Skip to main content
CNN EditionScience & Space
The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SERVICES
 
 
 
SEARCH
Web CNN.com
powered by Yahoo!

How to build a wilderness shelter

Maine Primitive Skills School said the walls of the shelter should be about 2-feet thick -- good enough to withstand a mild night.
Maine Primitive Skills School says the walls of the shelter should be about 2-feet thick -- good enough to for a mild night.

Story Tools

(CNN) -- Knowing how to put together a simple protective structure could save your life in an emergency, even in a day hike gone bad in a forest or national park.

The Maine Primitive Skills School provides these instructions on the creation of a debris hut:

• Find a high dry area to avoid water problems during a storm.

• Locate a strong ridge pole as an anchor for the hut.

• Place sticks as ribbing along both sides of the ridge pole.

• Pile dry debris inside to lift the camper off the cold or damp ground.

• Make walls steep for shedding water.

• Four forked sticks can roof off the entryway.

• Additional debris should be piled on thick and high for protection.

• The finished hut should have walls about 2 feet thick, good for a mild fall night.


Story Tools
Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
Top Stories
Quake jitters hit California
Top Stories
CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards
 
 
 
 

International Edition
CNN TV CNN International Headline News Transcripts Advertise With Us About Us
SEARCH
   The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
© 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.
 Premium content icon Denotes premium content.
Add RSS headlines.