Q&A for How to Build a Fast Shelter in the Wilderness

Tarps can be really helpful wilderness shelters, and all you'll need is some rope and fasteners. Obviously, please make sure that you're not creating any lasting damage to the tree that you're tying the tarp to. Also, it's important that you're in a site that has some drainage capacity so that, if it does start raining on you, the water won't pool in your site.

The safest place to build a sleeping den is high up on the beach, which will put you out of reach of the the tide. You can make an elevated bed out of trunks and branches. You can make cover out of anything soft, like leaves, long grass or sand.

You can, but you have to be careful. Wild animals, such as bears or wolves, tend to make caves their homes. If you can see inside, look for bones, excrement, fur, and (of course) the animal. If you cannot see inside the cave, it is not recommended you go in to find out whether or not there is an animal, as this is clearly dangerous. If you can survive without a shelter for a while longer, find a hiding spot and keep watch over the cave to see if any animals enter/exit. If it's clear, then immediately use foliage such as sticks and branches to cover the entrance, while still giving yourself a way out. This will help ensure that no animals come into the cave looking for shelter.

Though dangerous, it is not the most dangerous animal you could encounter in the wilderness. They are agile, but if you keep a tree between you and an angry deer, or better yet, climb the tree, you are safe. There is no point in moving your shelter, just find a safe place out of reach and wait for it to leave.

It depends on your situation! If you have any resources such as plastic or wood, then follow the sand instructions above. However, if you have nothing, then wait until the wind settles and dig a hole. When the wind speed picks up, go into your hole. Then repeat until the hole is deep enough to be away from the wind, but shallow enough to stand up and see over the top!

Yes, you will be safe from grizzlies and wolves. However, smaller animals like black bears may still be able to get to you, and you could fall off, but if you find a good tree, go for it.

You can build a solar still or desalinate sea water.

Absolutely! You could try finding leaves and bamboo tree trunks, and some vines for rope, then connect them the best you can to make a bed. If you're somewhere muddy, try making a swamp bed . If you don't want to try too hard and it's safe to sleep out, just bed down on soft bushes, grass or layers of dry grass.

You can try to dig a hole or cave. It will give you shelter and shade. This sort of shelter will also preserve warmth.

Dig a hole deep enough to stand in. Be sure to have a way out, like piles of packed dirt as stairs. Once done, pack all of the dirt for strength. You can also dig in a bit for a sort of roof. Be warned, however, that if you don't have something to fully cover the opening, rain can flood your shelter. To prevent this, dig a deep, slanted area that will act as a drain. You also may want to make multiple of these structures. To help dig, see if you can find a large rock or other hard item, and hit that item against the dirt to loosen it, or simply rub it on the dirt. For a bed, make a gently curved mound large enough to lay on, and cover it with grass.

If it is a small animal, like a squirrel or a mouse, try to scare it off. Make yourself big, wave your arms, and make noise. If it's a large animal, a predator, or seems aggressive, back away and leave your shelter if possible. Still make yourself big and try to scare it away. You may need to defend yourself with a stick or something else if you can't get out of your shelter and the animal is still coming towards you. Consider building your shelter somewhere different or making it more secure if animals keep coming inside.

If heat is an issue, one medium shelter might be more comfortable, because there would be two of you contributing body heat. Otherwise, small shelters are easier to build than larger ones.

It may be possible but will probably be destroyed easily and won't have many uses.

First, assess your situation. If it's a plane crash, try to make a fire quickly to stay warm, boil water, and cook food. Then, focus on getting rescued, as search efforts will likely follow a plane crash.

If you're sleeping on the ground, use leaves or branches to create a soft bed.