How do you build a long term shelter in the woods?

Building a long term shelter in the woods requires careful planning and preparation. The shelter needs to protect you from the elements, be structurally sound, and support your basic needs like sleeping, cooking, and storage. When choosing a shelter location, consider proximity to water, resources, terrain, and your particular climate. The main types of long term shelters to consider are debris huts, log cabins, dugouts, and RVs or campers. Building any of these requires tools, materials, time, and skills.

What are the basic requirements for a long term shelter?

The most basic requirements for any long term shelter are:

• Weather protection – The structure needs to shield you from rain, wind, snow, etc. Depending on the climate, insulation may also be needed.
• Sleeping area – There should be enough space to comfortably sleep and store bedding. Consider privacy and security as well.
• Food storage – You’ll need an area to safely store food long term. This could be indoors or a separate structure like a cache or root cellar.
• Cooking facilities – Designate an indoor or outdoor area for cooking meals safely. A long term shelter should have designated areas for cooking, washing, etc.
• Seating/workspace – Having a table and places to sit makes the shelter more livable long term. You’ll need workspace for projects or activities.
• Ventilation – The shelter needs ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and air flow. Windows, doors, or gaps under walls/roof provide airflow.
• Waterproofing – Consider waterproofing the roof, walls, floor, and openings to prevent leaks, flooding, and damage.
• Insulation – Insulate walls, ceilings, and floors to conserve heat in cold weather. Reflective insulation also helps in warmer climates.

The exact specifications depend on factors like climate, duration of stay, number of occupants, and personal needs. But addressing these basic requirements makes a shelter viable for long term living off the grid.

How do you choose a good location?

Choosing the right location is critical when building a long term shelter. Here are important factors to consider:

• Water source – You’ll need access to fresh water for drinking, cooking, washing, etc. Locate your shelter near a lake, stream, or spring if possible.
• Building materials – Consider locations with abundant natural materials like trees for lumber, sticks and leaves for thatch, grasses for insulation, stones, etc.
• Sun exposure – Position the shelter to maximize useful sunlight and minimize heat gain in summer. Face the entrance south if possible.
• Drainage – Pick high, dry ground to avoid flooding. Pay attention to drainage patterns when it rains.
• Wind protection – Use natural features as wind breaks, like hills or tree cover. Minimize exposure to prevailing winds.
• Defensibility – Consider visibility, escape routes, and ability to detect intruders. Position the shelter in a tactically sound location.
• Local resources – Proximity to fish, game, edible plants, medicinal herbs, and other resources is ideal.
• Concealment – Camouflage the shelter from prying eyes if stealth is needed. Use vegetation to obscure the structure.

Scout the area thoroughly and consider all factors before choosing your shelter site. This decision impacts almost every aspect of your experience.

What are debris huts?

Debris huts are quick, easy shelters built from natural materials in the surrounding area. They can be built in forests or wooded areas using the debris around you.

To build a debris hut:
– Find a base structure. This may be:
– A fallen tree or large branch
– A rock outcropping or cave
– A stump or set of crossed branches
– Lean sticks at an angle on both sides to form the rib cage of the hut. Crisscross sticks over the top.
– Cover the frame with bark, leaves, grasses, ferns, or evergreen boughs. Stack debris thickly.
– Leave an entrance hole then plug it with a log or sticks at night.
– Optional: Dig a shallow trench around the hut for drainage.

The advantages of debris huts include:
– Take less than an hour to assemble.
– Don’t require tools, just found natural materials.
– Provide instant shelter and can be abandoned after use.
– Well suited for short or medium term needs.
– Can be camouflaged and hidden easily.

The main downsides are they don’t offer much temperature insulation or stand up to high winds. Overall debris huts are quick, convenient shelters that provide the basics of protection.

How do you build a log cabin?

Log cabins are the quintessential long term shelters. While labor intensive to construct, they create a sturdy, durable, weatherproof domicile when built properly.

Follow these steps to build a log cabin from scratch:

Tools/Materials Needed

• Shovel
• Felling axe
• Hand axe
• Draw knife
• Adze
• Froe
• Broad axe
• Timber (trees cut into logs)
• Stones or concrete for foundation
• Moss/chinking materials
• Hand saw
• Drill
• Nails
• Door, windows

Construction Steps

1. Clear and level the site
2. Lay the foundation (stone or concrete)
3. Cut and haul logs using teams or tractors
4. Notch, stack, and interlock corner logs and sills
5. Add floor joists, subfloor, and loft joists
6. Install wall logs in successive layers
7. Add roof rafters, sheathing, and shingles
8. Caulk gaps with moss or chinking
9. Install windows, doors, finishes

A fireplace or wood stove can be added for heat and cooking. The cabin can be expanded over time by adding lean-tos, lofts, or extensions. With its thick log walls and insulation, a log cabin remains comfortable in both summer and winter. The investment of sweat equity pays dividends for decades in a sturdy wilderness dwelling.

What are the steps to build a dugout shelter?

Dugouts are shelters with walls and roof made partly or entirely of soil. They take advantage of the insulating properties of earth while providing shelter from the elements. Here are the basic steps to build one:

Choose Site

Pick a location on flat or gently sloping ground with good drainage. Position the entrance away from prevailing winds.

Clear Area

Clear brush, roots, grass, and uneven ground from the footprint area.

Dig Walls

Dig the side walls straight down 2-4 feet until you reach intact soil. The back wall should be dug into the hillside or built up with logs.

Add Roof

Install a log/branch roof frame. Cover with 6 inches of soil and a waterproof layer like clay, sod, or tarp. Leave an air gap along edges for ventilation.

Frame Entrance

Use logs or branches to create a covered entryway about 3 feet wide. This helps insulate the interior.

Waterproof

Line the walls with plastic sheeting, clay, or sod to prevent moisture intrusion or seepage. Divert surface runoff away from the shelter.

Interior Work

Level the floor, add fire pit, benches, storage, sleeping platforms, etc. Dugouts stay a comfortable temperature year round when well-constructed. With time and effort, you can create a cozy dugout home in the wilderness.

What options exist for using RVs or campers?

RVs (recreational vehicles) and campers offer a ready-made solution for long term shelter in the woods. The advantages include:

– Fully enclosed dwelling with amenities
– Mobility allows changing locations
– Fast setup compared to building
– Resale value if needed later

Class A Motorhomes

The largest RV option. Ideal for extended off-grid use.

– Bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms
– Powered by engine or generator
– More expensive but full amenities

Travel Trailers

Towed behind a vehicle and detached on site.

– Sleeps around 4-8 people
– No motor, requires transport
– Cheaper way to get shelter basics

Pop-up Campers

Collapsible hard-walled campers offer compact transport.

– Tows behind vehicle
– Canvas sides pop up for use
– Takes minutes to setup and break down
– Lightweight and very affordable

Truck Campers

A unit loaded into the bed of a pickup truck.

– Self contained amenities
– Doesn’t require towing
– Makes use of existing truck
– Capable of reaching remote sites

With any RV or camper, consider insulation, solar upgrades, and amenities for comfortable long term occupancy. Used RVs can provide an economical head start on off-grid shelter.

What tools and materials do you need?

Building a long term shelter, especially from scratch, requires an array of tools and materials. Here are some essential items to obtain before starting your project:

Tools

• Shovels – for digging, trenching, site prep
• Axes – felling axe for chopping trees, hand axe for shaping
• Saws – handsaw, crosscut saw, bow saw for cutting logs/lumber
• Drills – power drill, auger bits for drilling holes in wood
• Hammers – for pounding in nails, stakes, spikes
• Knives – sturdy fixed blade knives for cutting, splitting, carving
• Digging bar – for breaking ground, prying, demolishing
• Measuring tapes, levels – for accuracy in construction

Materials

• Lumber – dimensional, posts, poles for framing
• Plywood – for subflooring, walls, roof
• Roofing – shingles, metal sheets, tar paper
• Insulation – fiberglass batts, rigid foam
• Siding – boards, planks, logs (debarked)
• Cement/concrete – for footings, foundations
• Windows – for light, ventilation
• Doors
• Tarps – for weatherproofing
• Fasteners – nails, screws, spikes, brackets, hinges

Gather all required tools and materials before starting. Having spare materials on hand allows easier repairs and additions too.

What skills are needed?

Certain skills will prove very useful when constructing a long term shelter in the wilderness:

• Carpentry – Framing, roofing, siding, finishing for wood structures
• Masonry – Working with stone and concrete for foundations, fireplaces
• Electrical – For setting up lighting, outlets, solar power
• Plumbing – Useful for installing sinks, toilets, water storage/delivery
• Excavation/trenching – For dugouts, drainage, underground construction
• Land clearing – Removing brush, leveling slopes
• Forestry – Tree identification, felling, transporting timber
• Knot tying – Securing tarps, building shelter frames
• Fire building – Constructing safe campfires for warmth, cooking
• Hunting/fishing – Procurement of food in the wilderness

Learning basic shelter construction, woodcraft, and outdoor living skills will make the experience much smoother. Bring experienced friends if lacking certain expertise. Some skills develop quickly through practice and necessity.

How do you build essential features and furnishings?

After erecting the basic structure, a long term shelter needs certain features and furnishings to become a comfortable home.

Beds/furniture

– Raised sleeping platforms with stuffing/padding
– Benches, stools, chairs made from split logs
– Small fold-up tables offer flexible workspace
– Tree stump stools offer rustic seating

Fireplace

– Stone or clay encircled hearth
– Chimney made of clay/stone or metal stack sections
– Mantel helps prevent sparks reaching roof

Outhouse/latrine

– Small privacy structure with toilet seat/hole over pit
– Ventilated to deter flies and smell
– Locate downhill and downwind from water sources

Food storage

– Dry goods and tools stored in rodent-proof cache on stilts
– Subterranean root cellar for cool storage underground
– Food preparation area/sink for cooking

Water collection

– Rainwater harvesting system with gutters and barrels
– Gravity fed water from upstream with PVC/hose
– Solar still or filtration system for treating water

Prioritizing these homesteading essentials makes daily life in the shelter much more comfortable over the long run.

What are important safety and maintenance considerations?

When living long-term in a wilderness shelter, continuous safety and maintenance is crucial. Here are some vital factors to keep in mind:

Fire safety

– Have multiple exits in case of emergency
– Store flammables away from ignition sources
– Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
– Keep flues and chimneys clean of creosote buildup

Ventilation

– Open windows and use fans to circulate air
– Unclog any blocked vents disrupting airflow
– Control humidity levels to avoid mold/mildew

Weatherproofing

– Monitor roof, windows, and openings for water intrusion
– Patch any leaky sections promptly
– Drainage should divert rainwater away from structure

Food storage

– Store food in airtight containers to exclude pests
– Check regularly for spoilage or contamination
– Dispose of waste properly to prevent odors and animals

Structural integrity

– Inspect for leaning, cracks, or damaged structural elements
– Look for signs of rot, mold, or pest damage
– Make repairs immediately to prevent collapse

With periodic maintenance and common sense precautions, your wilderness abode can remain safe and habitable for the long term.

Conclusion

Creating a long term shelter from scratch in the wilderness takes considerable foresight, effort, and skill. But it provides the ultimate off-grid dwelling for those seeking self-reliance and freedom. The most labor intensive option is building a log cabin. Quicker alternatives include debris huts, dugouts, or outfitting an RV. Select materials and features that best suit the climate and duration of occupancy. With luck and hard work, the wilderness can become a permanent home. Just don’t forget to maintain and improve the shelter continually over time. A well-built refuge lets you not just survive, but thrive in the wild.