Emergency shelter's building test with my Fox Parang Bushcraft

[martineden]

Some time ago I was fascinated by the description of an emergency shelter I found on the very nice and famous book “Woodcraft and camping” by Nessmuk. Building an emergency/survival shelter is also a classic bushcraft task.
So, I spent this WE testing my ability to build two different emergency shelters, and the performance of my Parang Bushcraft doing it.

My test’s field is San Martino Valley

Is a nice place, as you may see

Some inhabitants of the valley

Let’s go ahead

On 1918 an Austro-ungarian soldier fallen to dead right here, and two boys of the village decided to carve this small cross on the stone

Again on the valley

Until an old “calchera”: it’s a sort of cupola-furnace for the lime production, it was used 1950 circa

This is a area rich in waterfalls

Lets’ speak now about the first shelter. Past days I modified my emergency blanket as you may see below

Now I’m here with my today’s knives, I have two of them

But of course for this shelter I will use just my Parang

Done. My Parang was used to carve some woods, nothing special, any sharp knife could do this. I spent some 15 minutes to build the shelter. It’s of course just for emergency, let’s say if you broke your ankle and need to spent the night in the woods, or similar situation. A fire in front of it, some warm garments, and I guess you will arrive at the next morning in good health. Pros: quick to build, don’t need special efforts to be done, good as a windscreen and probably can take some light rain . Cons: it’s very fragile, a strong wind or some falling branch, can destroy easily your cover.

to be continued

 

[martineden]

Ok, let’s change scenery

This time I want to build a shelter using pine woods and branches. I will use roughly the shape as described in the very famous book “Woodcraft and camping” by Nessmuk.
I start cutting the main branch, it’s long 4,5 metres more or less

The main branch is placed diagonally versus a pine tree

I carve a seat on the pine tree, to place safely the main branch

After that, I cut down several smaller pine’s branches (unfortunately this area is poor of accessible branches, just few are low enough to be cutted)

Then, the branches are placed across on one side of the main branch

Walking on the woods, I found an old oil container

Will use the container as a fire reflector; for this, I need to cut it whit my Parang, doing some batoning

Not significant damages on the blade, pretty good

The reflector is done now, and my shelter is finished

To be honest, I’ll never could do this shelter without my Parang or an axe. In fact cutting all those branches whit a “normal” knife should take too much time and a very big effort. I spent some 30 minutes to build the shelter. This shelter is just for emergency as the previous one, no more than one night in the woods in my opinion. As per the previous shelter, a fire in front of it, some warm garments, and I guess you will arrive at the next morning in good health. Pros: strong construction, is good as a windscreen and (if branches are at least doubled) can take some light rain. You also had some more space compared to the previous shelter. Cons: not quick to build, need efforts and time to be done.

As a side note, if you want to build a pine’s branches shelter, gloves are obligatory, or you need to be prepared for some for some damages to your hands.

Ok guys, it’s time to come back home, here some shots of my small town

Regards, ciao,
Alfredo

 

[fishface5]

very nice! That Parang looks handy - however if I had to rely on one knife I think I'd prefer something with a bit more of a point, in case of tasks where a point is needed.
In terms of an emergency shelter I think the heat-sheet does more good wrapped around your body than as a rain screen, it will retain more heat if closer to the body. So if I had that on me I would probably seek trees for rain cover then get some leaves to lie in and wrap myself in the heat-sheet. The pine-bough shelter looks ok but in an emergency situation you'd want to be careful not to expend too many calories on the shelter.

 

[jurisprudence]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing. The woods look like an awesome place to spend some time. Your hometown is lovely, where is it?

Also, nice review.

 

[martineden]

very nice! That Parang looks handy - however if I had to rely on one knife I think I'd prefer something with a bit more of a point, in case of tasks where a point is needed.
In terms of an emergency shelter I think the heat-sheet does more good wrapped around your body than as a rain screen, it will retain more heat if closer to the body. So if I had that on me I would probably seek trees for rain cover then get some leaves to lie in and wrap myself in the heat-sheet. The pine-bough shelter looks ok but in an emergency situation you'd want to be careful not to expend too many calories on the shelter.

I agree whit you mate. My purpose instead was to improve my ability on shelter building and test my Parang. Peace, Al

 

[martineden]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing. The woods look like an awesome place to spend some time. Your hometown is lovely, where is it?

Also, nice review.

Thanks, it's named Feltre, N-E of Italy. Ciao, Al

 

[Acetylene]

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed the photos too - very beautiful.

 

[martineden]

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed the photos too - very beautiful.

My pleasure. Peace, Alf

 

[eccvets]

when i need an emergency shelter, I just sleep in my car.

 

[martineden]

when i need an emergency shelter, I just sleep in my car.

car is a great shelter, but you just can't light a fire in it, so if the gasoline is finish, you are frozen dead