The SAS Training Manual by Chris McNab;

Author:Chris McNab;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Libreka GmbH
Published: 2013-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

SURVIVAL SHELTERS

For the purposes of Selection, it is not necessary to know how to build an advanced shelter. Yet it is advisable to know in advance how to construct a basic survival shelter as a precaution should route selection take a turn towards life – threatening conditions. The Brecon Beacons, though barren in many parts, still have enough natural materials around to construct a shelter substantial enough to protect those inside from severe wind chill and even rain.

The most instantly accessible form of shelter is that which is ‘ready built’. A large depression in the ground, a cave, or a tree with a broken trunk forming a natural roof at the angle can all serve well as a temporary shelter. However, what is much better is to take a natural feature and then improve on its sheltering properties artificially. The basic principle is to take a recess or sheltered space and then construct further sheltering features around it to complete the protection. One of the easiest shelters to make uses the exposed roots of a fallen tree. Using tree branches (conifer branches are particularly good) make an angled roof from the ground to the top of the exposed root. Keeping the branches densely packed and tied if possible, use leaves and tightly bunched grasses to make thatching for the roof.

Repeat the process until you are protected on all sides (you can use your bergen as a door). This sort of shelter can be made against many types of surface, including bushes, rock surfaces and dry stone walls.

If the ground is covered with heavy snow and there is little natural shelter, a snow trench is probably your best immediate response. Cut out a trench in the snow just longer than your own body length and about 60cm (2ft) deep. If the snow has been cut out in firm blocks, use these to make an angled roof over the trench, with two sets of blocks meeting in the middle and holding each other up by weight. Otherwise, use branches to construct the roof. Then enter the shelter from one end, first lining the floor of the shelter with equipment to prevent you from coming into contact with the cold snow. Make sure your locator beacon is activated and your luminous bergen patch is outside, then huddle up inside your survival bag and wait until it is safe to move or rescue comes.

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