalism, Preparedness, Retreat (survivalism), Air- raid shelter, Natural disaster, Societal collapse, Economic collapse, Apocalypse, Apocalyptic and post- apocalyptic fiction, Survivalism in fiction, Blast shelter, Fallout shelter… More >>

Survivalism: Preparedness, Retreat , Air- raid shelter, Natural disaster, Societal collapse

Paul teaches on how to build a shelter, start a fire, melt snow, and signs of hypothermia. Shelter built with only a knife and fire started with a flint. For more information on courses go to www.savealifeca.com

Anyone who might someday get lost while hiking, hunting, canoeing or backpacking should know the basics of how to build a wilderness survival shelter. There are several types, ranging from snow caves to poncho tents to modified rock-ledge shelters. They all have their place, but this article will cover just one: the lean-to.

One advantage of a lean-to is that it can be built almost anywhere there are trees. Another is that it requires no tools. Finally, it can be built with a variety of materials.

The most basic design starts with a small tree or pole or stick which is lodged horizontally in the branches of two trees. This is the peak of the roof, and so should be high enough so you can be comfortable inside the finished shelter, but also low enough in cool weather so the space created can be warmed (at least in part) by your body heat. The length should allow for you to stretch out underneath.

Against this main “roof beam” you lean any sticks you can find. Interweave a few horizontally for added strength. At the sides lean other smaller sticks to further enclose the space. If you leave one side open you can have a fire in front. Otherwise you can lean sticks on the other side of the beam as well, creating a kind of “a-frame” shelter (leave a hole to crawl inside).

To keep out wind and precipitation (the primary purposes of a survival shelter), you’ll need to “shingle” your roof. This can be done using flat evergreen boughs (just break the lower ones off small trees), bundles of grass, large pieces of tree bark, or even pieces of plastic and junk, depending on your circumstances. The important point here is to start by laying the materials against the bottom, where the roof slopes to meet the ground, and then add overlapping layers higher up.

Done right, a shelter like this can be made in an hour or so and keep out most rain, snow and wind. Unless you do plan to have a fire in front for warmth, keep the shelter small. In this way the heat from your body can keep the space heated to at least several degrees warmer than the outside air.

Lean-To Tips

It can help to have some way to tie sticks together, so experiment with any vines or pliable branches and strips of bark you see. Some evergreen roots work well too, and can be found in the soft soil less than an inch deep.

If you plan to have a fire, make the opening of the shelter parallel to the expected direction of the wind. This will minimize the amount of smoke you breath. Facing away from the wind will actually cause some smoke to swirl back into the shelter.

Always provide some way to keep yourself off the ground as much as possible, since it can steal a lot of body heat. Make a mattress of dry leaves or grass. You can also make a mattress using fir boughs (unlike spruce, these have flatter and softer needles). Stick the broken ends in the ground and work towards them so the branches are layered like shingles, with only the soft tips above.

If you don’t have a fire, make a “door” or covering for the opening. In this way you can close yourself in to trap your body heat.

A lean-to is one of the best wilderness survival shelters because it is so adaptable. Look for other arrangements, like starting with a downed tree you can fit under and building a lean-to using that as the roof beam. Even a partial cave or rock overhang can be enclosed with a simple lean-to.

Knowing how to build a survival shelter can save your life. While lack of food can kill you in 3 weeks, and a lack of water kill you in three days, exposure can kill in a matter of a few hours! Regardless of what type of outdoor survival situation you find yourself in, you may need to build a shelter until a more permanent solution can be found.

Lean-to shelters are the easiest to build and can be constructed from almost any material. A blanket or tarp suspended on one end and weighted down on the other is considered a lean-to. Wood supported by any upright is also a lean-to. All of these will provide some protection from wind, sun, rain, snow and all can be made with items that can be found or carried in a survival backpack.

Conical structures will also provide emergency shelter and while they are a bit more difficult to create can be made from items easily located. Branches, sticks, lumber and pipe are all materials that can be used to construct a conical shelter. Arrange your support material in a circular motion. Starting with two poles on each side, prop them up so that they help support each other. Add two more on the opposite side.

Working on a north/south and east/west grid, create a circle of supports. As you fill in the gaps on each directional side you will find that the structure becomes more stable. Choose one area to leave open for your entryway. You can place a few branches or sticks sideways at this area weaving them into the outer supports to reduce the height of this opening. You can close up this opening with a blanket or a garbage bag once you are inside.

When the basic shell has been constructed you can cover this conical structure with smaller branches, cloth such as blankets, curtains, carpet and so forth. Leaves and grass also work as a covering. If your structure is constructed in an area where there is no danger of escaping natural gas or propane you may build a small pit fire inside. There will be a natural center hole in conical shelters that will allow the smoke to rise and escape from inside.

A tipi structure is also an option for some. Taller supports are tied together at the top forming an inverted ice cream cone shape. Around these poles, fabric such as sheets or blankets, carpet or plastic is placed. Again if this structure is in an area where no danger of escaping natural gas or propane is present, a small pit fire for warmth and cooking may be placed inside.

Tents and other types of pre-made shelters are useful as well. Many modern tents are small, lightweight and some are designed for very cold temperatures. While these modern shelters have specific types of stoves and heating equipment that must be used they can be a valuable shelter option for some.

Canvas was once the fabric of choice for many temporary outdoor structures. Unfortunately, it is heavy and is a poor choice today for the survival backpack. However, it is possible to pack one of those lightweight silver tarps in a backpack and then have it available. Drape it over a pole lodged between two trees, so that each end touches the ground. Anchor the ends with rocks and logs and close one end with branches, twigs and leaves.

Providing shelter during an emergency is as important as water and food will be. Before you find yourself in an emergency situation you need to practice making a survival shelter. Having the supplies for an emergency without having the skills to use them is like not having the supplies in the first place. Be prepared. Practice your skills before you need them.

• ISBN13: 9780312093594
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Whether you are a novice hiker or camper, or a more experienced outdoorsperson who spend weeks or months in the wilderness The Outdoor Survival Handbook will help you make the most of your adventures in the great outdoors. Suvival-skills expert Raymond Mears delivers dependable, thorough, and easy-to-understand advice on every aspet of outdoor survival, season by season. The essential everyday skills you’ll learn include how to:

construct a warm, waterproof… More >>

The Outdoor Survival Handbook: A Guide To The Resources & Material Available In The Wild & How To Use Them For Food, Shelter, Warmth, & Navigation

• ISBN13: 9780312093594
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Whether you are a novice hiker or camper, or a more experienced outdoorsperson who spend weeks or months in the wilderness The Outdoor Survival Handbook will help you make the most of your adventures in the great outdoors. Suvival-skills expert Raymond Mears delivers dependable, thorough, and easy-to-understand advice on every aspet of outdoor survival, season by season. The essential everyday skills you’ll learn include how to:

construct a warm, waterproof… More >>

The Outdoor Survival Handbook: A Guide To The Resources & Material Available In The Wild & How To Use Them For Food, Shelter, Warmth, & Navigation