I may be a little old for a playhouse, but when I saw a video on making a quick winter shelter in the woods the other night, I had to try it! This shelter would be good for spending a night out in the woods during the winter months, provided you have a warm blanket or sleeping bag along! In my case I had no intention of sleeping in it, but I thought it would be a good thing to know how to do "just in case", and I made mine with a few simple variations because I planned to use it as a daytime shelter when I just want to spend some quiet time alone in the woods. The woods are magical right now after a fresh heavy snow! The first step in making this is to dig a trench in the snow wide and long enough for your body. I made mine extra wide to have room to turn around easily. A thick layer of fir or spruce boughs are laid on the bottom and sides, and the supports are laid across the banked snow. And more boughs are laid across the top. You can also add a layer of snow over the top for more insulation but I decided not to bother...I'm sure nature will take care of that soon enough! 😁 The inside is cozy and smells soooo good! I made an entrance on both ends so I could enjoy two different views! The view out the front door... And the back... I'm very happy with my new "playhouse" and it gave me a sense of accomplishment as well, knowing that I would know how to make a shelter in the woods if necessary! This will be a lovely spot to relax and maybe even read on milder days. I'm hoping to see some wildlife too. There are an abundance of deer, fox, and lynx tracks around here. But the woods are in the depths of a mid-winter peace right now...almost the only sound I hear is my own breathing!
14 Comments
Velerua
1/4/2019 06:46:30 pm
What a wonderful idea, especially if you were ever stranded in the woods. Gives you protection from the weather and you can melt and drink the snow.
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Exactly! What you said about melting and drinking the snow brings to mind something I read recently, about arctic explorers trying to quench their thirst by eating snow, but it just made them more and more thirsty! I've been very puzzled as to why that would be...
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JanetLee
1/4/2019 08:27:27 pm
Joanna, that is wonderful! But be sure to check it out before you go in there! Mother Nature may have a furry surprise for you!
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Haha! Yes my dad said a bear might come along and think it was a ready-made den just for him! :D Well the good thing about all this snow is, nothing will be able to get in their without leaving very obvious tracks!
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JanetLee
1/5/2019 11:22:37 pm
I use the GPS to track my routes and then download them so hubby know roughly where I have been. When I am exploring a new area I will refer back to an earlier route looking for possible connections through the woods. I follow a lot of animal trails just because they are there and I am a bit curious!
Elsa
1/5/2019 03:34:34 pm
Reminds me of my dad's outdoor survival books I used to read as a kid! I always wanted to build a shelter like that so I could be like "My Side of the Mountain" but never did! Fun you built one for yourself!
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AuthorI am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. Archives
March 2019
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