Heating a Winter Shelter with Rocks for Survival

[dhudson369]

just be careful people that the rocks dont explode as they can do.

[vallonia200]

stop sniffing.

[l1qu1dm3t4lIV]

Wow, that is a really nice spot. Cool vid too!

[equallywrong]

i'm assuming an airdraft was coming down over the large rock, otherwise the setup seems backwards. yet attaching a tarp a flatfaced rock might be difficult.

[MrgunNut101]

great video guys. What kind of gloves r u wearing 6 mins into the video?? Thanks

[aleiakay]

would be better in a teepee with a dakota double hole fire for smokeless and keeping warm and not needing as much wood. also something my dad learned when he hunted elk in the colorado mountains years back is to build a really good fire, dig down a couple of feet under your bed then fill hole with a layer of fires hot charcoal then a layer of rocks and dirt at least one foot deep then your bedding for best warmth, no need for laying on tree limbs to stay off cold ground :) try it and see

[billwho62]

There is someones head sticking out of the ground in the near upper right hand side of your video at the 6:40 mark. If I'm wrong, tell me so and I'll go take my meds.

[repelstee1]

Cool idea guys. Just a question, no risk of exploding rocks?

[tempestaisback]

@repelstee1 ive had one explode before while cooking on it. nothing too dramatic but a large chunk flew off and perfectly flipped a piece of spam i was cooking on it lol i got that rock from a dry creek bed which i knew was a bad idea though. even if the bed has been dry for a long time the rock can still hold moisture

[borderraven]

I like warm and cozy, and you stay warm and dry or die, but you need to kill a sizeable animal to provide energy for the work involved, or haul in some food.

You are probably there for an overnighter, maybe a week, or if you got packed in by horses, then you could set up a good campsite.

[ERICWAGNERSLUCID]

... in the morning they were unable to continue recording as the fire eventually died, they went to sleep, and then ... they froze.

[rokkcop]

Those heated rocks can turn that shelter into Indian sweat lodge.

[DJControllerC]

Why not just do a tee pee like the indians? The smoke goes up the middle

[WoodsWoman154]

@DJControllerC Indian heat tipi, white man heat sky. ; )

[jmg1957]

nice

[MrAntireligions]

Heat up a few large rocks, then when you go to bed air them out and put them under your blanket or near your body but not to close.

[homelesshomesteader]

Could you just make a lean-to from mylar and get the same effect?

[ScoutCrafter]

No trace camping...

[sunkissed4poet]

@Aargh28

have u considered going to earth skills? or primitive skills...they teach you how to re wild yourself. I went to the florida one. thanx for posting ...i'll use ur techniques when i go back to the woods again...

[n1ck42299]

have you ever rolled over on to the hot rock while sleeping?

[backpackinonline]

Difficult to sleep the entire night: hardwood burns longer. I think a reflective material (Adventure Medical) pitched as a tarp, in "diamond" pitch would make use of the reflective heat off the boulder, without all the work of moving rocks. That, or heat the rocks, cover with dirt and sleep on top of that. Others may use coals, and cover with dirt. In a survival situation, you need to be warm but you also need to conserve expendature of energy and get good rest so you can think clearly. This lo

[mnhvide]

Super Loving it ! :) :)

[outskool100]

using the tips to make a partisan movement

response if its an awsome idea

[andrewsheldonreeves]

I see you also have the most awesome woods blade... the CS Gurka Kukri. you can dig with it too. Also a planer. a ax. widdler and saw. the everything knife. Makes a machete as well. It's the perfect blade!

[MajesticChicken]

Ever had a rock blow up in your face? I have; it sucks.

[Aargh28]

Reflecting the heat off that big boulder is great and all, but doesn't it suck hauling around such a big boulder on all your camping trips?

[survivethewild]

@Aargh28 Well I just consider it a workout, but if you aren't into that sort of thing ...

[distressed7]

@survivethewild In the Russian Baths I used to go to, the granite rocks were heated in the morning until like red hot.. Then in the stove oven it was in you could just pop some water in there and boom down would come the heat. Hot, hot, hot. It took the chill out of us after working outside in the Chicago winter.

[repelstee1]

@survivethewild

Get an inflatable one...

[ncbookz]

how long does a rock hold heat?

[survivethewild]

@ncbookz depends if it's covered with dirt, the temp outside, etc. But I'd say on aveage outside, 45-60 mins

[ncbookz]

@survivethewild i had an idea using a compost pile of green and brown, the temperature gets to 140 degrees with the bacteria in the pile so if you could direct the heat somehow you would be warm all year long,,, any ideas anyone on how to get the heat out of a compost pile much appreciated

[survivethewild]

@ncbookz Ya, I've thought of this as an option too, but have had to experiment with it

[coffeeexmachina]

Dude, use the farmer's blow :^D... good vid though, wish I was out there right now...

[2bornot2b1984]

Cool video.

Fire potential looked kind of high though.

I would say go without the spruce and it wouldn't be so risky to keep ferrying those rocks with coals in and out of the structure. Especially balancing them on that steel object. It would be easy to drop.

Then picking it up could be a bitch.

[skyhlgh]

you got to be carefull with heating rocks, they can crack and explode and who wants that flying into ur face eyes and landing on ur skin

[FLSHBK1]

The hot rocks make much sense. They are the safest heat source for an enclosed shelter. You can also bury them where you intend to sleep and they will radiate heat under you for several hours. You can wrap them in spare clothes and sleep with them like hot water bottles. Or build a firepit, throw 1ft of dirt over the fire, then pitch your shelter over that. If you can build a teepee, you can have a "one-hand" fire inside thru the night for light/heat/cooking without CO2 fears. Thanks for this.

[mattpkp]

I'll still take my tent and layered sleeping bag + multiple pads so i can get some sleep instead of staying up all night switching rocks :)

[cslr11]

great vid but why would you spend so much time with the rocks .just build a better shelter with more insolation and you would not need to mess with all that. Also if you would have used more then one rock they hold their heat much longer do to they heat each outher up and if you but a light cover of soil over them they will give you heat even longer . But over all I do like your vids

[survivethewild]

@cslr11 Because all the insulation in the world doesn't generate heat. This is how to build a 'comfortable' shelter in the cold w relatively quick setup.

[relicright]

If you stack a layer or 2 of rocks under a small amount of earth and line them up to your fire, you wont have to do any rock moving. The heat will transfer through the rocks and keep hte strip warm all night.

[survivethewild]

@relicright That is a very good idea my friend, and I believe I will try it out. Maybe I'll get a video of it. Thanks for sharing, that's what it is all about. - Joe

[relicright]

@survivethewild

Good channel you got here, just good to exchange ideas and see what works best for each person.

[Skyswinger]

Nice. How about bridging the hot rock over a couple of thick green sticks or laying it onto some smaller stones so that it doesnt give up its heat to the cold earth, that way your rocks will give out more heat and for longer. Thanks for sharing your vid.

[Brian080982]

Thanks for making this video! I like that you followed through the entire process/night. Very Realistic. I saved it. So far my favorite one.

[scarz1951]

Reflect a humble abode? Why would you want to reflect a humble abode. Did you ever get over that cold? Sounds like it was giving you fits. Sorry if this posts twice. The first time didn't show up. Too many changes to youtube too quickly perhaps. Maybe it just doesn't like me, hey?

[survivethewild]

@scarz1951 "reflect and heat your humble abode" :)

[scarz1951]

@survivethewild Just messing with you. I know you mean reflecting heat into your crib. The way it is worded just tickles my funny bone.

[SpartanJohns]

great video guys! really nice job.

[wildsurvival86]

You have to heat the rocks up slowly, and slowly evaporate the water inside the rock. Then it won't explode.

[Paul07901]

Camping/ fishing in Oregon state at an official national forest campground had an experience of a lifetime. While sitting next to the blazing fire of oak in the pre-arranged fire-ring of what looked like various kinds of rocks for a couple of hours, relaxing after a day outdoors on the river fishing; when all of a sudden one of the rocks popped and a shard wizzed past my ear in the blink of an eye. So it might be wise to choose your stones carefully when it comes to heating them up.

[survivalfaith]

dude get a tissue i about barffed listening to you suck the snott up your nose. otherwise thanks for the info.

[DrChrisBiomed]

try a long log fire, saves you the hassle of having to wake up during the night to tend to the fire, a great site for tips and tricks with is:

kolumbus (dot) fi/bjorn (dot) corander/campfires (dot) htm

[wildernesswikiup14]

dude! i live in the Whites lol. great place. 5/5

[ng416]

blow your damn nose "on what!"

[imissblock]

Great vid...i love survival videos...check out mine...there not pro but i try...lol

[slopemonkey]

i was wondering also why you did not just build a debris-like shelter up against the rock and then you could have had the main rock keep you warn all night and had more insolation?....other than that good vids!

[survivethewild]

Different times for different things. I do alot of debri shelters.

I wanted to try a faster shelter with my poncho-tent. Thanks for your comment.

[rebelyellshooter]

Good to see you, Joe And Jake. Thats Extreme camping.

[robinkoeman]

Pretty cool! Or should I say comfortably warm :D

Very smart thing to do in colder areas. Looks like an ideal camping position, with the boulder as a heat reflector. Awesome job. 5/5

[SwampShuck]

I enjoy watching your videos. You give good ideas. Thanks.

[Eli3333333]

What is a good base LBE setup to start building something like yours. Got a link for one you suggest?

[subwayfresh55]

you guys are amazing

[Tossdart]

Yes Joe & Jake, this is a variation of open fronted Tipi, by bringing your rocks inside you have essentially brought your fire inside without smoke making it close to a Tipi. You will though lose a lot of sleep. This is normal. To improve on this basic idea of yours erect your poncho, cover it with a light frame & boughs put Jakes poncho over frame. Two men are not one. Remember back to your insulation video. Well done Joe & Jake.

[05MagnumSXT]

Great video. We used to use the hot rocks in the shelter when we winter camped and it always worked.  This video brought me back to those times.

Keep'm coming.

[ohhyeahzulu]

good vid. the smart will sleep warm. the unprepared will freeze... it just takes one night of being cold for you to never be cold again if you can possibly help it.

[THREEFLOORSDOWN1]

rockon...glad to see it was successful

[johny1time]

great video. I've done the Jeremiah Johnson bed a few times. Im going to try the fire bed one of these days

[chompy44]

pretty nice. looks like a comfy set up.where did you learn about heating rocks? I dont mean to go off subject but what did you guys eat?

[rcjera]

where are you there??

great vid!!!

[survivethewild]

Ya, that's the 'Jeremiah Johnson' bed.

I don't use river rocks either.

[0takop]

Excellent vid! I've done that before with a debris shelter. I dug the bottom out a little and placed several superheated stones in the pit, threw a slim layer of dirt to cover them and a bed of green spruce or pine thatch on top of that. Nice and cozy warm all night long and pretty well into the next morning. A note of caution, do not use river rocks. Water may have become trapped inside them and can cause them to explode in the fire. Last thing you need is nature's fragmentation grenade.

[chopstiksrcool]

Great video as always, but if you can invest a few hundred buy a better camera and a stand. The quality is ok, but I think it could be a lot better.

[survivethewild]

Waiting for the after Christmas, 75% sales for one :)

[ArmyRanger10]

Finally someone who does survival videos from the Whites. There a lot of snow on the mountains? Going up this week to do some hiking.

Great video. 5 stars

[survivethewild]

Thanks!

Not a lot of snow yet. Just a dusting. We packed in our shoes, but didn't get a chance to use them :(

For sure next time though.