Introduction
To build this winter shelter I needed to have the mindset of one trying to survive. Though I built this shelter in my backyard, I kept in mind what purposes it must have. Since in a survival situation having the proper shelter can be the difference between life and death, making sure the shelter is dry, protected from the weather, and warm enough for it's occupants is key.
Project Mindset and Troubles along the way
Before stepping outdoors to construct my shelter I mentally imaged what I would be building. I had a teepee sort of shape in mind, but then realized that I would need a type of rope to tightly hold together the cone shape. A rope kind of material could be made from vines or shredded pieces of my plastic tarp. I set aside the idea of a teepee for a while since vines were not plentiful and I did not want to make my only piece of plastic any smaller. I then looked around my back yard at every individual tree, seeing if any could be of use for a shelter. Finally I found a tree that was leaning in a curve, with a trunk that split about 6 feet up making a V-shape, that would be beneficial to my shelter.
I began by going into the back of my yard with nothing but a 10' X 10' plastic tarp.
Step 1:
First, I cleared the area around a tree as much as I could, making a circular cleared space around the tree.
Step 2:
Shelter Shape: Next I went with my original idea of doing a teepee sort of shape, having a tree support all the leaning branches. I used only half of the tree because insulation is one of the key factors of a warm shelter. The bigger the shelter, the colder it would be so a smaller size is much more important to the survival of the shelter's occupants.
Shelter Construction: I started construction by using the largest branches/sticks I could find in my yard. All my materials are from the debris of a recent storm, that knocked down many trees in my backyard. I then took these long, fat branches and leaned them against the tree, propping them up to be sturdy, and securing them between the split trunk.
Next I wove sticks and branches of all sizes through the large leaning branches to provide the first roof layer for good structure along with the purpose of stabilizing the supporting branches.
Step 4:
Following roof layer 1, I took leaves from my yard and large branches from a green pine tree/bush , and covered the entwined sticks and branches. This made an almost impenetrable roof and provided a second roof layer to keep occupants warm and dry.
Step 5:
Finally, I finished constructing my shelter by using thick tree trunks and split firewood to cover the open sides. I left one side of shelter open so there was an entrance to enter and exit. Lastly I took my 10' X 10' plastic tarp and completely covered the whole entire shelter's outside. This provided a
completely weather proof and water proof third layer of protection roof. The tarp not only provided another layer but it gave the entrance way a choice of being opened or closed, a flap that provided a doorway.
Last Change to provide extra protection and warmth:
- completely dry leaves were placed on the floor of the shelter to provide a warm, dry, and comfortable area
Description
This outdoor winter shelter that I built holds two people very comfortably and could hold one or two more if needed. The shelter is tall enough in some areas for the average height person to stand and allows plentiful room to comfortably sit and lay down. This shelter is protected against weather by providing dryness, warmth and protection from rain, snow, wind, etc. due to 3 sturdy layers. The inside is dry and provides a "bed" of dry leaves to provide extra warmth. There is a entrance/exit to the outdoor shelter that is very easy to open and close and the occupants do not need to bend down to enter. This shelter is located in my backyard, but would ideally be located on flat land in wooded area and would blend very easily into its surroundings.
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