Emergency shelters,,,let me count the ways

Lean To's: Probably the quickest and easiest shelter to construct. The lean to also provides the least amount of shelter from the elements!!

Find 2 long poles (or cut down 2 young saplings) and place one end of each into the "notch" of a tree formed by a branch growing out from the trunk. Take other saplings/small long logs and lay them horizontally along the two support poles. Use cord or vines to tie the cross logs to the frame.

Face the opening side of the lean to downwind!

If you've a tarp, lay it across the lean to, if not, gather small branches from neighboring trees and weave them in and out of the cross timbers. You can also pile leaves on top of the "roof" to block the wind. There needs to be 2-3 feet of leaves to provide wind and rain protection.

If time is available, one can build wings on the sides by standing short logs vertically along the sides, lashed to the support timbers. Then weave in smaller branches horizontally among the vertical logs.

If time is available, a windbreak can be woven across the open side of the lean to, far enough back to allow safe spacing from a fire. The "lean to" design will reflect some of the heat of a fire into the "lean to" area.

The basic "lean to" can be built by one person in about one hour. Wings will require another hour to two hours. A windbreak across the front will require one to two hours. Under optimal conditions!!!

A Hooch: Using a tarp or a GI poncho. Anchor one of the longer sides of the tarp or ponch to the ground with either stakes or lines to the bases of nearby trees. The closer the trees are to the length of the tarp or poncho, the better. Raise the tarp or poncho approximately half of it's length, and tie off the sides to nearby trees. Now fold the remaining half of the tarp or poncho, DOWNWIND, and tie off to nearby trees at a slightly inclined angle.

One can cut small saplings to lash between two trees to fold the tarp or ponch over to the downwind side. One can even fashion poles to tie the overhang to.

This will take approximately 30 minutes to put together.

Build a small fire in front of the opening, spread some insulating material (leaves, cedar boughs, etc) down inside of it, and spread your bedroll/sleeping bag out.

In some cases, with sufficient time, dig a long, shallow foxhole, where you're building the hooch, and then fill that with insulating material. You'll get more protection from the weather!

The foxhole will take approximately 1 hour to dig.