smoking a debris shelter

A

andrew7978

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Mar 19, 2007
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I plan to build a debris shelter over my winter break when I go home in about a week. I have build a few before, but actually plan to try sleeping in this one. I know bugs can be a problem especially if using leaves off the forest floor. To prevent this I am going to smoke the shelter. Does anyone know how long the smoking effects will work? Should I do it right before I get in the shelter for the night?
 
Andrew,

If you are doing this in the winter and you are in a cooler climate, bugs won't be a problem. If you do decide to smoke a shelter, be careful. You don't want to have your debris shelter end up being a signal fire by accident. Some plants are natural insect repellents when burnt. If you aren't up on your plants, the smoke itself will deter many. What I like to do is line the inside of the shelter with evergreens that are less likely to ignite. Remember, a little smoke will go a long way.

With your clothes tucked in, you will hardly notice bugs. If you really want the experience and not worry about being chewed on, get a head net and some lightweight gloves. Those two items, that weigh almost nothing, make a night in the woods very very bearable without bug dope.

Kev
 
Kev,

Thanks for the reply. Very informative. I think you were the one organizing that trip to the catskills, can you send me the list of gear? I sent you an e-mail through blade forums but not sure if it worked. Also were in CT are you? I live about 40 minutes north of Hartford.
 
I am with estela, if it is cold and particularly dry out, go with evergreen bedding and skip the smudge. Natural repellents such as paw paw are great repellents to line your bedding with. Do a search of natural repellents in this forum, I know there are a few threads. Regardless, the debris you are using for insulation should be dry which inherently will have very little pests. However, if you have the need to smudge...

Put some coals on whatever you can find (sheet of bark, large evergreen broadleaf, whatever - put dirt on it first if you think it will burn). From there you can smudge your shelter by putting the herb of your choice on the coals. The most popular smudge is probably cedar which is more of a repellent, however, I would imagine anything that smokes would drive off or kill most bugs. Obviously, steer clear of poison ivy, etc. I would also avoid smoldering wood from the campfire as it being linear and somewhat round is asking for trouble as it moves to readily.

Haven't done it enough to tell you how long before, etc. However, common sense tells me to do it with enough daylight left to adjust should something go wrong and the majority of that decision depends on the weather (past and present), materials, and surrounding environment. A lot of variables with this, for example, I wouldn't think it out of the ordinary to smudge everyday if you were in the deep south in mild temperatures.

Let us know how it goes - good luck.
 
Andrew,

A list of gear is posted on the Winter Camping Thread by Marty. I'm in Bristol, CT which is 20 minutes from Hartford. If you ever want to get some dirt time in, let me know and I'll join ya. I never turn down a trip if I can make it.

Kev
 
Kev,

Do you consider pine bough and/or long pine needles formed into a bed and/or cover to be a "debris shelter?" Because, if so, I would tend to agree with you. As far as the leaves and other matter are concerned I just don't think "debris shelters" are the way to go, bugs are only the beginning of problems. If you can find totally dry leaves on the forest floor or other matter similar to that but not including pine needles, you really don't need the thing anyway, the weather is probably mild and dry.
 
Don,

The "debris shelter" is a term commonly used for shelters. I prefer A frames for shelters and whenever possible, I make them with pine boughs or evergreens. To insulate, I'll layer lots of "debris" or anything nearby to trap the warmth in. I'm not a big fan of cutting live trees for the sake of making a shelter only for demonstrations but when I actually use one on a night or two out, I will take some boughs from here and there. Pine needles or evergreen boughs are one of my favorite insulators and I try not to use leaves when I can. As you mentioned, bugs are a nuisance and the leaves tend to absorb moisture readily. With the boughs, the water will bead off and feel relatively dry even when it is not.

Kev
 
andrew7978 said:
I plan to build a debris shelter over my winter break when I go home in about a week. I have build a few before, but actually plan to try sleeping in this one. I know bugs can be a problem especially if using leaves off the forest floor. To prevent this I am going to smoke the shelter. Does anyone know how long the smoking effects will work? Should I do it right before I get in the shelter for the night?
Click to expand...


I'd suggest about a quarter of the really sticky skunky stuff smoked up would either drive the bugs out or stupefy them.;):thumbup:
 
Kev,

That's cool and I have some experience in doing that even in a little bit colder weather than I should have. I was just wondering because I think the extreme side of things, perhaps more "Tom Brown," with leaves and such is a pipedream. If you can find leaves that dry, you can probably do without lying in them, etc. But the evergreen angle is a good one in my experience as well.

I think some of Tom Brown's stuff might take on the air of removing one's boots/shoes did in martial arts circles years ago, known as, "Doing The Billy Jack." :D

(Just kidding! M a y b e . . .)
 
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