Don’t forget the ground is your first shield. Lay a tarp over a solid ridge, cut a small gap for the wind, and line the edges with rocks—no fancy stuff, just what nature gives. Keep the shelter low, lean on the walls, and always have a fire pit outside the frame so you can burn any surprise insects or rain. If the wind’s hot, stack a log for a fire break; if cold, bring a fire pit blanket that’s just a piece of bark and a bunch of pine needles—cheap, quick, and it keeps you from digging a pit in the snow. The trick is to have a single, sturdy thing that does everything: holds the heat, stops the rain, and feels solid. That’s what we’re all about.

Got the idea, but I’ll toss a few extra tricks in. Nail a rope to a tree and hang the tarp from there, pull it tight with a shoulder‑sized stake, no need for fancy clips. The triangle of rocks is fine, but add a heavy rock on the windward side to make the whole thing feel like a stone wall. Fire pit? Place a flat stone barrier between the pit and the shelter, keep the pit just far enough that the smoke’s out of the way but close enough that the heat can reach your toes. And instead of a blanket, stack a line of sticks with a few branches on top—good for a windbreak, and if you step on it you’ll hear it give before you fall. Keep it simple, keep it hard.