Shelter Pics

C

CanDo

Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
913
Hey guys,

A while ago, while testing out a khukuri, I made a shelter out in the woods. It was extremely simple to build and is camouflaged very well.

A large tree had fallen over and left behind a 3ft hole with the roots clutching a large, flat slab of granite. I cut 17 logs with the khuk, leaned them up, and piled leaves over. Since its the winter, there's plenty to provide waterproofing. There isn't anywhere near enough for insulation however - that's why I have a sleeping bag. At the end of the shelter coming in contact with the edge of the bowl, there's actually a natural 2 ft. tunnel for leg room.
khuk14.jpg

khuk15.jpg

khuk16.jpg

khuk17.jpg


Pack covering the hole:

khuk18.jpg

Come on in:
Khukuri061.jpg

Pack on half-complete shelter for size reference (yes, it was a monster tree):
Khukuri055.jpg


What say you? Feel free to share your own!

~CanDo
 
It looks good and in dry conditions it should serve you well. However with the unpredictable temps these days, If a rain should catch you in that shelter, you'll be swimming your way out. Last year some friends of mine and I went canoe camping in the Adirondacks. In our camp area, there was a fallen tree just like that one with a roughly ten foot diameter depression. We had a wet, wet night and the next day that depression was a swimming pool.
 
I hear you. It doesn't look it from the pics, but that was right in the middle of 8 days constantly below freezing. For anything else, one must look to the tops of hills :)
 
Cool looking shelter, thanks for sharing the pics.

Yeah, not considering inclement weather, however unlikely, is a common issue (at least for me) when building a shelter. When you find a neat spot, you get that 'one-itis', where no other spot will do. But you only have to wake up in a swimming pool once to change your attitude!
 
CanDo said:
I hear you. It doesn't look it from the pics, but that was right in the middle of 8 days constantly below freezing. For anything else, one must look to the tops of hills :)
Click to expand...
Methinks you should generally build a shelter such as that so that it is not in a natural water collection point, meaning generally build it on the down hill side of the rock or tree stumps. Did it rain? I would assume not or you would have told us about it.
 
it may not keep you dry but i bet you could stay hidden pretty well (if need be) especially with the leaves covering it.
 
nemoaz said:
Methinks you should generally build a shelter such as that so that it is not in a natural water collection point, meaning generally build it on the down hill side of the rock or tree stumps. Did it rain? I would assume not or you would have told us about it.
Click to expand...

Nope, no rain nor precipitation of any kind for that matter. Again, had there been anything it would've been snow, for which the shelter is well equipped :)
 
Nicely done CanDo!

Backcountry shelter building is a HUGE topic - with a very simple central point:
Its all about dead air space.

I've built and slept in a few over the years, with varying degrees of success :o ...

The temperant rainforest of the Pacific Northwest is repleat with resources for shelter
and firecraft, which is handy as hypothermia is a real challenge!

Here's an example of one technique.

Vary your sources, practice your methods.

Cheers
 
excellent pictures but like mention before with rain and the ground depression you may end up swimming maybe modify it a bit and go along the side of the fallen tree for making the shelter.
 
Nice job, Can Do! It can be a little intimidating to throw yourself to the wolves here, but you usually walk away with additional insights. You may agree with the criticisms, in which case you've expanded your knowledge. You may disagree, but that will cause you to think about and articulate why you are right, increasing your confidence in your choices.

River-8, nice website! Looks like you have some good times! (Is "dirttime" in the northwest called "mud time"?) :D

-- FLIX
 
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