Tree Root Survival Shelter - Fast Build, Minimal Tools
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Date: 2019-09-10
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Comments and reviews: 10
Kevin W
Good video but a couple things were a bit off (from the way I learned. If you keep your axe sharp, and leave your sheath on while pounding stakes you can cut your sheath completely through just from the impact. Another thing, when you were limbing I noticed you were striking into the crotch of the branch. The wood in the crotch is twisted and very gnarled and can chip or roll the edge of your axe after repeated strikes. It's better to limb from the bottom up to go with the grain. Thirdly, I think there was another comment that mentioned the moisture under tree roots, which I can't agree with more. Even if the roots aren't pulling water, it's still a low spot where not only water but cold air will settle. Equally important as putting cover above you is to insulate yourself from the ground where you'll lose heat even faster than through air contact. Ideally, to insulate the body from the ground you need 8 inches of compressed boughs at least, I don't what that translates to in compressed bracken thickness: P. It seems like it would make more sense to make some sort of debris shelter using the fallen trunk portion. The ground is higher, it's safer, more likely to be dry, the roof is lower to the ground (maybe too low, I didn't look real closely) so you would have an easier time heating it with body heat. Some thoughts. Others thoughts?
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Good video but a couple things were a bit off (from the way I learned. If you keep your axe sharp, and leave your sheath on while pounding stakes you can cut your sheath completely through just from the impact. Another thing, when you were limbing I noticed you were striking into the crotch of the branch. The wood in the crotch is twisted and very gnarled and can chip or roll the edge of your axe after repeated strikes. It's better to limb from the bottom up to go with the grain. Thirdly, I think there was another comment that mentioned the moisture under tree roots, which I can't agree with more. Even if the roots aren't pulling water, it's still a low spot where not only water but cold air will settle. Equally important as putting cover above you is to insulate yourself from the ground where you'll lose heat even faster than through air contact. Ideally, to insulate the body from the ground you need 8 inches of compressed boughs at least, I don't what that translates to in compressed bracken thickness: P. It seems like it would make more sense to make some sort of debris shelter using the fallen trunk portion. The ground is higher, it's safer, more likely to be dry, the roof is lower to the ground (maybe too low, I didn't look real closely) so you would have an easier time heating it with body heat. Some thoughts. Others thoughts?
reply
Louie Patouie
I don't recommend sleeping in exposed dirt, or holes in the ground, however covered, they tend to fill with water on most kinds of ground (former US Army Paratrooper Alaska. The quickest shelter that is secure that I've used is sleeping along a fallen tree that is firmly down and slightly decayed. It silhouettes you well, and if the terrain is hilly take the side that is higher, and if at a angle head up. If you need a bed, leaves are easy to find in most temperate forests (sucks if all you have is needles, but they might work, and they tend to build up around such trunks. Just lay a few branches over and you have the basis of a lean-to, add more to make it more waterproof and insulated, and go in feet first. If it rains you might get wet but at least won't drown, and are invisible to sight. My favorite place to stealth camp is on impossibly steep inclines just like this, but I use a Army woodland gortex camo bag instead, and a umbrella for my exposed head. I've slept through thunderstorms like this completely dry without issue, snuggled against a log on a hillside most would have issue safely going down walking. I like invisibility.
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I don't recommend sleeping in exposed dirt, or holes in the ground, however covered, they tend to fill with water on most kinds of ground (former US Army Paratrooper Alaska. The quickest shelter that is secure that I've used is sleeping along a fallen tree that is firmly down and slightly decayed. It silhouettes you well, and if the terrain is hilly take the side that is higher, and if at a angle head up. If you need a bed, leaves are easy to find in most temperate forests (sucks if all you have is needles, but they might work, and they tend to build up around such trunks. Just lay a few branches over and you have the basis of a lean-to, add more to make it more waterproof and insulated, and go in feet first. If it rains you might get wet but at least won't drown, and are invisible to sight. My favorite place to stealth camp is on impossibly steep inclines just like this, but I use a Army woodland gortex camo bag instead, and a umbrella for my exposed head. I've slept through thunderstorms like this completely dry without issue, snuggled against a log on a hillside most would have issue safely going down walking. I like invisibility.
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Larry Holt
Generally speaking. Any benefit in terms of a wind break that you might gain from using a fallen tree's root structure as one side of your shelter is going to be more than offset by the amount of effort you'll need to overcome the dip in the ground under where those roots previously resided. That area is going to always be wetter than the surrounding level ground, (e. g. requires constructing a raised bed to stay dry and potentially a raised fire pit too especially in the snow/ice. --- Great idea in theory, but in practice not a good idea.
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Generally speaking. Any benefit in terms of a wind break that you might gain from using a fallen tree's root structure as one side of your shelter is going to be more than offset by the amount of effort you'll need to overcome the dip in the ground under where those roots previously resided. That area is going to always be wetter than the surrounding level ground, (e. g. requires constructing a raised bed to stay dry and potentially a raised fire pit too especially in the snow/ice. --- Great idea in theory, but in practice not a good idea.
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James Ellsworth
Good information in the details. Should you use poles to hold the bracken in place in windy situations or does bracken mostly stay put? As you point out after testing the shelter, it would be desirable to fill the hollow left by uprooting in order to level the floor. This is a better solution than having to lie along side a fallen tree trunk for a bit of shelter. Having seen your experience, I will be sure to include a headlamp with good batteries in my minimal tool kit for afternoon rambling or hunting.
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Good information in the details. Should you use poles to hold the bracken in place in windy situations or does bracken mostly stay put? As you point out after testing the shelter, it would be desirable to fill the hollow left by uprooting in order to level the floor. This is a better solution than having to lie along side a fallen tree trunk for a bit of shelter. Having seen your experience, I will be sure to include a headlamp with good batteries in my minimal tool kit for afternoon rambling or hunting.
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chris nicholson
Good little video mike, as has already been mentioned, the space around the base of a tree can be very wet, plus one of your main concerns in a survival situation is insulation from the ground, your body heat will just get sapped out of you, I really hope this doesn't sound patronising but if you were expecting to have to survive, and was carrying those tools, would you not have a small pack away bivvi bag, would keep you dry and out the wind but not insulted from the ground.
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Good little video mike, as has already been mentioned, the space around the base of a tree can be very wet, plus one of your main concerns in a survival situation is insulation from the ground, your body heat will just get sapped out of you, I really hope this doesn't sound patronising but if you were expecting to have to survive, and was carrying those tools, would you not have a small pack away bivvi bag, would keep you dry and out the wind but not insulted from the ground.
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James Kerry
Very good video. Something that might help/be of interest to other viewers, is to do a video showing a type of security or alert system, for your overnight shelters. Ideally, a simple system that could be made out of the natural material surrounding your camp. There are many possibilities for this, but being able to use just one or two (that are effective, could be very helpful and of interest to many people.
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Very good video. Something that might help/be of interest to other viewers, is to do a video showing a type of security or alert system, for your overnight shelters. Ideally, a simple system that could be made out of the natural material surrounding your camp. There are many possibilities for this, but being able to use just one or two (that are effective, could be very helpful and of interest to many people.
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Eric Rosbottom
When I think ''Survival'' I think of being prepared for such an event. Such as a tarp, up and down 10x faster than playing Bushcraft. Waste more calories and time in a crucial situation, You want to make sure your out of the elements and not running around making natural cordage. I always wonder why people talk survival and they have an axe? . This of course is just my opinion.
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When I think ''Survival'' I think of being prepared for such an event. Such as a tarp, up and down 10x faster than playing Bushcraft. Waste more calories and time in a crucial situation, You want to make sure your out of the elements and not running around making natural cordage. I always wonder why people talk survival and they have an axe? . This of course is just my opinion.
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Running Wolf
If I were in a survival situation I would not have done this shit ton of work, my shelter would have Been down and dirty and primitive not all fancy like you made yours, plus a saw isnt needed all ya need is a tomahawk with a good blade and you should be able to make all that you need for a simple shelter plus with a tomahawk you can take the head off n carve whatever you need to
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If I were in a survival situation I would not have done this shit ton of work, my shelter would have Been down and dirty and primitive not all fancy like you made yours, plus a saw isnt needed all ya need is a tomahawk with a good blade and you should be able to make all that you need for a simple shelter plus with a tomahawk you can take the head off n carve whatever you need to
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Lisa Jajack
I'm confused. u r talking about being lost and building a shelter for one night. but u are carving down 8 sticks to drive in the ground and tie off with cordage u hopefully have with u and spending what I can see is at least a couple hours to build a shelter to stay in for one night? And to build it u have to carry an ax with you. Why not just carry a back packer's tent with you?
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I'm confused. u r talking about being lost and building a shelter for one night. but u are carving down 8 sticks to drive in the ground and tie off with cordage u hopefully have with u and spending what I can see is at least a couple hours to build a shelter to stay in for one night? And to build it u have to carry an ax with you. Why not just carry a back packer's tent with you?
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Footshot Neill
i am sorry dude this is a bad idea, from personal experience and observation, . if it is llashing with rain, where does the water collect? PLUS you have a potential two wall the other side of the root at name the trunk and the not so debris-filled side of th root Plus they are at right angles please dont be ofended ilike your vids and will continue to watch
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i am sorry dude this is a bad idea, from personal experience and observation, . if it is llashing with rain, where does the water collect? PLUS you have a potential two wall the other side of the root at name the trunk and the not so debris-filled side of th root Plus they are at right angles please dont be ofended ilike your vids and will continue to watch
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