Shelter Before Dark
Exposure kills faster than hunger or thirst. If you're spending an unplanned night in the wild, building a shelter is your first job — before dark, before fire, before anything else.
Location, Location, Location
Choose ground that's dry and flat. Avoid valley bottoms (cold air sinks), exposed ridges (wind), and anywhere near dead trees. Look for natural windbreaks like boulders or dense hedgerows.
The Lean-To
The simplest and fastest shelter. Find a fallen log or prop a sturdy branch between two trees. Lean branches against it at 45 degrees, then layer bracken, leaves, or bark over the top. Thick enough to shed rain, angled to deflect wind.
The Debris Hut
The warmest natural shelter. Build a ridgepole from a long branch, prop one end on a forked stick, pile branches either side, then heap leaves and debris over the top until it's at least an arm's length thick. Crawl inside — your body heat will warm it quickly.
Insulate the Floor
Cold ground steals heat faster than cold air. Always insulate your sleeping area with at least 10cm of dry leaves, bracken, or grass.
Walk Your Wild — and always know how to come home to shelter.
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