One of the biggest challenges associated with a wilderness survival situation is finding a decent and comfortable place to sleep. Even if you have a sleeping pad, air mattress or end up resting on a bed of leaves, the uneven terrain below can cause a lot of unwanted aches, pains and fatigue. Let’s take a look at how you can construct a raised bed with little more than some wood, a couple of rudimentary tools and a bit of ingenuity.
Related Video
Building the Frame
The first step is to establish your sleeping location and place a thick log at the head and foot of your bed. Make sure that the logs are at least 3 feet long and about 6 inches thick. Next, take 8 sticks that are at least an inch thick and 3 feet long, and whittle one end of each stick into a point. Drive 2 of them into the ground next to the inside of where each log rests. Drive 2 more on the other side, and these will help to hold the logs and bed frame in place.
Next, take two long and thick branches (thicker than the stakes but thinner than the logs), and place them over each log, one on each side. Use branches that are about a foot longer than the space between the logs. Finally, place an additional log atop the bottom ones once the stakes are secured.
One of the benefits of raising your bed this high above the ground is that you can build a small fire or place some hot stones beneath for warmth on cold nights. Another benefit is that it will discourage, or even prevent, a lot of critters from climbing on board and sharing the bed with you. If you want to make adjustments to the height of the bed, all you need to do is use thinner or thicker logs and support beams when building the frame.
Making the Bed
Find about 8 long branches that are around 2 inches thick and place them next to each other lengthwise. Thicker branches will provide more stability and minimize sagging in the middle. If you are having difficulty with sagging because you can’t find thick branches, consider placing a log in the center of the bed atop the crossbeams for additional support.
It’s also important that you choose branches that are as straight and smooth as possible. Try to adjust the ones that have bends so that these curves and depressions go to the side instead of along the top. This will help to give your bed the flattest possible surface.
Finally, consider adding a layer of padding from leaves, vegetation or other bits of forest debris. Even if you have a sleeping bag or pad, you’ll be amazed at how this extra padding can give you a more-comfortable sleep. Additionally, the padding will also provide you with some additional insulation without preventing air circulation.
This is just a general example of how to put together a raised bed in the field, but there’s plenty of room for adaptation. Take a crack at building your own, and feel free to improvise until you come up with the most comfortable and practical bed for your needs and circumstances.
