Wilderness and Urban Survival Guide
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Shelters
Building shelters and using natural shelters to survive in the wild
How to build an elevated, raised Bog Ken shelter in the wilderness
For many reasons it is sometimes necessary or advisable to have one’s shelter raised off the ground. Especially is this true in the more tropical countries where noxious serpents and insects abound. To build a raised survival shelter in the wilderness, we must first erect an elevated platform. This is made by setting four forked sticks of equal height in the ground and any height from the ground to suit the ideas of the camp builder.
Building Shelters in the Wild
How Important is a Shelter in a Survival Situation? A shelter can protect you from the sun, insects, wind, rain, snow, hot or cold temperatures, and undesirable observation from others. It can give you a feeling of well-being and help you maintain your will to survive. In some areas, your need for shelter may take…
Belowground Shelter
Belowground Shelter A belowground shelter can reduce the midday heat as much as 16 to 22 degrees C (30 to 40 degrees F). However, building it requires more time and effort than for other shelters. Since your physical effort will make you sweat more and increase dehydration, construct it before the heat of the day…
Desert Shelters
Desert Shelters In the dry, arid, desert environment, consider the time, effort, and material needed to make a shelter. Any unneeded body movement will consume precious water. You want your desert shelter to be effective but simple to construct. If you have material such as a poncho, canvas, or a tarp, use it along with…
Beach Shade Shelter
Beach Shade Shelter The beach shade shelter protects you from the sun, wind, rain, and heat. It is easy to make using natural materials found in a beach environment. Follow these steps to build a beach shade shelter. Find and collect driftwood or other natural material to use as support beams and as a digging…
Three-Pit Snow Shelter
Tree-Pit Snow Shelter If you are in a cold, deep, snow-covered area where evergreen trees grow and you have a digging tool, you can make a tree-pit snow shelter. Follow these steps to build a Tree-Pit Snow Shelter. Find a tree with bushy branches that provides overhead cover. Dig out the snow around the tree…
Debris Hut Shelter
Debris Hut For warmth and ease of construction, the debris hut is one of the best. When shelter is essential to survival, and time is of the essence, build this shelter. Follow these steps to build a Debris Hut shelter. Make a tripod with two short stakes and a long ridgepole (pole running the length…
Swamp Bed
Swamp Bed In a marsh or swamp, or any area with standing water or continually wet ground, the swamp bed keeps you out of the water. When selecting such a site, consider the weather, wind, tides, and available materials. To make a swamp bed, you should: Look for four trees clustered in a rectangle, or…
Lean-To Shelter
Survival Lean-To Shelter If you are in a wooded area and have enough natural materials available, you can make a field-expedient lean-to shelter without the aid of tools or with only a knife. It takes longer to make this type of shelter than it does to make other types, but it is longer lasting and…
One-Man Shelter
One-Man Shelter A one-man shelter you can easily make using material, a tree and three poles. One pole should be about 4.5 meters (15 feet) long and the other two about 3 meters (10 feet) long. To make this shelter, you should: Secure the 4.5-meter (15-foot) pole to the tree at about waist height. Lay…
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