Basic Expedient Shelters

[mitunnelrat]

Having just come in from my first full bugout drill a few days ago - a 24 hour trip - Since my tent is in for warranty repair, I had the pleasure of also building my first expedient shelter. I may have overbuilt it ;)

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn165/mitunnelrat/019.jpg

The components I packed in can be seen here, excepting an emergency poncho I used to keep my gear dry.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn165/mitunnelrat/002-1.jpg

I also made use of natural materials, including snow for insulation
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn165/mitunnelrat/008-1.jpg

The manmade materials came from a nearby pile, a good thing to watch for

All in all, it did pretty well. The length was just a bit beyond my height, and the widest point gave me just enough room for my pack and entrance.

So, I've shown you mine. Wanna show me your's?

[The Stig]

How long did you stay in it?

How warm was it?

Great tip on using man-made items to augment nature.

That is really cool, by the way. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[mitunnelrat]

It was a very warm setup. Enough so that I slept pretty soundly for a full 8 hours, and woke to find the snow I packed around it had almost all melted away. Being used to a tent I was hesitant to do this, but I enjoyed it enough I'll do it again. Hopefully with a more efficient use of my resources.

[RedJohn]

This is cool.

[mitunnelrat]

Thank you, to both of you!

[The Stig]

Quick question: how do you keep creepy crawlies and other critters out of this?

Being in the snow helps with the bugs I'm assuming but I've been thinking about Mississippi fire-ants, snakes and other crawling crap ending up in my sleeping bag. I don't find that a pleasant thought. Yes, I am a wuss.

[mitunnelrat]

The shelter's pretty wide open, so there isn't much that can be done with that, but I do know nothing but a deer came within yards of my tent. I checked the snow for tracks the next morning because I'm a wuss about it myself, and was curious. The goretex outer shell on the MSS closes up pretty well though, and one idea I've had is sewing a mesh panel in - with velcro tear offs - to seal it completely from bugs and snakes.

[Kodiak]

That is awesome, some day i hope to get my lazy but in gear and do something similar. And i like the idea of doing it in winter where you actually have to put some effort into it. Anyone can go out in the woods when its warm and spend a night, but when its cold out thats a different story.

[x-cop]

Our group is doing another cold weather bug out drill soon

[chicom]

Summer

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa284/chicom70/DSCF5593.jpg


Winter (taken under construction, since been completed.)

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa284/chicom70/DSCF5581.jpg

[chicom]

Solo hunting trip into the Gospel Hump Wilderness.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa284/chicom70/scan0006.jpg

[mitunnelrat]

Very nice! My opener has paled in comparison ;) I particularly like the set up on the summer shelter.

[bacpacker]

Very good shelters. I really like the variation to the ideas. Many good ones to start with.

[ak474u]

Summer

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa284/chicom70/DSCF5593.jpg


Winter (taken under construction, since been completed.)

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa284/chicom70/DSCF5581.jpg

That's awesome, looks like where a viking would sleep. lol

[x-cop]

We ran in to one out in the woods last weekend during our cold weather gear test weekend.

Who ever did it made a nice one, kinda a mini version of the log shelter Chicom built.

[apssbc]

I like the ideas posted. The summer picture that was posted is nice, but It will not block wind coming from any direction. The reason I bring this up I recently did a winter bugout and used only a tarp shelter and my US military sleep system. I used a diamond fly tarp shelter and will use this from now on. I personally set it up in a small dugout so I had earthen wall around me as wind blocks and the tarp came down to the ground. We had single digit temps and 30mph winds with 50mph gusts. This shelter kept the wind and snow blocked from me and didnt even loosen up throughout the night. I was very happy with this set up.

About halfway down the page
Tarp Shelters - Autonopedia (http://autonopedia.org/survival/Shelters/Tarp_Shelters.html)

I like tarps as they are light weight and I can get camo or other subdued colors compared to many tents. Its quick to tear down if I need to get out fast. Hell you can get a multi cam basha if you want to spend the money.

Also one thing I learned is that if you completely cover your face in your sleeping bag you will wake up with lots of condensation. Then you run the risk of your bag not drying out and insulation being degraded. I uncover my face and wear a face mask and a hat. I was very comfortable during the winds and cold weather.

[Jasper]

I like the ideas posted. The summer picture that was posted is nice, but It will not block wind coming from any direction. The reason I bring this up I recently did a winter bugout and used only a tarp shelter and my US military sleep system. I used a diamond fly tarp shelter and will use this from now on. I personally set it up in a small dugout so I had earthen wall around me as wind blocks and the tarp came down to the ground. We had single digit temps and 30mph winds with 50mph gusts. This shelter kept the wind and snow blocked from me and didnt even loosen up throughout the night. I was very happy with this set up.

About halfway down the page
Tarp Shelters - Autonopedia (http://autonopedia.org/survival/Shelters/Tarp_Shelters.html)

I like tarps as they are light weight and I can get camo or other subdued colors compared to many tents. Its quick to tear down if I need to get out fast. Hell you can get a multi cam basha if you want to spend the money.

Also one thing I learned is that if you completely cover your face in your sleeping bag you will wake up with lots of condensation. Then you run the risk of your bag not drying out and insulation being degraded. I uncover my face and wear a face mask and a hat. I was very comfortable during the winds and cold weather.

I like the tarp shelters too for a quick set up and take down. It is good to practice multiple shelter types as you never know what your surroundings and available items might be. I spent an unexpected night in the woods during a Search and Rescue call out and two tarps a pole and a carabiner made for a cozy spot. It's nice because you can role pegs,rope,carabiner for door and anything else inside it and strap it to your bag.

[Jasper]

I like the ideas posted. The summer picture that was posted is nice, but It will not block wind coming from any direction. The reason I bring this up I recently did a winter bugout and used only a tarp shelter and my US military sleep system. I used a diamond fly tarp shelter and will use this from now on. I personally set it up in a small dugout so I had earthen wall around me as wind blocks and the tarp came down to the ground. We had single digit temps and 30mph winds with 50mph gusts. This shelter kept the wind and snow blocked from me and didnt even loosen up throughout the night. I was very happy with this set up.

About halfway down the page
Tarp Shelters - Autonopedia (http://autonopedia.org/survival/Shelters/Tarp_Shelters.html)

I like tarps as they are light weight and I can get camo or other subdued colors compared to many tents. Its quick to tear down if I need to get out fast. Hell you can get a multi cam basha if you want to spend the money.

Also one thing I learned is that if you completely cover your face in your sleeping bag you will wake up with lots of condensation. Then you run the risk of your bag not drying out and insulation being degraded. I uncover my face and wear a face mask and a hat. I was very comfortable during the winds and cold weather.

I like the tarp shelters too for a quick set up and take down. It is good to practice multiple shelter types as you never know what your surroundings and available items might be. I spent an unexpected night in the woods during a Search and Rescue call out and two tarps a pole and a carabiner made for a cozy spot. It's nice because you can role pegs,rope,carabiner for door and anything else inside it and strap it to your bag.

[Sniper-T]

I don't even like the idea of digging a hole and sleeping in it. While I can understand the natural windblock aspect. holes collect water. tarp over the top, and condensation will form, water runs downhill. Nope, don't like it.

I'll have to dig around see if I have any winter camping pictures around. We often make a tarp shelter over tree branch frames... or make igloos or quinzees, as conditions permit.