Big Country Outdoors

Knowing how to build survival shelters is essential, if you face a survival situation in harsh or unpredictable weather. A good shelter must protect you from the elements and be comfortable enough for resting and sleeping. Many people cannot survive unprotected from rough weather for an extended period of time or without proper survival gear.

The purpose in having a shelter is not only to protect you, but also to preserve your body heat. This is accomplished in basically four different ways. First, by keeping you dry so you don’t lose heat through the evaporative process. Second, by insulating you from the ground or snow to limit conductive heat loss. Third, by blocking the wind which would otherwise carry away body heat. Lastly, when the shelter space is small enough where the air around you can be heated by your body.

The type of survival shelter you build will depend very much on the equipment you carry with you, and upon the terrain and climate you are in. There are general guidelines which can be applied to any wilderness survival situation. Knowing techniques for making simple good shelters is an important part of your survival skill-set.

Tips On Choosing Shelters Site

1) If possible choose ground:

– that is dry, reasonably flat and well drained.

– that is a comfortable distance to water and has a supply of firewood.

– that has building materials for your shelter.

– that can protect against any strong winds.

2) If you are lost and people are looking for you, make sure your survival shelter site is easy to be seen and found by search and rescue teams.

3) Look for natural formations that could create a easy shelter structure. Examples may include rocky crevices, caves, and large trees with low-hanging limbs. If no natural formation is available to provide shelter, you will need to build your own.

Unsuitable Sites For Shelters:

– A site too close to water may lead you to be troubled by insects.

– Rivers presents a constant threat to safety. Flash floods can be easily created by heavy rainfall in nearby hills. Stay away from dry riverbeds.

– If possible, stay away from dead trees, loose rocks, or other natural growth that could fall on your shelter.

– Low ground, such as narrow valleys and ravines, could collect the heavy cold air at night, making it colder than the surrounding high ground. Also, the tops of mountains are usually exposed to higher winds. The best area to seek shelter is somewhere in between.

Looking for plans for a portable, solid-wall structure that keeps you warm and dry when you are in the Wilderness. Click Here, Wilderness Survial Shelters