Winter Survival Shelter, Stay Warm Overnight With No Fire

How to build a simple emergency winter survival shelter for use in a solo overnight stay in the field. If you end up getting caught out in bad weather while out in the field and have limited resources this style shelter can be made with no tools, and little skill. Just build it small and use as much material as you have energy to gather, the more you get the warmer you will be.
The Arid Scablands can be a tricky place to be when the weather gets bad. Cold winds, low temperatures and steep cliffs and ledges can become hard to navigate at night. In other areas that have an abundance of resources building a shelter can be pretty simple, and there are many videos of building bamboo huts, stick lean-to's shelters, fern and bark huts. We have to be a little creative out here having almost none of those building materials, even firewood is scarce.
This is a list of the clothing and equipment I had while filming this video series.
These items are a mix of old and new, not the best but what has proven to work for me over the years. Some are affiliate links which if used earn me a small commission.
Anorak, best I can tell it is the "Brooklyn armed forces OCP Camo Anorak Jacket", sold at Sportsmans Guide... I will not give a link because YT likes to nuke channels for links to sporting goods retailers.
Olightstore Affiliate link:www.olightstore.com/s/R05V5U
10% Coupon code: SCS10
My most used gear found here : www.amazon.com/shop/zeuki1
Flashlights: Small one is the Olight S1 Baton mini, larger one is the Olight S30 III Baton, great lights but both are obsolete, here are the replacements:
MINI: amzn.to/3FvRQtG
LARGER: amzn.to/3YWzWaz
Lantern is the UCO Sprout. Great Lantern.
SPROUT: amzn.to/3ZUz2Nd
Backpack is Hidden Woodsman Day Ruck in ATACS iX. Sold on the Hidden Woodsman website, this model not available now.
Gloves, Wells Lamont 3210 Work Gloves.
Gloves: amzn.to/40jFlcC
Small Wool Blend Beanie, local purchase "DPC, Dorfman Pacific Co".
Neck Gator, Polypro ECWS, Surplus.
Good Substitute: amzn.to/3JseWm9
Wool Socks. Unknown local seller.
Pants, Dickies Brand "Ripstop Stretch Range Pant" I have only found them locally at Bi Mart.
Boots, Lacrosse Mens Alpha Agility 800g insulated Purchased through Midway
Sweater, 5 button Surplus Wool blend preferably. Purchase at surplus dealer.
Jacket Liner, Field Jacket liner, Surplus. Found at some surplus dealers still but is an old model.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

I have kept my word and the overnight video is posted to my channel, thank you all for the views! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHurc2eYrNmlfKc

[@dannidubig]

Legendary!

[@jeremyraia1064]

While you're sleeping in that cozy nest, some naked dude that just spawned is gonna to loot your backpack. 10/10

[@AUniqueHandleName444]

Yesss

[@paulwilliams6159]

What if it's chucking it down & and the weeds are soaking wet? Surely, it won't keep you warm in those conditions.

[@robbip]

Yea,the video did well enough !

[@rogerlawrence233]

I used to be a Royal Marine, spending every winter in the arctic. Temperatures at night used to fall up to -40/60. We were taught something very similar to this in case of emergencies. It really does work.

[@runekongstadlarsen7569]

@@AquaFyre he us talking about the arctic zone which is just very north and not only antatica

[@rogerlawrence233]

No, but they have a lot of grasses left over from the summer which, because of the low temperatures are completely dry and insulates very well.

[@robertchiarizia9463]

@@rogerlawrence233exactly. I stuff my tipi liner in the cold seasons and the dead air space holds heat well. The body is 98 degrees, if you can save that heat from dissipating, you will be very warm.

[@ColdSkilletGuitarlive]

Gott keep those toes warm.

[@rogerlawrence233]

It wasn't easy@@ColdSkilletGuitarlive

[@Faith_Over_Everything]

Love how genuine this is. Not over produced or fancy.

[@licksnkicks1166]

This was great. I loved it!

[@bemotivated8443]

Yes exactly

[@michaelmatos818]

Why I’m subbing

[@keikei3301]

I enjoy watching these type of vids. FYI: Ticks are still active in winter even when it snows 😖

[@Marketplace-Media]

Agreed

[@user-pg2bj7rv1t]

I had a vehicle breakdown in North Dakota one winter. I knew I would freeze to death in my car because it would not run to give me heat. I saw a Barn 1/4 Mile away and went to it. Inside were MANY Bales of Hay. I made a shelter out of that, and during the night, it actually became hot in there. The next morning the farmer who owned the barn found me because he had seen his Hay had been moved. I told him my situation, and he and his wife got me a tow and fed me Breakfast.

[@bryandaniel3890]

That's awesome work up here and always wondered what would happen if you got stuck out here did you nor have service on your phone ?

[@user-pg2bj7rv1t]

@@bryandaniel3890 At the time there was no celll coverage where I was. I would assume that has since gotten better.

[@korgond]

Bravo ser 👍

[@mikebane2866]

Uh, why didn’t you just walk another 50-100 feet to their house and knock on the door? The barn usually isn’t too far from the farmhouse, probably would have called you a ride home or given you a bed and a warm beverage.

[@yaketysmack5512]

Did the farmer have a smokin hot daughter too?

[@brandyyolidio4213]

I built similar shelters for stray cats when I was young, since my mother did not want them inside since we had a dog. If I did it correctly, I was always so happy when I would return and they were still there 😊

[@dyssy]

What I truly admire is that this guy was making videos for over 11 years and this is his first 1 mil+ views video. I can't commend this kind of dedication enough, hope you'll get 1 mil subs now, sir! And awesome video, tips like this will save lives!

[@dyssy]

Yeah true

[@mike2410]

It's a sign of the times we're heading in to, and a vindication of the genuine preppers who saw this coming.

[@steveperreira5850]

Very well done demonstration of a grass shelter For conditions colder than rain.

[@cbl123123]

What I truly admire is how you copied the top comment to get likes and forgot to change accounts before commenting "Yeah true"

[@taylorcoleman8097]

why did you just copy and paste that one guys comment lmao

[@Ace-1525]

I don't know the odds of me ever being in a situation where this will help me, but yet I'm still very, very happy to know this. Thank you for this!

[@zappthezapper33]

minimum it was informative. maximum it saves my life.

[@bludix_elite]

​@@zappthezapper33 poetry

[@bigman8477]

​@@zappthezapper33- someone who lives in new york city that cant hunt

[@clivewoolley4492]

@@bigman8477 If you can survive in New York City you can anywhere.

[@lifeofreilly9943]

Same!

[@TheKevo7777]

I did something similar to this back in 1993 in the high desert of California during the winter. It was very warm and I slept like a baby all night. Woke up rested and continued my journey out of there.

[@lindadunn8787]

How are we going to keep the vacuum salesmen out? Of course we have a door!

[@scatdog1]

Cool !! lived in Joshua Tree for many years. No place like it on earth.

[@Jcoombs2011]

Oh wow, I was born in 1993. I knew it was a good year😅

[@2323msg]

I was looking for something besides the plethora of bushcraft videos out there, where they take an entire afternoon to build a beautiful shelter. Though it looks spectacular, comfy and warm, I can’t help but think, “what if you’re really in a survival situation with very limited time…your video delivers the goods..bravo!!!

[@5Gen]

a Ranger survival book is very handy. similar stuff within it.

[@spicyguacc]

I’d love to see an overnight in this shelter!!

[@robertott2631]

Well he would crawl inside and go to sleep. There.

[@deanrobinson3661]

Nice job

[@kingsgaurd]

Definitely. Please include a small thermometer if you do an overnight. I am really curious what the temperature inside that type of shelter will be.

[@drunkwoodswyllia4885]

I was thinking the same thing

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

Great shelter. Thanks for showing. And at least one 10' × 10' plastic sheet should always be included in the ruc sack. After all the insulation is laid, the sheet can go over it to stop drafts, rain or sleet. Ok, and a hand warmer.

[@denisedevaughn544]

I was in Utah in Arches NP. Nights were dropping into the 20’s. I did a trail to the furthest arch around 2:00. Going to it was easy. Leaving was a different story. The trail was poorly marked. I ended up on a different, long, complicated trail. I was in the desert watching the sun go down completely lost and cold. I was following a trail but had no idea to where. I was so happy to see people about a mile up and I ran so fast. Got back to my car just as it was getting dark. I had a puffy jacket, some water, protein bars. No flash light and no lighter. My phone was dying. I learned an incredible lesson that day. Be prepared for any thing.

[@denisedevaughn544]

No doubt it was hot during the day until the sun was setting and than it was getting really cold. I was planning on 20 degrees like the last few nights

[@vintage6346]

I lived in Ecuador for almost 20 years. I may have heard this story from an Ecuadorian friend or from an Argentinian friend. Sorry, it was a long time ago. They told me that when on any trip across the highlands, one must stop and choose a campsite early in the afternoon and begin collecting grass. They said that if you don't collect enough grass before nightfall, you can freeze to death. I was impressed by that story, and see?... I've remembered it even now, decades later. Simple materials and common sense. But a person needs to hear these things "ahead of time", because in a life and death situation, that person may have only one chance to get it right. Good video!

[@17Liberty76]

I was hunting with my dad and uncle when I was a teenager. I severely underestimated the cold. I didn't want to seem like a wuss, but I was getting dangerously cold. I found an old bale of hay at the edge of a field. I opened it and put some under me and all around. I was literally amazed at the difference it made. I never said anything to them. Just quietly learned several lessons

[@jaylu7021]

Hay is great for insulation. I use it sometimes to insulation stuff.

[@VajjEater707]

I did the same thing but stuffed some down on my ballsack

[@17Liberty76]

@@VajjEater707 lots of slivers I assume lol

[@blendingsentinel4797]

I'm willing to bet that, he knew. And was proud

[@marygaelen5678]

How about sheltering in a car?

[@rd6144]

Content like this makes KZbin a useful tool, thumbs up from Ireland

[@druntopronto7598]

" Well of course we're gonna have a DOOR" Love it!!!

[@tzzeek]

Thank you. We're hitting -40 c here and I'm about to become homeless. Gonna do this near the river to spend the nights. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@DIEGhostfish]

Please try to find a full shelter.

[@tzzeek]

@@DIEGhostfish thanks for your concern brother. It got pretty crazy for a week, very packed in the shelter but now we have been hitting positive degrees. Lotta people out on the streets again. Wish you the best.

[@obsid7146]

@@tzzeek I pray you get out of this man

[@tzzeek]

@@obsid7146 thank you for your kindness. Things got better, managed to get a job and renting à little room in a house now. Thank you so much. ❤

[@obsid7146]

@@tzzeek Im glad things got better bro now they will never stop getting better

[@MerchantIvoryfilms]

Feel like my survival IQ in the grasslands jumped 10 fold! Fantastic video! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@user-vu9mx3tx3q]

Sorry to disappoint you , but this is total rubbish 😹. You call it winter ? Are you sure ? If you do this in Russia - you ll die , because of frozen ground

[@MerchantIvoryfilms]

@@user-vu9mx3tx3q Look everyone a Russian Karen

[@naan-oyobizniz3168]

@@user-vu9mx3tx3q If you're in a remote part of Russia you'd probably have trees all over the place as only a fraction of the country is made up of steppes, the vast majority is tundra or just normal forest. As such, you could easily build a campfire. This video is meant to teach you how to stay warm if you're stuck in grassland, where you won't find enough wood to sustain a campfire.

[@brandonreed9508]

@@user-vu9mx3tx3q Here's the thing, this isn't Russia it's America! Our winters get bad but its do-able for the most part. Yes we get negative degrees here in the double digests, but at the same time we can do things like this and survive. Sorry our part of the world is a little more hospitable then yours.

[@user-vu9mx3tx3q]

@@brandonreed9508 there is no any connection with “parts” of the world / this way of survival is just too dangerous for an inexperienced man. You ll get pneumonia at best way , the worst - frostbite. I know what I’m talking about.

[@inTruthbyGrace]

my brother and I used to build battlestar galactica forts like this in the fields when we were kids 40y ago...long elaborate tunnels. it was so much fun. Our dog Mugsy, a springer spaniel, would go crazy digging after us... what great adventures good times!

[@ethanb8652]

Just imagining a tunnel system in this stuff makes me excited, sounds like good times indeed :^D

[@toddhanley6982]

👍

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

I’m curious why you refer to them as battlestar galactica forts? You mean like the launch tubes that the vipers fly out of? Very cool though, this video reminds me a lot of what they show in documentaries how many rodents build tunnels like this

[@goggy28]

A springer spaniel is a great dog, best field dog I’ve ever hunted behind.

[@VeinyDickTracy]

Did you guys touch each others bungholes inside the tunnel?

[@WookieChewie13]

Its 2am in bed and glad to learn another skill before I sleep. At this point I'm Bear Grylls

[@ricardorangel3241]

Great video. Not sure city folk like me would’ve thought of doing this. I would’ve made something along the face of the cliff to avoid the wind, not considering the rocks. Glad I watched this video!

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Fascinating! Back in 1974, friends and I were up in the mountains after a heavy snows. Turns out the snow was of a perfect condition to roll huge snowballs. We rolled several of those together, hollowed out the cumulative mass, and actually made an igloo! Our warm breath had the effect of hardening the inside surfaces. It really provided protection from wind chill. We were happy kids!

[@somebodyspapa5005]

Back around the same time, my brother and I did the same thing by filling up empty trash cans with snow, then putting them upside down and pulling the can off the snow and after about 6 of these, we arranged them in a way that we could put a piece of plywood on top and cover it with snow. The resulting igloo was impressive. And so warm that we took our coats off inside the igloo.

[@danieljarvis9117]

You made a quinzee.

[@InsideTheStadium]

Legendary 🙏🏽💯🍻

[@smurf2274]

Be careful doing that. If the Igloo is not made correctly, the now frozen snow can collapse and fall right on your body. That‘s a lot of damage.

[@JackFalltrades]

Never had to overnight in one, but we built snow igloos when I was a kid in the 60s. We didn't have video games, cell phones, or cable TV, so we went out doors and entertained ourselves!

[@bettycarole2794]

Great video! A few years ago or so, a tiny 90+ year old Vietnamese lady went missing in the PNW forest after picking berries or some such with her extended family. It was freezing at night, and she was missing for around three days. She was finally found alive and quite healthy after burying herself in lots of leaves and some branches to keep warm. The picture of her great-grandson carrying her to safely was incredibly touching. She was little bitty but mighty...and definitely a survivor. Kind of like my Filipino neighbor's 75-year-old mother who climbed up and stayed for two days in a tree after a monsoon and flood destroyed her home. Hearty folks.

[@chrisweidner4768]

Yep. My wife’s Vietnamese grandmother is 102 and still cleans her home and works out in the yard.

[@katigrace]

That is awesome! I wish I had that strong a constitution in my older years. Gotta work at it.

[@emancify]

You have to love their tenacity to survive in ANY conditions. I would do the same thing.

[@whocares_bear]

There's an 80+ year old Russian lady who lives all by herself on Lake Baikal i Siberia. She ice skates like 15 miles to the nearest supply store

[@adrianpoesiat]

@@chrisweidner4768self reliant culture 👍

[@MrVeteranMan]

I walked from California to Florida several years ago and spent a couple of nights in horribly cold weather. Awesome video

[@TheFlash-Darkmode]

3 AM survival guide at an exam night is hitting different rn.

[@samok6594]

A little change to this, I've seen rats and other small animals do this, is after going so far, you go off at a right or left angle, if there's enough cover of course, then they clear out just enough to sleep in, keeps the wind from blowing straight in, then block the opening just like you did here. Makes an immense difference

[@ralphjohnson6757]

Cool thxs

[@albingrahn5576]

good tip!

[@jacksprat429]

Excellent video. Thank you for this tip. Could have used this once or twice. 🤩

[@mellow5123]

Animals are the best teachers.

[@hiiambarney4489]

@@mellow5123 Nature in general!

[@ElementofKindness]

One of the few bushcraft emergency shelters that truly appears cozy. An overnight stay with inside and outside temperature readings would be awesome.

[@jamesw713]

That's my question, too. How much warmer than outside temperatures is that shelter.

[@gusgone4527]

Until it rains.

[@skeggjoldgunnr3167]

@@gusgone4527 You can always thatch grass mats and cover the top. WAY more than enough! With a trench and berm around you and adequate prep on roof and insulating between you and the earliest morning hour ground cold - these type shelter are WAY better than the best tent + sleeping bag. I've done it. I survived cozy warm and dry and VERY happy through thunderstorm and deepest Michigan upper peninsula winter madness. My high school friends and I would head out every other weekend for such a camping excursion. Survival mode! We were on either motocross motorcycle or snowmobile. Took nothing but a good solid knife and our favorite fishing supplies and some ohio bluetip strike anywhere wooden matches, steel wool, 9V battery, Flint, guncotton. Mosquitos put an end to this fascination one night. Suffering to the point of insanity.

[@synapticburn]

@@gusgone4527 you must be fun at parties

[@AUniqueHandleName444]

@@synapticburn It wasn't a bad zinger

[@rapidfire-0680]

It Definitely looks like it Would save your life from the Elements in A Critical Situation, Good Video Thanks 👍

[@Asdfbedffhdsxe345]

Great video!! When I was in the Army we also learnt that you can pack your clothes with tonnes of the grass too, pad yourself out

[@stefanbertasz4690]

Yes, stuffing your clothes with debris makes a huge difference. Not too comfy, but better than hypothermia 😉

[@ClissaT]

The thing that I realized about most people who get trapped in the desert at night time (or out anywhere in cold conditions at night) is that they walk far too long before deciding to try to make a shelter. They walk until it is dark, then try to make the shelter. Like you said, they should stop early and make the shelter while it is still light and not so cold their hands won't function. This is all really good knowledge to have tucked away in the back of your mind....just in case!

[@Wastelandman7000]

Yeah, what I was taught was that if you find yourself "turned around" you should start an hour before dark or more getting shelter up. The thing is you may not realize you're lost till 20 minutes before dark.

[@notinterested8452]

First thing. Then everything else but without training and fully panicked, R.I.P

[@davidd854]

Can you just keep walking and moving the entire night to stay warm?

[@notinterested8452]

@@davidd854 yes.

[@richardsmythe4864]

​@@davidd854No one will stop you, but you'll use a huge number of calories especially if it's very cold so it could be better to rest in a warm shelter. You also run the risk of stumbling in the dark down a hole or cliff or twisting your ankle.

[@AKuTepion]

What I love about videos like this is that it shows a practical example. It's not a rocket science to think "alright, when I'm cold, I need to crawl in somewhere". But if I was in that situation, I wouldn't know what to look for and what's the quickest way. Here in Central Europe, nature is a bit different, but it gives me idea what to look for the next time I'll go hiking.

[@ieorlich]

The idea is to find a hole or something similar. I mean, that's what animals do.

[@williamjpellas0314]

I would imagine it is probably more forested in central Europe, in which case a 'rubble shelter' or lean-to can be built with twigs, tree branches, pieces of bark, and stones.

[@victorialazareva]

@@williamjpellas0314 europe is completely deforested and populated, nowhere to get lost.

[@7shinta7]

@@victorialazareva Nowhere would be kind of a stretch, but with some simple rules for orientation you generally find populated areas quite quickly - at least in Germany.

[@victorialazareva]

@@7shinta7 please tell me, where I can get lost in Europe, because I'd like to find such a place :) No people, no roads, wild

[@thechampb12345]

I NEVER like people’s videos but you sir deserve 1. Probably the most well explained and professional video I’ve seen on surviving in the wild

[@grimm2085]

Excellent video, kind of like a beaver den, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, God Bless

[@bethatz252]

My dad taught me how to build a similar shelter when I was a kid (50 years ago). Thank you for the much needed refresher course.

[@ez-g3090]

Want to stay in a shelter with me?

[@SpectreKritical]

​@@ez-g3090wtf

[@misterxxxxxxxxx1]

Damn you old

[@davidweiseth9809]

Wholesome

[@Bldzera]

u have a instagram or snapchat?

[@ctemple99]

This was very informative! I used to build shelters like this as a kid just for fun. Didn't realize I was really teaching myself survival skills.

[@deliawright8626]

Me too. When he looked up from inside the spaces could be filled with grasses stuffed vertically from the top Then lace more grasses through, so wouldn't blow away,collect more heat. Much more grass for door, pack for pillow.

[@josephjohnson6849]

Same, had one between 3 huge logs I made a roof of sticks and bark. It was cramped. Or when I made a teepee of sticks and an old tarp.

[@AstroPopper]

You weren’t lmaoooo are you that stoopid?

[@geekfreak618]

We did too. Down in the river bottom woods. Cheap thrills!

[@nicoleymacaroni]

Kids shouldn’t be in a liberal government school that teaches no life skills they should be playing outside

[@JonettaWakely]

I am an old lady (72) but I was fascinated by this. I thought you were adorable!!!

[@user-od2ro7ud1r]

Honestly it looks comfy AF.

[@MrsSmoot-vl3nz]

😅

[@bigbark4627]

1 of the most useful vids on survival I've watched. No tools, no trees, no branches, still a viable emergency shelter! Great 👍

[@UltimatePeterGriffin]

And you don't need a masters in carpentry

[@pongmaster123]

yeah ok, we don't have that grass around ;-)

[@billfulgenzi2287]

​@@user-if1de8pt2jThen you have no business getting off your couch then.

[@tatsuyatsujiuchi5652]

@@user-if1de8pt2j you're probably from a major city. In my country these types of materials are everywhere.

[@tatsuyatsujiuchi5652]

@@user-if1de8pt2j you know him personally? Wow that's amazing! Good for you.....

[@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor]

Outstanding! As a teenage boy, I've been in the desert at night, and I had no idea how cold it can get in the desert at night in September. I ended up making a shelter out of tumbleweeds and made it through the night. It was very much like what you did here. I really liked that your shelter could be made with no tools and little skills. This video could save lives. Thanks for your effort.

[@click411]

what about snakes and wolves

[@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor]

@@click411 It was so cold, if a wolf or snake curled up to me, they'd be welcome. 😆

[@SgtJohnRemairez]

Tumbleweed? Covered with thorns? Jesus man better than freezing to death

[@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor]

@@SgtJohnRemairez I put on every bit of clothing I had and was still freezing. I had no idea that it snows in the desert at night. The tumbleweeds were all that was available for me to make shelter, so I bunched them up as much as possible to block the wind and provide some insulation but I was still freezing all night. In the morning, when the sun came up, I was like a rotisserie chicken turning in the sunlight. Whatever was facing the sun got warm but the side facing away from the sun was freezing cold, so I kept turning. I know better now.

[@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor]

@@doves9204 The desert where is live is in high altitude. It can reach 112 degrees Fahrenheit during a summer day and drop to 61 degrees F at night. However, in the winter months, it can reach the mid 80's during the day and drop to - 28 degrees F at night. The reason is that sand doesn't hold heat well. It's all about the sun. In fact, there can be a 20 degree temperature difference between standing in the sun and standing in the shade on any given day.

[@judyschille8739]

Thank you. I freeze nightly in my home as they turned my heat off 7 months ago. Summers coming and I will be fine again!

[@Miizrblu2u2]

Love this, we live near a river, and on the banks, we have a ton of marsh land that would be suitable for this shelter...thank you for sharing this with us..

[@canoe365]

A good instructor can explain things without being complicated. Great video, very informative and potentially life saving.

[@arveyilleszender5809]

Without being complicated? 😂 he took nearly seven minutes to RIDICULOUSLY over complicate the sentence ‘cover yourself in grass’.

[@UC4AQUgrQ9EwVIGoF0w7xHXg]

​@@arveyilleszender5809nah he demonstrated how in this video 🤡😘

[@arveyilleszender5809]

@@UC4AQUgrQ9EwVIGoF0w7xHXg Your mom demonstrated how in other videos.

[@UC4AQUgrQ9EwVIGoF0w7xHXg]

@@arveyilleszender5809 your dad did too with your hole

[@ezequieII]

​@@arveyilleszender5809 what a clown lmao

[@captains5182]

I like how this man is straight to the point from the get go with good info. No clickbait. Thank you sir! I subscribed

[@justagirlsd3000]

And no extra blah blah blah filler!

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

Yup

[@FRElHEIT]

Thank god sane people still exist.

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

@@FRElHEIT They do? *Looks around* where?

[@s.p.8274]

This is great advice since you showed us how to make a shelter with NO tools so thanks . And it’s especially great For people who find themselves stranded with no shelter in cold temps .

[@jessicameagan4198]

Never would have thought of something like this. So cool.

[@whimsysmith2835]

Learned this lesson in FT Drum. If you are lying prone for a while in the snow, you are going to be wet cold and miserable, at best. Dig under the snow and find the long grass and if you get enough of it you will have a warm bed. I found a knocked over tree and gathered some sticks, whatever I could find and eventually added more snow to the top and sealed in all the holes. It ended up being warmer in my burrow then it was in the warming tent. Great video!

[@ronsedlak4019]

Thanks for sharing that

[@albyfoster2921]

1st BCT?

[@15gramz15]

I don't know what part of Ft.Drum you were in...but didn't work for me🤣🤣🤣 artillery E-7...Ft.Drum wind different 🤣🤣🤣didn't try this method but it's hard to see it working in ft drum...plus I still live in Watertown it ain't got better

[@PeachesCourage]

What about critters though? If there are rocks and there are critters I would use the rocks too you know/ I honestly don't know if there are critters where he is talking about? If not then I'm wrong just don't know?

[@odysseusrex5908]

How come you didn't have shelter halves and sleeping bags, or was it a survival exercise?

[@xipingpooh5783]

This is excellent. I did Cold Weather survival training when I was in the Marine Corps. Cold is the greatest threat to survival. Having the skills to survive it are priceless.

[@user-li4ju9qk5w]

Sorry for tge stupid question but wich is harder to survive and wich is worse to die from cold or hot?

[@maureensullivan220]

Thank you for weighing in on this video and thank you very much for your service. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@caccalot3637]

@@user-li4ju9qk5wgo find out

[@hazletresident76]

@@user-li4ju9qk5w COLD!! Im an Arctic Marine as well. I was also in the Dessert. The Cold and Snow is worse.

[@Redwood65]

@@user-li4ju9qk5wFormer USAF medic with Arctic Circle Survival training over 36 years ago. Did it with regular Army and Eskimo villagers in the Army Guard. I’m going with the cold death. Survivors of near death cold exposure speak of a warm calm feeling caused by your blood concentrating in your torso. Unfortunately the disorientation that accompanies severe hypothermia often prevents you from recognizing that as a fatal symptom. This is what I was taught as a medic. If anyone has knowledge to the contrary I’m open to hear it.

[@user-es6jt6eb7t]

Great advice !!!!!! Thanks for taking the time to record and post ! Youre a Life Saver

[@nicholaskennedy4310]

What a great vid! I fly over alot of rural terrain in the western US, this might come in handy someday Thank you

[@aidanrogers9647]

This reminds me of the tunnels we would build as kids in snow to keep warm so we could stay outside longer. Once you go in you’re not goin back out. Love this super simple and effective stuff!

[@Wilma5532]

Your second sentence has more than one meaning..

[@aidanrogers9647]

@@Wilma5532 lol I’m talking about a sweet, welcoming home with a fire goin. Get your mind out of the gutter

[@Sharpless2]

@@Wilma5532 hehe..

[@caesarsalad1170]

@@Wilma5532 🤣

[@caesarsalad1170]

@@aidanrogers9647 well the fire sets the mood 🤣🤣🤣

[@jayceewedmak9524]

Basically bed down like small animals do. Love watching and replicating nature when possible. Thanks for the video 👍

[@ronbarron6072]

Very cool. Something most people don't show. They only show you how to build shelters with tree limbs and mud which is good, but you need to be able to keep yourself alive until your tree limb shelter is done enough for you to use. Thank you

[@fredford7642]

Very valuable and common sense information. I have spent a few cold nights in the open, and never thought of such a good alternative. And it was right there at my disposal.

[@corm7538]

It's truly amazing how much body heat something like dried-up grass can help a person or animal retain in cold winter weather. I remember back in the winter of 1982 when eastern Missouri got hit with a blizzard that dropped 3 feet of snow over a time span of 18 to 24 hours with high winds that made snow drifts up against buildings that were 5 to 6 feet tall, we had a dog that loved being outside even in the cold of winter. Anyway she was stuck out in the blizzard b/c my hold family was stuck away from home when the blizzard hit but my dad had packed her dog house full of dried hay and she built a little dog-sized hole in the hay and when our next-door neighbor dug her now buried in snow dog house out of the snow the next day he said there was steam coming out of the hole and when she popped her little dog head out so Ron could pet her she was toasty warm to the touch as if she had been setting next to a fireplace.

[@Malc664]

Warm story, thanks for the interesting read.

[@gettingintrospective]

That’s adorable. Your dad is smart.

[@randylahey1232]

It wasn't so much the hay that kept her warm it was infact her house being buried in the snow....snow makes for excellent insulation believe it or not...if you don't believe me then next time there's a huge blizzard go outside and dig a tunnel in the snow big enough to fit your body and youl be amazed how cozy it actually is

[@thornback5641]

​@@randylahey1232 you should add the stipulation of making it not super tight if the people are going to sleep in it when you tell people this as some people have done that and ended up trapped because the melt/shrink. Also making a "snow bench so you are up off the floor because there will be some cold air sinking.

[@TBonerton]

Nice story, you really need to work on your run on sentences. Punctuation makes a difference, I see you used a couple there, needs more.

[@drbettyschueler3235]

I haven't been forced to build a shelter, due to a sudden change in weather, but I did help keep a van full of people, from enduring a terribly cold trip, when I insisted on packing blankets, large thermal pots of coffee and hot chocolate, cookies, and other cold-weather type supplies, for a two-hour road trip in July. It was supposed to be a lovely day so I got kidded all the way to the event we were attending. But as the event was ending, the weather changed dramatically and a snow storm blew in. Suddenly the shorts and tank tops became a serious liability, especially in an old VW van that had no heating beyond the front seats. All those blankets, hot drinks, and high-calorie foods weren't so funny anymore. That was the last time the group made fun of my packing emergency supplies for road trips.

[@devanov3103]

You could've saved these efforts and warmed up instead by having a wild orgy.

[@carpoman]

Where was that?

[@TheBenNZ]

Legend 😎👌

[@Hellsong89]

Its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it

[@richardpisarski3151]

@@Hellsong89exactly

[@thebadgerstick9492]

This looks ridiculously cozy

[@CorvinoDan]

Keeping moving air off your body will solve alot of heat issues. Excellent work!

[@Crusty_Camper]

I've used this kind of shelter "in anger" after the weather closed in during a winter hike in Scotland. I wasn't in a hurry and had food so I chose to use the vegetation for an overnighter very much as in your video. I put a lot of coarse grasses in the bottom to insulate myself from the ground and was warm as toast all night.

[@pixel-pm1vq]

Are you 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ?

[@Crusty_Camper]

@@pixel-pm1vq Yes I am. I can see Scotland from home, I am that close.

[@fluffieboi3139]

​​@@Crusty_Camper hey im Scottish what part can you see

[@bandini22221]

So what were you angry about?

[@Soluscide]

@@bandini22221 Probably the weather, lmao.

[@TheLastCastwithTicktolic]

“How ya gonna keep the vacuum salesman out?” had me rolling on the floor. I loved this video. So essential and straightforward. I give you two thumbs and two toes up 👍

[@tomlxyz]

Keeping the vacuum salesman out is indeed essential

[@danielnobodyknowshowtopron5831]

[@jow6845]

hahahaha

[@rudy199x]

Whose the vaccum salesman?,i assume it to be a bear or wolf?,well i think with the opening covered with bushes like that none of those animals would know there's a person inside it unless the person is loud af or moving a lot.

[@Lilsparrow-of4pv]

(A late comment.) One good, practical piece of info on mindfulness, improvisation and determination on surviving out in the wild on your own under extreme circumstances! ✌️😎

[@Terry-sb4bk]

Thanks for your help and GOD BLESS YOU FOR IT!🙏👍🙏🙏

[@emancify]

This is a great and quick and dirty video on how to survive without fire and a serious shelter. Great job on this short but effective survival video. It's definitely worth 6 :46 minutes of our time to learn something new.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Thank you, that was my goal! down dirty, easy to remember!

[@austin33785]

Why dirty?

[@DJ2Trees]

This is great a phenomenal idea. Once upon a July 4 weekend in Colorado, there was a freak storm. My boyfriend and I built, quickly a thatched leaning shelter with a tree on one side and a large solid boulder for the back side. We built a small fire pit that had a stone roof on it and collected lots of wood and we used a lot of pine boughs for our bedding the fire kept the back of the lien to warm as well as us, and we made it through the night. There was at least 3 foot of snow that came down that July 4th many years ago. Thank you for bringing that memory back. 😂❤😊

[@Chasetenny]

Yea me.too butt naked

[@Rotorhead1651]

Very practical and informative. Most folks these days have no idea of the value of true survival skills.

[@eclecticsoul2514]

Thanks for your service✌🏽

[@shirleybalinski4535]

Best true emergency shelter I've seen in a while. Tall grasses grow in most places, even open wooden areas. For those without tools, physical shape or ability, this simple shelter( or a good copy) could spell the difference between life or death.

[@DC30695]

Found this video today on KZbin and I'm glad!! Learned a new survival trick!!

[@user-ei2qn9kv1m]

This is a nice way Thank you for kindly teaching me It seems useful if there are no trees🙂

[@ecouturehandmades5166]

Gave my boys (10&12 ) the assignment to build a shelter for themselves in the woods below our house. Both came up with usable shelters, since there was a lot of birch bark to make "shingles". Since it wasn't raining, they asked if they could try sleeping outside in them. By morning, the oldest had abandoned his quinzee for little bro's. They enlarged it a little longer in the middle of the night (the outside light was left on) and between the two boys, they were warm enough to sleep well.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

Awesome! I did something similar with my kids when they were that age, thanks for sharing! I am sure they will remember it as a great memory as mine have ha ha ha!

[@ecouturehandmades5166]

@@Scablands_Scavenger Both boys were in Scouts, making & sleeping in snow quinzees. They enjoyed it.

[@TheMan-wg8xm]

I spent the night in a grass shelter similar to that one in Minnesota about 40 years ago. It was close to 40 degrees below zero that night. It worked well, the coldest part was walking out in the morning. It did take several hours to gather enough grass and reeds to make it warm enough. Also my allergies did not like me sleeping in a dusty grass bed.

[@selsam7064]

Were you stranded or was it a test of your endurance? Minus 40, wow.

[@Far-Beyond-Ordinary]

@@selsam7064 It was a test of the survival grass shelter. It works but it is not something you can make at the last minute. It took many hours to gather enough grass and reeds to make enough insulation to survive. (ps. I see I responded from my other KZbin channel.)

[@Markbell73]

I'd rather be annoyed all night with allergies being warm. I can wake up frustrated with little sleep and than complain about it later. As opposed to not waking up.

[@Far-Beyond-Ordinary]

@@Markbell73 So true. Survival was the goal, not comfort.

[@TheKeule33]

-40?! I call BS.

[@tamara25252]

I love the way it sounds when you pick grass/reeds. Also, this is such good information. I have no idea if I'll ever need to know this in real life, but now I know it just in case.

[@kuma9069]

Thank for the simplicity & common sense as to the resouces used. Great tips! 👍 Bless.

[@gailnewcomb8256]

I’ve never had to stay out in the cold, but you never know when it could become necessary. Thanks for the great video!

[@amarie9266]

So simple yet so many of us wouldn't have even thought to do this and then possibly die from the cold. Wow! Love this!

[@excelsior8682]

Agreed! Most people would die. I, however, would simply go back inside the house.

[@lonelylad9818]

@@excelsior8682 Smart man, like what are these idiots thinking?

[@ohasis8331]

Reminds me of a story of an American bomber crew that crashed in far north Queensland in Australia during WW2. They tried to walk out but died from starvation, found some time afterwards by search parties with Aboriginal trackers. The Aboriginies said that they'd died in the midst of plenty and showed what was available to eat if you knew how.

[@nakedbean6649]

@@ohasis8331 I think the knowledge of what is edible, maybe even how to make it edible has been pay with many Aboriginies lives try to testing something out. It would be suicide for those crew members to test it themself ... may even die more painful & quicker

[@KtotheG]

I would have emergency sleeping bags in my backpack. If not, I would've figured that out.

[@magdalenallull3524]

😳Hopefully no one is going to throw a match at me while I’m getting myself cozy and warm in this little den.

[@kathbumbelina2621]

"Of course we'll have a door "!!! 😂😂😂 loved this

[@yordanandonow6788]

Wow! Maybe one of the best shelter videos so far. It's not about 50 minutes long, and you can feel the cozzynest feeling, which is the most important thing in this thing.

[@Magna_Carta5]

Yeah! I was in my bed, wishing I was in a nest like that.

[@host2131]

@@Magna_Carta5 it might be warm and cozy at first, but you are still actively laying on the ground, and when you eventually will fall asleep, you would wake up in the middle of the night because how cold it is

[@jamesbryant4292]

Bro if you think for a second this woudk be the slightest bit comfortable your way out of touch with reality. I mean let’s be real it’s one thing to be in 24 deg weather and have your home to go back into. Mind you it’s 24 with the sun falling will most likely be negative with wind chill!! This is to survive and make it one night. I’d like to see you both survive a night in that shelter.

[@jamesbryant4292]

@@host2131 you sir are exactly right they would be freezing their ass off. All you guys do me a favor next time it’s 50 degrees go sit in some concrete in some thin pants your cakes will be frozen now imagine negative or near negative temperatures. I was homeless for a good minute in areas not near as bad as this temperature let me tell you it’s no walk in the park to wish for magba carta make me a Sammy and stay in ya lane 😘

[@jimmyr5076]

​@@jamesbryant4292 it all depends on where you are. Your brain and body adapt to the uncomfortable. Its like when im at work, outside in the sun, with noise, but I could still fall asleep on any chair or floor. But when I get home I cant sleep if the lights are on or if I hear someone talking outside or the music from a party at another house. Also, it depends on how cold it is, and you would already be wearing cold weather gear if you were outside in that cold. And after walking outside in the cold, feeling lost, stressed, im pretty sure it would feel nice mentally to go in there.

[@markfoster4993]

We learned these survival tactics in the 1960's in Eagle Scouts/Order of the Arrows. Our troop leaders were old WWII veterans, tough guys who expected us to be tough. I don't know of anyone today who is teaching this stuff except on channels like this. Thanks for this!

[@meenam300zx]

Today's Eagle Scout leaders only want to molest kids.

[@dyslexicbatnam1350]

The world needs more WWII vets around

[@donaldmccallum8453]

@@dyslexicbatnam1350 Sadly they are a vanishing breed.

[@HistoricPlum6269]

This guy has some good advice. Great job by him.

[@lerkkweed]

That was amazing. Could make a life or death difference. Thank you!

[@lucdrouin2625]

Finally, a real survival expert! Expedient, efficient and clear instruction with focus on priorities and sequence of gathering in-situ materials! Bravo!

[@louistorres]

Bro, I'm from NYC and swear that if I'm ever lost in the woods and build a shelter and survive, I'll live to tell the tale thanks to you. Great episode and thank you for taking the time to do this!

[@flukeman022]

Then don't go into Central Park. 😂

[@planescaped]

I don't think you'll find these kinds of reeds in new york state. But you could hobble together something similar maybe with brush and sticks.

[@davidrichter9164]

Bro? Really?

[@JohnSmith-ik8nt]

No you wont

[@jamesbaron195]

@user-dw3th4ev9c bro his comments an if then statement. IF he's lost, builds this shelter, and survives, THEN he will tell the tale. You saying no he won't and that it wouldn't have been thanks to this video makes no sense

[@erikaloeffler6178]

That is good to know in our time. We don't know what is ahead of us. Thank you and God bless you for sharing!

[@cliffdudley2449]

That's really good knowledge to have of your stuck in the middle of nowhere for the night!👍😁

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR ANY SCAMS IN THE COMMENTS. I am not running a give away, and am not on telegram, twitter etc. I am not asking for anyone to contact me.

[@4earthly2being0]

I had the BEST WORST sleep of my life in BC on a 100mm storm night with my dog, bag and just a sleeping bag. Found a ''layed down refrigerator''sized slot cave, beautfiully overhung flat roof, which was just comfortably wide and long enough, like perfect and a fridge sized mantel in front, for which I thought/hoped slanted away from the cave. Ended up awaking at midnight, soaked of course; dog, sleeping bag closthes, laying in an inch or two of water. Knowing I didnt have long before my clothes would start to get cold as the night went on, I removed them and decided, as well managed to get back to sleep without clothing, in the wet sleeping bag, in water. Made it all the way until mornin and slept well. I truly believe in that specific situation, sleeping that way saved me from a being awake and shivering all night because i could somehow radiate more heat without layers of soaked materials between my body and the sleeping bag. Definitely the type of sleeping bag played a key role, it wasn an amazingly rated one, but the material when wet still insulated ok.

[@TheAntsNest]

The nest you made look remarkably like a doormouse home, without the down lining inside. Remarkable vidio, ty

[@sickturret3587]

i feel likei fell for a clickbait instead. nothing in the title told me about "only useful when it just started snowing and ground is not wet or frozen yet, have enough clothings and a backpack also be in a certain climate and geoghraphy with the accurate flora to crawl into and fauna not waiting to get out of it's hybernation and poison yoıu or rip you apart while you are at it" also spending a night on that thing with a not cropped out but a fastforward video would make a ilttle sense. all i see is a well dressed healthy looking adult in his camoes doing a castle like toddlers do with pillows in their playroom and that's all.

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

@@sickturret3587 Ha ha, yeah I get it that's how I feel when I watch people in the jungle build bamboo mansions with swimming pools, or the others spending days building mini log homes in their back yards. Thanks for the chuckle.

[@YooperDanKulka]

Here in the U.P. Michigan I've done what you did but I found 1st to add grass inside of my pants and jacket as im building my nest. Helps a lot.

[@ronnetteharvey2002]

This is December 2023, I'm 68. I don't plan on getting in any kind of trouble like this here but I'll tell you this that this IS the best shelter video ive seen. It is something that i think that if we get invaded...i might make it!

[@antonibertolacci7030]

By 👽

[@LeadwithGrace]

“Of course we’re gonna have a door. How you gonna keep the vacuum salesman out” 😂 amazing video! You sir got yourself a new subscriber! 💪🏻

[@daliborrukavina]

This was life saving, thank you!

[@puito6970]

Even without being active in the survival community, I really liked the pace and information density in this video. Keep up the great content.

[@Jcwalker19]

Yeah much agreed

[@bobb.6393]

Very useful tip if flying over Donner Pass

[@jader6423]

would love to see more simple shelters that dont really require tools this was great thanks!♥

[@linkusk2481]

He literally didnt use any tools and this is pretty simple if you ask me

[@swizzmeister4962]

@@linkusk2481 and Jade R wants to see more of that. That was the comment

[@tomwanders6022]

@@linkusk2481 the other person already answered you, so here is my advice, which is not meant to be hurtful or offending in anyway. Think a little longer about things, before you write them. Or don’t I don’t mind and thinking can sometimes be hard. Especially when you had a long day.

[@jader6423]

Ahh the youtube comments are the most entertaining part of youtube 🤣

[@angelicag2042]

Excellent, practical, no frills, honest video. Very helpful.

[@reme001]

Good info. You never know what will happen. If your car breaks down or you lose your battery..... Thanks for helpful video.

[@joer8380]

Found this VERY informative. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and knowledge experience.

[@adum2868]

I don't even know when will I ever find myself in a situation like this, but I somewhat feel safer and more confident about tackling some stuff like this later on my life. Many thanks brother 🤝.

[@EdwardGarrenMFT]

In high school we read a story written by Jesse Stewart, a school teacher in Tennessee who got lost in a snowstorm and built a similar shelter, he called it a "Wickiup." It saved his life. Great to share this with us.

[@TheIndianaGeoff]

In Southern Indiana a few years ago some people who went out in the winter in a jon boat on the Ohio River and capsized it. One of the women was able to get onto an island, and could not get a fire started with a lighter. She buried herself in a leaf bank and survived the night to be rescued the next day. She was insulated enough in the leaves to stay warm even with wet clothes. Others on the boat did not make it.

[@zaverecnynavrh1047]

mistake... Jesse Hilton Stuart, no thanks.

[@sam12587]

I’ll have to get a copy for my kids to read. I keep trying to find good oldies as I can’t remember what all I read as a kid except that it was 80% pioneer type books in my country school but titles escape me.

[@Brendawallingbear]

Wickiup is the Apache's shelter, looks like a wigwam to me.

[@robertgarland805]

Love his stories. Got inside a shock of corn (which heats up by internal combustion) and spent the night. Talks about critters crawling in his clothing.

[@clifford6795]

It works,,,when we were kids,,,we used pine straw,,and stayed very warm,,when we got cold while playing in the woods,,,in Georgia pine straw is everywhere!,,,it works,,,we made pine straw tents!

[@donnareese2768]

I enjoyed watching. I believe everyone should know things like this you just never know when you might need it.

[@mobileprofessional]

You may have very well saved someone's life b/c of this guidance! ... with the majority of bushcraft videos emphasizing fire building, the fact that you CAN survive without one in cold temps will be hope-inspiring in a life/death situation like this. Can't remember the last time I saw a penguin carrying flint and steel 😄🐧

[@gilldanier4129]

They hide it in their penguin flaps

[@mobileprofessional]

@@gilldanier4129 Ah! Mystery solved.

[@NickRoman]

I immediately thought of deer that do something like this.

[@naplzt4k]

This is a very location specific survival trick...just like he said about not having the luxury of palm leaves, you might not have the luxury of a field of these reeds to work with. Your best bet in any location is fire

[@mobileprofessional]

@@naplzt4k Agreed. Not every location has that type of vegetation or brush. Fire definitely helps for cold or wet regions especially over the longer term and if you feel like cooking what you catch or kill. 🔥

[@Robert-ck7nm]

I can't call myself an outdoorsman, but this was really enjoyable, and informative. Thank you!

[@stopabledu]

it all starts with the mindset. u can do anything

[@_dimitarqvorov]

It can be used during war

[@pierrejeanes]

Thanks it helps for post apocalyptic like situation, in these war times...

[@stefanbertasz4690]

If you have a trash bag or two, fill them with grass or leaves and use them as blankets. You can also lay on top of them. Great vid!

[@kristinetrott5087]

Your video on survival brought up good memories. My younger sister and I used to go out in snow blizzards up at our mountain cabin. (It was above timberline at Mt. Baker ski area.) We had several places we knew where the wind sculpted big berms on the open heather moors where we would dig into the bank and make snow caves. They were always warm and cozy to be in and so we learned to create survival homes. Dad was very much into mountain survival and climbing, which he passed on to his five daughters.

[@kayo5291]

lucky girls!

[@SuperReznative]

I'd love to do those things and fishing with my children/girls when they were so young ,but DIVORCE Rined all of that for us,and their future experiences with their dad.They are all grown up now ,with Carrera and a few children of their own..that grandad doesn't get to share those experiences with.

[@inTruthbyGrace]

my brother and I used to build these tunnel forts in the fields too... so much fun