Build a variety of shelters from natural materials while taking a nostalgic look at some of The Backwoodsman magazine's timeless articles.
As a young child, Charlie Richie Jr. used to watch his father build tepees, debris shelters, and various forms of lean-tos-and fall in love with the Old Ways of Living. In 1979, Charlie Sr. was inspired to create The Backwoodsman magazine, with a mission to preserve and share timeless outdoor skills that will forever be relevant.
In The Backwoodsman: Shelters, Charlie Jr. collects more than 20 of the magazine's best shelter-related articles, written by seasoned craftspeople. The selections often feature how-to plans and instructions-complete with illustrations-and they often focus on building shelters with natural or reused materials.
A testament to human ingenuity and the enduring importance of traditional craftsmanship in an increasingly technological world, this book ensures that critical survival techniques and ""the art of making"" remain accessible to future generations. It offers personal empowerment, creativity, and deep environmental engagement.
If you're an avid outdoorsperson who might find yourself in an overnight survival situation, this is an essential book. If you've always been interested in how Indigenous peoples constructed shelters or if you can't walk past a pile of lumber-or even leaves-without imagining a fort- or cabin-build, you'll love this rugged collection of shelter articles for beginners and hands-on adventurers.
Inside you'll find:
23 of The Backwoodsman magazine's best shelter-related articles Instructions for building emergency, temporary, and permanent shelters Technical illustrations that aid in understanding each step-by-step process
By:
The Backwoodsman
Imprint: Menasha Ridge Press Inc.
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 193mm,
Width: 146mm,
Spine: 17mm
ISBN: 9781634044103
ISBN 10: 163404410X
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 23 September 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Before You Start If You Forget Everything Else, Remember This A Quick Word About Duck Canvas Emergency Building a Debris Shelter Making a Survival Shelter: Four Ways Temporary The Queen’s Bluff Devising a Diamond Tent The Versatile Tarp: 10 Simple Shelters The One-Tarp, Tipi-Style Shelter Turn Ordinary Sheeting into a Cabin Tent Semi-Permanent The Winter Wall Tent Eastern Tipis for Summertime Wigwam Style Building an Earth Lodge The Octagonal Tree Hut Permanent A Low-Cost, Permanent Lean-To The Northland Tilt The Hogan The Permanent Slab Lean-To Into the Dirt: the Dug Out, the Sod House, and the A-Hut Building the Backwoodsman’s Cabin Lessons Learned from Building a Log Cabin Houses Made of Poles: Porches to Peanut Stands Ideas to Furnish Your Log Cabin Greenhouses The Solar Bubble The Swing Set Greenhouse Index About The Backwoodsman Magazine About the Author
Charlie Richie Jr. is the owner and editor of The Backwoodsman. He was only 9 years old when his parents started the publication in 1979, so it's been a huge part of his life. Charlie officially started working for The Backwoodsman in 1995 and has served many roles, including associate publisher, special assignments editor, head of media relations, and advertising director. He has written numerous articles and feature interviews for the magazine. Charlie took over The Backwoodsman in January 2022. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he has also been a freelance outdoor TV producer for the past 15 years.
