Survival Guide
Warmth - Shelter - Water - Food
Shelter
Once you have a fire going, turn your attention to preparing a
shelter. Shelter will provide protection from the wind, snow, or
rain and, properly planned, will trap heat from your fire.
Location - Instinctively, a low sheltered area may have
appeal. Don't! Choose a site on high ground where you are visible,
wind can clear insects and you will avoid the dampness held in low
areas. In winter, of course, you should find the most protected
(but convenient) location available.
Fallen Tree Shelter - The easiest from of shelter to find
will likely be a fallen tree with ample space between the trunk
and the ground. Often all you need to do to clear a shelter under
the tree is to remove a few branches and lean them against the trunk
to act as a crude form of roof. Boughs from nearby trees may also
be added. Be careful not to remove any branches that may be supporting
the tree above the ground. A bed of boughs at least 8 in (20 cm)
thick will insulate you from the cold, damp ground.
Lean-to Shelter - A lean-to is simple to build. Locate two
trees that are 6-8 feet (2-2.5m) apart. Fasten a sturdy pole to
the two trees by using some cord from your pack, or hang the pole
from the junctions where branches meet the tree trunk. The support
pole should be 5-6 ft (1.7-2m) above the ground. Next, lean light
poles about 10ft (3m) in length against the support pole. Space
them about 18 in (0.5m) apart. Make the slope steep enough to shed
water, but leave enough room inside. This rough frame can then be
thatched with spruce or pine boughs, long grass, reeds or a sheet
of plastic. Always start at the bottom and work up. Spruce boughs
placed with the butt ends pointing up will shed the rain like a
shingled roof. Be sure to close off the ends of your shelter. Make
a bed of spruce or pine boughs or grass. Along with your fire, you
can be quite comfortable. For maximum warmth, build your fire across
the entire open side of the shelter.
Snow Shelters - Snow is an excellent insulator and in extreme
weather conditions may provide the best type of shelter available.
The major disadvantage in building snow shelters is the problem
of getting wet, especially if you're not dressed for digging in
the snow. Also, your task is made much easier if you have something
to dig with, preferably a shovel, a snowshoe covered with a trash
bag or something similar. Some practical experience in building
snow shelters beforehand is also valuable.
Snow Cave - You can burrow into a large snow bank along
a stream bank, rock outcrop or other place where the snow is deep
enough. The finished snow shelter should be large enough to sit
up in, so you may have to pile snow to achieve a mound big enough
to tunnel into. Try to keep as dry as possible.
When shaping a snow cave, arch the roof inside so moisture from
melting snow or condensation will run down the sides of the cave
instead of dripping on you. The shelter should be shallow enough
and the roof thin enough for you to break through and stand up if
a cave-in occurs. You can block the entrance at night with a snow
block or anything handy but leave a small ventilation hole. Besides
the vent hole in the entrance way, a vent must also be poked through
the roof. Keep the vent holes open by poking a stick through them
occasionally.
Chop a roomy shelf, or build one, to act as a sleeping platform.
Cover it with whatever material you can find; boughs, grass, reeds,
etc. This shelf will keep you up off the cold floor. The closer
you are to the ceiling, the warmer you will be.
Quin-zhee - The quin-zhee is similar to the snow cave with
two important differences: you build the snow bank yourself, and
a quin-zhee is stronger if properly built. Pile snow into a mound
about 5 ft (1.5m) high and about 7-8 ft (2-2.5m) wide at the base.
If you don't have anything that can act as a scoop, use your mitten-covered
hands. Make sure the snow has been well mixed from top to ground;
this is the key to building a strong quin-zhee.
Allow the pile to harden for fifteen minutes or so. The colder
the weather, the faster it will harden. After it has hardened, tunnel
into the base on the leeward side. Make every attempt to stay dry.
Hollow out the mound, keeping the walls about 10 in (25 cm) thick
at the base and at least 6 in (15 cm) thick at the ceiling. Poke
a small stick through the walls occasionally to measure the thickness.
Keep the entrance as small as possible. Block it when you're inside
with the snow block but leave a small air vent. Also poke a small
vent in the ceiling. Build a sleeping bench up off the floor and
cover it with boughs, reeds or anything else handy to insulate you
from below. Candles will provide light and some warmth.
Staying dry - If your clothes are wet, you'd better try
to dry them. Wet clothing will result in a loss of heat and energy
that you cannot afford to lose, especially in cold weather.
Clothes may be dried by the fire, but never place them nearer to
the fire than you can comfortably hold your hand. Never leave clothes
unattended when they are drying near the fire. Turn them occasionally.
Dry your outer clothing first, then take your underwear off, put
on your outer clothing and dry your underwear. Put your underwear
back on when it is dry.
It is most important to keep your feet and hands dry. Dry socks,
mitts, and boots by suspending them carefully over the fire. If
socks and mitts are not too wet, they can be dried by placing them
under your clothing overnight.
To avoid becoming damp through perspiration, dress lightly while
you are working hard and put on heavier clothing when you are sitting
around idle. If you are working with a parka on, leave the hood
down and leave it open around the neck to allow excess heat and
moisture to escape. In very cold weather, damp clothes can be left
to freeze and the moisture beaten out of them when still frozen.
Survival
Guide - Warmth
- Shelter - Water
and Food
Shelter below:
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Emergency Blanket
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Tube Tent
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Emergency Bivvy Sack
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