Q&A for How to Make a Shelter in the Wilderness

A freestanding tent is best, especially if you're traveling in alpine environments. In those types of places, you can't always count on trees or other supports that can help you establish a free structure.

Build a fire and throw some green wood on it once you get it going. The smoke will keep the bugs away.

A fire pit needs to be a shallow hole with nothing in it except your fire. Make sure it is clear and dry to make sure it burns properly. If possible, you can ring the outside with rocks to mark the location better and prevent other items from falling in and catching on fire.

A fire with green wood thrown on it will create smoke that will keep bugs away. Applying mud to your skin could keep bugs away as well.

Yes, you can use various debris found in the wilderness. A weatherproof sheeting or something similar can make a massive difference. If you cannot find something like that, create a large crisscross pattern with logs and twigs and then put large leaves and debris over the pattern to create a more stable structure.

The tarp hammock is the best way to go. To make a tarp hammock you just need to find two trees that are a good distance apart, approx. 10 feet. The materials that you need are a tarp of any size and two sets of rope. You take the tarp and fold it in half, and take each end of the tarp and tie the rope tight around the ends. Then on the outside of either tree, make a notch at the height that suits you. When your done making the notches tie the rope around the tree where the notch is on either side. This should hold your weight and keep you off the ground, it also doubles as a rain catcher so you'll have a supply of water.

You can use mud and berries and similar items to "paint" your shelter, but the way it's designed in the second and third methods, it's already quite well camouflaged.

Yes the fire can be any size, but be careful of the surroundings to ensure they don't catch on fire.

If the gap is small enough between the sticks, debris shouldn't fall through. Make sure you keep the sticks tight together.

Tie it down with string or anything that can work as a rope; even flexible twigs can do the trick. You can weave twigs together to achieve this, too. Or you can cut the wood sideways a little to create a prong to hold a stick in place.

Yes, use the hatchet to chop branches or small trees to usable lengths to create the frame of your shelter, then add leaf litter, moss, twigs and other branches. A tarp is also a very good item to consider when hiking, as this can be incorporated into almost any shelter as a waterproof and wind proof layer.

A weatherproof sheeting or something similar can make a massive difference. If you cannot find something like that, create a large crisscross pattern with logs and twigs, then put large leaves and debris over the pattern to create a more stable structure.

Do things to deter them from your campsite. For example, have a large thick rope around your campsite to keep snakes from getting in. If you are afraid of things falling from above find a small clearing so there are no over hanging trees for things to jump down from. Close any openings to your shelter so nothing can crawl inside. Use bug repellent. Don't camp where wild animals are known to forage or roam. Hang food in bear-safe ways. Lock all doors to your car and put up all windows to discourage foraging.