My experience with a winter debris hut

[Ocelot]

I spent the night last Sunday in a debris hut. Temps got down to 12 degrees. The hut was plenty warm with a 0 degree bag and a pad. I threw the details up on my blog for anyone interested.


http://www.beardventures.com/2013/02...er-esting.html

[fallkniven]

Good-looking hut. Those bush shelters are fun aren't they?

[CJK]

Debris huts have provided the best night's sleep I've ever had in the woods. Warm, quiet, and dark. Maybe I should fill my hammock with leaves?

[Les Rust]

Good stuff, Ocelot. I checked out the blog. The flat roof idea is pretty neat--gives enough room for two. Did you have the fire in the front of the shelter to reflect heat inside? Could you tell a difference?

[grannypat]

But what about spiders?!?

[soundmanob]

Looks like you had fun! This is one of the very first things children should be taught about the woods because it could save their life!!! When lost, they most often times die of exposure before rescue can be achieved.
Good start at shape and space for fun camping. Looks like you made a frame out of saplings, good idea to increase space w/in. In a true survival scenario, (no sleeping bag,pad) door should be just big enough to crawl in to and sealed with a door of crosshatch pine needles. The less space inside, the warmer it will be. Optimally, body heat is enough to provide the needed warmth. Roof it is not thick enough to provide the needed insulation for winter. (2-4 feet of debris recommended.) In warmer temps, 1-2 feet of debris (What you have) is sufficient so rain will be diverted away from you. Lastly, a thick bed of pine boughs, dry leaves and grasses will insulate you from the cold ground.
Not trying to be critical of what you did just expand on the subject.

Referance: Tom Brown Jr's Field Guide to Nature and Survival For Children

http://www.amazon.com/Browns-Field-N...wn+jr+survival

[nothermark]

interesting writeup. Nice job. Thanks for posting!

[JPENA]

great job on the hut. thanks for the pics, I can remember building these as a kid.

[Ocelot]

Thanks for checking out the hut! I did have the fire in front of the hut. It seemed fairly warm, but I have never camped in a debris hut without the fire.

I found it to be really helpful to carry a tarp with me to drag leaves. A suitable tree branch was used like a rake to get the leaves on the tarp. Without the tarp it would have taken hours to get the debris where I needed it.

[MedicineMan]

Just looking at the pic posted it's hard to tell how much work went into the hut. I know it takes several hours getting enough leaves to get the depth you need for warmth and to keep the water out-a sheet of plastic is a blessing. The last one I was involved in making was supervising the youngest daughter....we made it so tight she literally had to wiggle to get in.