Shelter Repairs

[GlenM]

I did some running repairs on my shelter at the weekend with my son, I stupidly forgot to take before photo's so i only have some of it fixed.
The tarp is not very bushcrafty, which will have you purists reeling in horror, but the shelter is around 3 years old now and thatching material is increasingly hard to find. It also keeps it much drier which means it's more useable especially for my youngest son who like to have his tea cooked on the fire!!

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/782/march2011013.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/march2011013.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3125/march2011017.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/march2011017.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9886/march2011018.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/march2011018.jpg/) http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6963/march2011019.th.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/march2011019.jpg/) http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/731/march2011020.th.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/march2011020.jpg/) http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/9961/march2011021.th.jpg (http://img806.imageshack.us/i/march2011021.jpg/) http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5125/march2011022.th.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/march2011022.jpg/)

The third image is a tree vine which tied the ridge pole to the two trunks, that's what failed so I replaced it with some cordadge made by hand from coconut fibre.

We use the shelter quite a bit throughout the year, I never tire from the way it changes throughout the seasons. I made a firebox to save the ground and have slept out in well below freezing temperatures quite comfy with just a sleeping bag/wool blanket.


Glen

[JonnyP]

Looks a nice spot Glen..

[Martin]

Looks brilliant Glen. Thanks for sharing :)

Martin

[J_P]

Nice one buddy, debris shelters are an ongoing project and take constant work adding leaf litter etc, dont be shy to use a tarp it makes things a damn site more comfortable ;)

[MikeWilkinson]

I've just modified my little debris shelter into a slightly larger version, will post photos when I can get around to getting some. Also woven a roll mat for the bed in there. Next a door for the A-frame doorway/porch.

[MikeWilkinson]

Some photos from this evening of the re-modelled debris shelter.

Front of shelter lit by two torches

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Front of shelter and inside lit seperately showing debris bed covered by roll mat

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From porch to roll mat on debris bed.

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Close up of Roll mat made on a camp loom.

863

[GlenM]

Looking good Mike, Never heard of a camp loom till now. The link you posted was interesting stuff, what material did you use for your roll mat ?

Glen

[MikeWilkinson]

Thanks Glen, It is the first time I've made and used one - they work great.

The Mat is just made up with some Jute & Willow cordage to make the Warp (I think thats the right way around) and then I harvested a load of old rosebay willow herb stalks to make the weft. I used three Warps and made it about 6 foot in length.

To make things easier when doing this on your own, I used forked sticks at the handle bar end so that I could prop the bar up whilst I inserted more weft and then lowered it to the floor for the next weaving. To keep tension on I wrapped the excess cordage around the handle bar so that it was pulled tight against the front stakes and then unwound it as the mat progressed. Any cordage left on the handle bar is ready for use the next time, all I need do is unwind it to the length required and start again.

I'm going to try and get some pictures of the loom in action over the weekend if I have time. Keep an I on the Camp loom thread for them.

[MikeWilkinson]

Just some quick photos of the re-modelled debris shelter.

911912913914915

[Adam Savage]

Just some quick photos of the re-modelled debris shelter.

911912913914915

Looks cosy, like the door, an impressive hovel if ever I saw one

[klause]

Cracking little set up Glen: love it.

Love your set up too Mike: did you spend the night in it and if so how was it?

[Ashley Cawley]

Love the look of both those shelters thanks GlenM & Mike for sharing. Would love to see more on the loom :)

[GlenM]

Hey, someone's pimped my post !!!..........much better now mind so thanks to whoever done it.

Glen

[beechnut mick]

5* accomadation that bud nice one.