For warmth and ease of construction, this shelter is one of the best. When shelter is essential to survival, build this shelter. To make a debris hut:

> Make a tripod with two short stakes and a long ridgepole (at least as thick as your arm and long enough to cover your sleeping and work area), or place one end of a long ridgepole on top of a sturdy base. Position it so your entryway faces east.

> Secure the ridgepole (running the length of the shelter) using the tripod or by anchor it to a tree at about waist height.

> Prop large sticks along both sides of the ridgepole to create a wedge-shaped ribbing effect. Ensure the ribbing is wide enough at the bottom to accommodate your body and steep enough to shed moisture.

> Leaving a hole for the entryway just inside the base, place finer sticks and brush crosswise on the ribbing. These form latticework that will keep the insulating material (grass, pine needles, and leaves) from falling through the ribbing into the sleeping area.

> Add light (dry if possible) soft debris over the ribbing until the insulating material is at least 30 inches thick (as thick as from your elbow to your fingers) -- the thicker the better. Check the thickness by working your hand down into it as far as you can. You should be in up to your armpit before you feel the ribbing. In cold weather add another foot or two of debris. The accumulating debris should eventually form a large, dorm-shaped mound over the skeletal structure. Don't strive for architectural perfection.

> Place a 12-inch layer of insulating material on the ground inside the shelter. Make it the fluffiest materials you can find. Dry leaves, ferns, cattails, and grasses work best. At the entrance, pile insulating material that you can drag to you once inside the shelter to close the entrance or build a door.

> As a final step, add shingling material or branches on top of the debris layer to prevent the insulating material from blowing away in a storm. If your hut is well built, you should be able to pour a five-gallon bucket of water over the top and not get wet inside.