Debris Hut Problems
Craig HookFor anyone placed in a survival situation,
especially during inclement weather, a warm, dry shelter is the first concern.
This shelter will probably be a debris hut because it is the easiest and
quickest to build. But because it is so easy to build, many people feel no need
to practice. Thus, when it comes time to construct a debris hut during the
Advanced Standard class, many errors are made. Here are some of the mistakes
which I have seen in past classes.
1) Avoid building in low spots where water
might collect during a heavy rain, or next to a river or lake where heavy mist
might occur.
2) Do not be afraid to walk some distance to
find a good shelter site or building materials. This may sound ridiculous, but
people often have a mental block about walking and will not leave a 50 yard
circle around their shelter site to locate a good supply of building materials.
Look around for a stand of deciduous trees which will have a large amount of
leaves underneath. Do not overlook moss, fir and pine needles, grasses or the
bark of a dead tree.
3) Shelters are built much too big. Many one
person huts are capable of sleeping two or three people. Thinking small can save
you precious time and energy.
4) Rather than make several trips to collect
sticks, why not bundle then together using your belt or shirt.
5) Make a rake and use your blanket or jacket
to collect leaves and other debris.
Build a shelter and spend a night in it during
cold or rainy weather. This will show you whether or not you have built it
correctly. Remember, it should be two and a half feet thick minimum. A little
bit of practice now will save you a lot of misery later on.
From The Tracker magazine, February 1982,
published by the Tracker School.
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