Show us your natural shelters.

[Pict]

This series of photos shows the evolution of a shelter my daughter and I built during rainy season in Central Brazil.

measuring the trees for body length

Basic bunk bed frame with bark for lashing

Detail of bark lasing

Finished product on day two

The shelter on the first night. We had heavy tropical rain all night and both stayed nice and dry. The outermost uprights ran like faucets. Mac

 

[Mistwalker]

I love this thread, some really awesome shelters! Wish I'd seen it before.

Pict, that is an awesome job you two did. Good on you, I like to get my daughter out in the bush with me when I can...getting to be less and less often these days.

 

[Tjurved]

Not much shelter but it is natural . Quite a cold days hike in Sweden this winter. The pictures is taken before I started the fire with my new hobo stove as you can see.

 

[sargey]

i lived in this one for four nights on the excellent woodsmoke solo abo course, and slept very well ta very much.

that's not me btw, but a visitor to my little camp. i have some other pics of other shelters, just need to find 'em.

cheers, and.

 

[Ian H]

This one is still under construction. It is a raised bed type, which would be used with a long log fire. Hot rocks could be rolled under the platform to help keep you warm.

Love the look of that one so far, dont suppose you have more pics of it? Also are they any danger with boiled/hot rocks? been told they can explode? otherwise that is a fantastic idea for a bit of warmth!

None from me, although shall be heading out sometime this month hopfully so will be taking the camera with me

 

[Le Loup]

As part of my 18th century Historical Trekking gear I carry a simple oilcloth with which I usually construct a simple lean-to shelter, but the oilcloth is very versatile and can be used in many ways.
I also constructed a Half-Faced shelter in the forest which I use when I am camping in that area.
Le Loup.

 

[mark wood]

Here are a few from various Bushcraft Courses in Chopwell Woods, just outside of Newcastle:

There are three shelters here if you look carefully:

Here's the basic frame:

Mark

 

[Greg]

Wow, I started this thread back in Aug 2007, and it's still going strong!
Keep it up guys the photos are great!!

 

[johnnytheboy]

Stuart, His Royal Chubbiness has nothing on you.

That has to be the funniest quote on this forum.

 

[Liam1811]

Anyone have any tutorials for making a decent shelter? For example, would love to see one for the shelter that used ridge poles etc (am not familiar with the name, am new to bushcraft)

 

[Le Loup]

Anyone have any tutorials for making a decent shelter? For example, would love to see one for the shelter that used ridge poles etc (am not familiar with the name, am new to bushcraft)

Liam, if you are not carrying an oilcloth or similar then it is a matter of using what ever is available regardless of the shelter framework. Most eastern woodland Indian shelters used either woven mats made from the cattail plant, or they used bark from trees. I see you are in the UK, so you may have access to the cattail reeds or even bark from fallen trees. If this is not available then you will need to use either grass of forest debris. With either of these you simply have to add enough sticks and poles to the frame to support the debris.

You start from the bottom of the framework, from the ground up. You keep adding debris, piling it on top working your way upward. The thickness/depth needs to be an arms length deep if you can get it.

Here in my forest we have few deciduous trees, so there is very little leaf litter. My choices here are natural shelters such as hollow trees, lying down or still standing, frameworks covered with bark, but I will not de-bark a living tree for this purpose unless it was a survival situation, or I use my oilcloth. The latter method is easy and by far my most prefered method.
Le Loup.

 

[wilekayote]

There is a fire and chimney inside at the back out of view.

 

[Le Loup]

My half-faced shelter in Fox Valley, Wychwood Forest, Armidale NSW.