Shelter comments/suggestions (56k warning)

Thanks guys. I'll get some more pics when I go back out there next week.

Doc, the weaving I find only takes a couple extra minutes, but makes it a lot more stable. It locks in all the "ribs" of the frame. Also, when I say weaving, I don't mean literally "over, under" every rib. I usually just weave the ends of the chutes where as the middle of the chutes may span 2, 3, or 4 chutes. Maybe when I go back next week I'll rebuild it and take more pics so you can see the whole process I go through.
 
You asked for some crits on the shelter, and hopefully I won't offend you.

This looks about a quarter done. Nice framework, and a decent base of leaves, but, being able to see sticks through the leaves tells me it's leaky. In a debris hut, you should be able to spend a half way comfortable night in crappy cold weather with little more than the clothes on your back.

What still needs to be done...

Stuff the ENTIRE interior with (preferably) dead material like leaves or pine needles or dead moss so you can have a comfortable "mattress" and insulation. Burrow in like a squirrel. Wiggle some "hip and Shoulder holes" for comfort.

Once that's done, reduce the size of your entrance with cross pieces so you have a door that you have to wiggle in through and which lets out less body heat. Consider making a door from woven sticks to pull in after you.

Cover everything but the entrance hole with at least a foot of debris, both to keep off rain/snow and to help insulate and then lay some loose sticks on that sucker to keep the wind from blowing all your debris away.

Hope that is helpful. If I can find it, I'll post the pic, taken of myself at a Tracker class wiggling out of mine.

Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
 
Hi Macclint. Thanks for your comments. Looking at the pics, it looks unfinished, however, as I noted above, my camera battery died before I finished :( The entire outside has a 10" - 12" thick debris cover and the bed inside is about 6" thick of pine needles. I hadn't really thought about a door to it though. I planned on a small fire pit in front with a couple rocks in back to reflect heat towards the hut. Am I asking for trouble and would I be better off with some kind of door to seal off the entrance? Thanks again for your input, I appreciate it :thumbup:
 
About the door. It depends on the weather. They are easy to make and you will sure wish you had one if the weather turns.
 
Sorry to get off subject but, Clint, I didn't realize you were a member here. Just wanted to say I've read your comics and still do. They're awesome! I think it's great how you incorporate things you've learned from the tracker school in your comics. I attended the standard class this spring and had a blast. Keep up the great work!

Shawn
 
I'm not sure if I should put this in the "wow" thread or here but, since this outting was meant to add to this thread, I guess I'll just explain all here.....

So I was having one of those I dunno, guess just down and out days. Have a bunch of stuff to do around the pad today but, figured I would get out for a quick hike, take some pics of the shelter, and try out some new blades. When I got to the shelter, I found it ripped apart. Not fallen down but, ripped apart. Laying around the site were beer cans and airsoft pellets. I hate people sometimes :jerkit: Now for the cool part. I decided to keep on hiking out a little bit further and clear my head. I came out to this little clearing and found a whole group of hawks (at least I think they were hawks. I'm horrible at plat and animal names :o ) I rushed for my camera to try and snap a couple shots before they flew away. To my surprise, they stayed above and around me for about 30 minutes! :eek: I could believe. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen in the wild. I've seen a couple at a time circle for maybe 5 or 10 minutes but, never that many and for so long. It left me feeling just completely recharged. I hung around snapping pics and taking video clips until they left. I was stunned, just speechless. The kicker to top it off was when I got back to my car. As I was unlocking my car, 1 flew out of a tree, circled once overhead, squacked, and flew off :eek: I'm still blown away by this whole thing. Maybe you guys might not think it's anything big. I guess it was just what I need today and really got to me. Anyway, here's some pics and a video clip of the whole thing. Enjoy...

3.jpg


2.jpg


1.jpg


 
Awe heck, it was just sticks and leaves, now you get to do it again:D
I'm with ya on the hawks. I had an Eagle fly up the stream right at me once,
looked thin and odd til I figured out what it was. Flew over at the length of my fly rod and when it got right over me turned its head to spy down at me.
My knees got week, literally, and I waded right through the hole and sat on the bank for a while and counted my blessings.:thumbup:
 
Looks great. The only thing I would suggest is maybe another ridge pole across the top, and then tying things together. And more branches. More can't hurt, better insulation and better water shedding. Nice knives!
 
Thanks again for the comments and suggestions everyone. I was a little lazy on my short hike earlier but, I'm planning a good hike or 2 for next week and I'll see about building another and posting pics again. Any requests on what you would like to see pic wise or anything anyone would like to see me try?
 
Rebuild the first shelter. But first dig a pit. A deep one. Then when Bubba decided to body slam it, he'll crash and burn. Resist the urge to add punjaii to the pit. Though you might answer nature's call while you are down there.
 
Punjaii?!?! :eek: :eek: :eek: Now there's an idea. Maybe throw in a couple of those ankle snap/roll pits around the area. How bout gathering all the damn airsoft pellets I can find out there, put them in a pit, and let them rot in their stupid pellets?!?! Thanks codger! You've given me some great ideas ;) :thumbup: ;)
 
aaronjayl said:
Punjaii?!?! :eek: :eek: :eek: Now there's an idea. Maybe throw in a couple of those ankle snap/roll pits around the area. How bout gathering all the damn airsoft pellets I can find out there, put them in a pit, and let them rot in their stupid pellets?!?! Thanks codger! You've given me some great ideas ;) :thumbup: ;)
Click to expand...

Codger, you've created a monster.:D
 
Are those hawks or turkey vultures? Turkey vultures are cool, they clean the world.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top