Shelters

[Highlander]

It seems that not everyone is happy in their ability to make a shelter, we all have to learn, so with that in mind I want to go through a few very simple shelter ideas,.. none of the more complicated ones, but something that can be easily explained and remembered.

First of all you can carry your shelter, an Army ground sheet and two poles either carried [extendable] or cut from woodland,..simply note the direction of the wind and peg the sheet to the ground, raise the other end onto the poles, [you only need sitting room] and pull everything tight with bungies or cord

There are many combinations here, make the shelter a lean to like above, or like a ridge tent, if the wind is strong keep it low, if you need more height, then either dig out or erect it next to a natural hollow or slope,.. just make sure that water doesn't gather in the hollow,......... use trees to give you better shelter, maybe suspend the ground sheet completely in the air to give you loads of room if the weather permits

If you dont have a ground sheet, dont worry nature has options for you, from easy things like .... put two pole about eight feet apart at the height you want, [ probably about waist height ] tie a cross bar between the poles,..and then simply lean small branches against the cross piece,.. remember which way the wind is blowing,.. then cover with leaves to insulate

Another one I like, is find a group of small trees [silver beach grow in small groups] find three or four that are close together, and pull the tops into the center and tie them together, you instantly have a shelter shape, all you need to do then is get small branches and intertwine, in and out of the bent trees

A shelter I have often used, is find a place where sheep have hollowed out a bank for their own shelter from the wind, these can often be quiet large, extend the hollow by using a sheet or branches,..in an emergency use a coat, one stick threw the arms, and two sticks to keep the garment open. lean it against the hollow

Remember that a cold wind can be very uncomfortable, and cold wind and rain can be a killer, you must be able to get out of these two elements .... if the worst comes to the worst, get out of the wind by digging yourself down, so that you are lieing just below the grass,.. you will be several degrees warmer there than above ground and in the wind,.. if its snowing, this is a life saver, if its deep snow use the snow as a wall against that wind