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Outdoors · O03-01 · Shelter

Shelter

Tent, tarp and sleeping outdoors — where, how and with what to make the night warm, dry and calm

25 pages · 11 chapters · 7 worksheets · A4

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Levels this guide covers

72 hours2 weeks3 months1 year+

In short

  • The site is half the shelter: shelter from the wind, away from water, dead branches and steep slopes — and after an earthquake, away from buildings and power lines.
  • The ground steals more heat than the air — pad first, cover second.
  • A 3 × 3 m tarp and 15–20 m (50–65 ft) of cord give a roof for two in about ten minutes.
  • Look at the "comfort" rating of a sleeping bag, not the "extreme" one — and plan for the coldest night, not the average.
  • Never a fire, stove, heater or grill in the tent — carbon monoxide kills in your sleep.

What's inside

  1. 01Choosing a Site
  2. 02Tents: Types and Pitching
  3. 03Tarp and Cord: Three Setups
  4. 04Emergency Shelter
  5. 05Insulation from the Ground
  6. 06Sleeping Bags and Temperature Ratings
  7. 07A Warm Night Until Morning
  8. 08Family Camp After an Earthquake or Evacuation
  9. 09Camping Rules and Nature
  10. 10The Most Common Mistakes
  11. 11Printable Checklist

Worksheets (appendices)

  1. ANight Is Falling and I Have to Stay Out — What First?
  2. BCard — Knots and Tarp Setups
  3. CSleep System by Season
  4. DFamily Camp Plan
  5. EEquipment by Priority
  6. FLocal Information Card
  7. GWorked Example — Mountain Night and Park Camp

Sources are listed on the last page of every guide.

A look inside

The guide's table of contents pageNight Is Falling and I Have to Stay Out — What First?

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