Today’s article will discuss other facets of shelters such as size, and materials and why you’ll need one regardless of temperature and weather.
Size
In cold weather you want it just big enough on your body, and whatever gear you have. The smaller the shelter the more it is to heat and retain your body heat. You also do not want to expend plenty of energy and materials building your own shelter.
Materials
If you start out unprepared to be able to shelter overnight or even shelter for a few hours then you will have to construct a debris hut or look for a natural shelter. Something as simple as breaking a frigid wind or blocking the hot sun shine can save your life.
In cold temperature however, you will need to insulate your whole body from the cold ground, so you will need materials such as leaves, pinus radiata boughs, pine needles, and dried out grasses for ground insulation. A fairly easy waterproof ground cloth would definitely not provide enough ground insulation in winter.
Mylar blankets can be used for emergency shelters should you have cordage and other means associated with securing the material, otherwise a slight breeze can carry the umbrella away. Use the blankets in conjunction with forest debris. Once you have a debris hut built line the interior with a Mylar blanket to be able to reflect heat in cold weather and use on the exterior in the summer to reflect the hot sunshine away from the shelter.
Once you have the poles constantly in place any forest debris can be used to help repel rain and snow and to block cold winds and even direct sunlight. Your shelter can be as simple as placing some strong saplings against a fallen log or you are able to build a tepee style shelter by building a tripod and filling in the sides with saplings and natrual enviroment debris.
You can scoop out the particular soil under a fallen log to generate a body sized depression. Pile some debris during one side to create an ad hoc lean to shelter. Build your fire then it reflects into the depression, but of course try not to set fire to your brand new home.
Soil and snow make great insulators for your sides of your hut, but it will need some work to make your hut as warm as possible. It is important to arranged on your day hike or other outdoor adventure happy to shelter overnight. Tarps and Mylar blankets and also the heavier Mylar blankets are lightweight and can be carried in any pack and even folded/rolled and lashed to your system.
For those that think they do not need a shelter at night in the woods in the summer months probably should not get caught in the woods in the evening. Once the sun goes down you will get ground fog which can soak your clothing and come up with your skin, and then once the temperature drops you will certainly feel cold. Hypothermia can build at temperatures around 50° P oker. Cool air combined with excessive humidity/moisture could spell problems.
You cannot simply drop to the ground and get to sleep. You need some protection via insects, four legged predators, and even reptiles to some extent. Shelter is important and it need to be planned for, and be adequate at any time you spend a night in the particular woods.
Pack for the seasons. In the winter a tarp/poncho will not be sufficient for overnight. They are ideal for blocking cold winds a couple of hours, or providing shade inside hot sun, but for overnight in extreme cold maybe you have to use a tarp or poncho along with forest debris to produce a warm shelter. Know the terrain and conditions patterns before you set out to help you to pack your kit accordingly.
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