If you've ever gotten lost in nature, one of the bases of survival and safety - even for short periods of time - is a makeshift shelter. A shelter protects you from the elements: it keeps you warm in cold and snowy areas preventing hypothermia, shields you from extreme heat conditions and protects you from the sun's rays, to prevent dehydration and heatstroke, protects you from wind, rain or snow during a blizzard. Learn how to quickly build a simple shelter that protects you when you are outdoors.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Building a Shelter in a Forest
Step 1. Look for natural formations that have characteristics suitable for shelter
Observe the immediate surroundings and see if there are natural shelters available. This is the simplest solution.
- The caves and rock spurs that shelter the head are simple natural shelters. Light a fire at the entrance to the rock area to scare away any unwanted guests and heat up some stones that you can keep around your body to stay warm at night.
- Look for large fallen trees, which can offer shelter if there is a gap left between the trunk and the ground. Stick branches against the sides of the trunk to form a makeshift tent and be even more protected. Cover them with leaves and shrubs to keep them warmer.
Step 2. Look for two nearby trees to make a hut
You can build a classic sloping hut using two trees that grow close together, about your body's distance or slightly farther apart. Then slip a long branch between the logs or a rope if you have one available.
- Look for a tree with a low fork, where the trunk or large branches separate. The ideal situation is a tree that forms a "Y" between the trunk and the branches, in which you can place the branch that will act as a supporting beam for the hut.
- If you can't find two nearby trees, you can lean one side of the branch on the ground and the other against a tree.
- Lay some branches on one side of the load-bearing beam at 45 °, then cover them with other twigs, shrubs, leaves, snow and other insulating material, to form a roof of a few tens of centimeters.
Step 3. Build a small debris hut
Find a tree with a low hollow, strong boulder, or stump to make a small shelter large enough to accommodate your body. Rest one side of a long branch against the support, placing the other on the ground.
- Make sure the main branch (the support beam) is long enough to create enough space for you to stretch out underneath it after leaning it against the tree.
- Place branches on the beam at 45 degrees on both sides. Then cover them with twigs, leaves and shrubs, perpendicular to the underlying structure, so that they do not fall. The thicker the walls, the more isolated you will be from the outside. Keep a pile of foliage outside the cabin entrance so that you can at least partially cover the entrance when you are inside.
- If you have no other choice, you can create a simple debris hut by stacking the undergrowth foliage, then making a hole inside large enough for your body. Partially cover the entrance once inside to stay warmer.
Method 2 of 3: Build a Shelter with a Plastic Sheet
Step 1. Build a hut or tent with a tarp
Start at the base of a normal sloping hut by finding two nearby trees and placing a long branch between them, or tying a rope to both if you have one available. At this point, spread the tarp over the branch on one side or both and secure it to the ground using rocks, pieces of wood, dirt or snow.
- If you don't have a regular tarp, you can build a shelter with a poncho, garbage bags, emergency blankets, or other plastic sheeting.
- If you have enough material, spread the plastic inside the shelter as well, for better protection. If you decide to make a pitched tent this way, the tarpaulin should form a complete triangle, with the beam as the top vertex.
Step 2. Make a small pitched tent out of a blanket or plastic sheet
Build a pitched tent as indicated above by placing a large branch inside a hollow of a tree, on a rock or stump, to create enough shelter for your body. At that point, spread the plastic sheet at your disposal on the beam, making sure it is the same length on both sides and secure it to the ground with heavy objects.
- The smaller pitched tents are suitable for one person only, so that the environment inside stays warmer, so they can also be made with small ponchos, with garbage bags and with blankets instead of with large tarpaulins.
- You can also build the pitched roof of the tent with twigs and bushes, as you would if you didn't have other materials available, then use a tarp or other plastic sheeting to cover them and be more protected.
Step 3. Build a "tube" tent out of garbage bags
If you have at least two bags, you can make this simple shelter. Break the bottom of one bag and slide it partially over the open side of the other to make a long tube.
- If you can, secure the pipe between two trees, rocks, or other natural formations with a long branch or rope.
- You can also keep the tube open with branches and bushes or just crawl inside it to be sufficiently protected.
Method 3 of 3: Build a Shelter with Snow or Sand
Step 1. Dig a shelter in the snow around a tree
If you are in an area where the snow is deep, there are evergreen trees, and you have a digging tool, you can build this shelter at the base of a tree. Dig around the trunk all the way to the ground, so that the branches serve as your roof.
- For the best protection, look for an evergreen tree with thick, leafy branches that reach quite a long way from the trunk.
- Dig in a circle around the trunk, without exceeding the coverage offered by the branches. Descend until you have enough space to sit or lie down comfortably, or alternatively until you reach the ground.
- Compact the snow on the surface and on the walls of the shelter to prevent collapses. If necessary, cut or break the branches of the tree to line the bottom of the hole and have better shelter over your head.
Step 2. Build a cave in the snow
Form a pile of snow and dig a space large enough for your body to form a small natural cave that protects you from wind and storms. Make a pile half a meter longer than your height and high enough that you can make a hole inside without causing it to collapse.
- Once the snow pile is built, let it settle for a few hours or compact it with your hands, so that it is stable and you can dig without collapsing.
- Dig into the snow until there is enough space to accommodate your body. Make sure all the walls of the makeshift cave are at least 30cm thick so they don't collapse.
- Line the inside of the shelter with evergreen branches for more comfort and better insulation. You can also use other branches to close the entrance.
- To make snow shelters like this it is best to use a shovel to dig, but if you don't have this tool you can try with cups, bowls, skis, snow boots or any other sturdy object.
Step 3. Dig a hole in the desert or on the beach
Protect yourself from extreme temperatures and protect yourself from the sun and wind by digging a trench in the sand. Cover the hole with plastic sheets, or with sand placed on branches and sticks.
- Dig a trench as long as your body and as deep as possible, in a north-south direction, so that it is sheltered from the sun.
- Pile the dug sand on three sides of the trench to create an even deeper hole, then spread a tarp or other plastic sheet over the mounds and hold it in place with sand, twigs, sticks or other flat materials that may allow you to use the sand as a roof.
- If you are on the beach, be sure to build your hole well above the tide line.
Advice
- The smaller the shelter, the warmer it will be, because you will have to heat less air with your body heat.
- In all types of shelters, it uses twigs, leaves and shrubs to create a bed in which to rest or sleep. This allows you to be insulated from the ground temperature and to remain more comfortable.
- Make your shelter visible if you wish to be spotted by potential search groups by tying any brightly colored objects in your possession to the outside of the facility.
Warnings
- Survival shelters are used in dangerous and emergency situations in nature. While you find the idea of building a makeshift shelter for fun interesting, you should never rely on such a structure. Always carry maps, suitable clothing and enough water to stay outdoors with you, as well as all the other materials to stay in nature in all weather conditions. Go out of your way to prevent situations where building an emergency shelter is the only way to survive.
- To build wooden shelters, use strong, dry branches that are not rotten.
- Be aware of the potential dangers of the area where you plan to build a shelter. Do not choose areas affected by avalanches or landslides, avoid river beds and trees with dead or brittle branches.
