I
f you are stranded out in the wilderness in an emergency, you need to tap into your wilderness survival skills. Building a shelter is very important to survival in such situations. People can only last a short while amidst extreme weather conditions without shelter.
You should master the outdoor survival skill of building a lean-to shelter, to be adequately prepared for an emergency.
A lean-to shelter is one of the easiest and simplest shelters to make for an emergency. This type of shelter is a great way to provide protection from the weather and wind. Always remember to place the back of the shelter toward the prevailing wind for the best protection.
A lean-to shelter is also great for most types of terrain.
To create your lean-to shelter, pound two large, forked sticks or straight ones into the ground. About one foot deep. These sticks should be about six feet apart depending on your height. A large limb must be placed inside the Y-shaped forks to create the frame for the shelter or lashed to each upright. Another option would be to use existing trees, rocks, etc...
Fill in the roof area with sticks that are tied to the top and stuck into the ground. This creates the frame for your lean-to survival shelter. Remember to bury the sticks in the ground to make the shelter sturdy enough to withstand the force of the wind.
Covering the skeleton of the lean-to is the next step to making the shelter. Use large leaves, bark, pine needles or grass to cover the framework of the lean-to shelter. Whatever material is available will suffice.
As you cover the lean-to shelter, begin at the bottom and work your way to the top, just like roofing a house with shingles. If it should happen to rain, the water will run over the joints and not leak onto you. Staying dry is very important, so take the time to prepare the shelter appropriately.
Don't forget to place some comfortable grass, leaves, or pine bows on the ground inside the shelter for bedding. Look for items that are soft and comfortable. Sleeping on the bare ground will sap your body heat quickly.
Also, you can cover up with items such as grass and leaves for more insulation. If you have a trash bag in your survival kit, you can stuff it with these items to make a comforter. Think of this as nature's blanket for you.
When you are making a lean-to shelter, it is beneficial to use the natural environment to your advantage. Look for limbs, leaves, and sticks that will suit your needs, that are close by with as little work as possible.
This will reduce the amount of work you need to do and save your energy for other tasks related to survival in the outdoors. Also build a reflection fire in front of your lean-to shelter to radiate heat into your shelter.
Because the elements are harsh on the body, building a shelter is crucial to survival in an outdoor survival situation. Practice this outdoor survival skill to master it, before you really need it.
If you are enjoying a hike over the weekend, bring along your camping gear, for instance, but plan not to use it. Instead of sleeping in your tent and sleeping bag, rough it for a night in your own lean-to shelter. This will give you the chance to practice your skill while allowing the opportunity for another safe sleeping area as a backup plan.