Top 11 Wilderness Shelter Mistakes

1. The roof is too high.

   For some reason, people seem to think that they should be able to stand or sit inside all shelters. While this may be true for some, as a general rule, the more empty air in the shelter, the colder you will be. For a lean-to, have it no higher than the tallest persons shoulder. For a A-Frame, have it no higher than your hip.

2. Having a lean-to with no fire.

   If you can’t get your fire lit, then a lean-to is not an good shelter for you in the winter. Instead, switch it for a A-frame or another shelter that will stay warm with your body-heat rather than depending on a fire.

3. Having no fire-walls.

   A fire-wall is something you build on the opposite side of your fire from your shelter. It has two major uses; the first is a wind-break, and the second is to reflect heat back towards your shelter. Trust me, if it gets cold enough, you will know that a firewall is working.

4. Your shelter is way longer than you are tall.

   As a general rule, your shelter should be just longer than you are for the same reason as number 1.

5. Your lean-to has no side-walls.

   Now, you do not technically need the side-walls on a lean-to; if it is made right then with a fire it should stay warm enough, but why risk wind or letting heat escape if you do not have to?

6. Shingling wrong.

   Start from the bottom, then work your way up. Proper shingling will direct the water down off your shelter; rather than having it puddle and leak in.

7. Moss for bedding.

   I know, moss is cozy and feels wonderful to lay upon, so why not use it as bedding? Because moss tends to let its moisture out at night; making you very very wet and cold. If you dry it out in the sun for a few days, you could use it with a risk of bugs, but when in doubt other materials.

8. Not making the roof thick enough.

   If you can go in and see any light through the roof, you need more roof. If light can get in, than water can too.

9. Digging into the ground.

   With majority of situations(not counting snow) digging your shelter into the ground could end up with you sleeping in a swimming pool. Soil holds onto moisture, and it can also leak through; so even if your shelter is perfectly sealed up during a good rain, water can leak through the shelter inside. There are exceptions to this, but when in doubt, build your shelter above ground.

10. No Bedding.

    The ground is a heat-sapper. As Bear Grylls often says, “one layer below is worth two on top.” As a starter, you can just lay evergreen bows down as a bed.

11. No trenches.

    This one is just really for any time when rain is likely. With your shelter, rain will run down off your roof, and could potentially puddle at the bottom and leak into your bed. To prevent that, dig a small trench around your shelter, and downhill away from it. Water will follow the easiest path, so this should keep you nice and dry.

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