[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- I want a tarp inside a shelter
with another tarp on top of that,
just like how I did it in the military,
just like how I did it when I was homeless.
And once the snow comes,
it's just gonna make it better.
The design of the tent-ception concept,
right? You want layers
upon layers upon layers
to trap airspace.
And the best way to do that
is to make your permanent shelter
under your temporary shelter.
I'm about 5'7".
♪ ♪
So 5'7" ends around here.
That's where the entrance is gonna be, going that way
'cause there's no wind coming this way.
Some moss on these hills
that roll down nicely.
If you can get them dry, like under a tree,
even better.
There's a ton of moss that-- when you roll it up,
it becomes a brick of insulation.
So I was just rolling moss downhill
and stacking them like bricks
to add stabilization,
like a quinzhee,
so like a winter shelter, which is something
that I'm very familiar with.
♪ ♪
I would feel more comfortable
with some walls up.
Nice.
Coming from a military background
that operates in a very cold environment,
the environment's very similar
to some of the seasons in Quebec,
so I know what components and what concepts
make really warm and bomb-proof shelters.
And I mean that in a very literal sense.
That's good for now.
♪ ♪
So this is my front of the shelter.
Guys typically don't see that.
That's where the chimney's supposed to be completed.
And then there's a little bit light over there
'cause that's the doorway.
Maybe I can start making the front door.
So I feel like it's gonna rain soon,
so I'm going to bring some of the boughs inside
and kind of finish off the doorway.
Little bit of a weaving job.
Starting to look like something.
Let's see, if I lift it up...
♪ ♪
Stays put.
So door is done.
I'll keep on adding to it.
If the rain's bad, I just put my ground sheet on top of it
because I wanna bring the rest of the boughs inside
and fill the gap on top of where I'm sleeping
so it has a lot of insulation there.
Just hearing little cracks here and there,
but it is really windy.
Working on the shelter and making it this comfortable
just boosted my spirits like crazy
'cause it's gonna feel like home.
It's gonna feel safe.
It's gonna be warm.
♪ ♪
All I really have energy to do today
is to finish up the fireplace.
One of the reasons why I picked
being next to a creek
is because I noticed
how much rich clay it has,
so I'm not hauling clay hundreds of meters.
'Cause I've done that. I've hauled, like,
150, 200 pounds of clay to shelters,
and to me, that's not gonna be worth it.
I was able to find the proper mixture
of dry clay and wet clay
to make bricks,
and I feel like that shape
provided the most stability to stack
without just turning to mush,
'cause if you look at the base,
it's just like big puddles of clay,
'cause it was too wet.
It's great for the base, and very fireproof,
but towards the top end,
I really honed down
in the sizing and the consistency
of the clay.
All done.
♪ ♪
This is like a perfect day for shelter stuff.
The Sun isn't out, but there's light.
There's no rain.
It's a little frosty.
Keep yourself motivated.
My shelter is rocking.
Like, I can already see what it's gonna be like
once the snow hits.
But every little breeze,
every little drop of water
that's not supposed to be there--
kind of feel that
and make sure it's not there anymore.
Do I have a plan?
Nope, but am I gonna improvise and adapt
and overcome every day?
Yeah. Hell, yeah, I'm gonna do that.
I love working on my shelter.
Making a home even more homey?
That's just very fun for me.
♪ ♪
Chalet au moss.
Not the most spacious,
but very, very functional,
warm.
Awesome fireplace.
Extensive menu.
Squirrel, grouse, reindeer moss,
cranberries, and bunchberries.
Seasonal, though,
so you have to check in with the chef.
C'est moi.
Boiling moss today,
but since you have to boil it several times...
Oh, yeah. Soak it in.
I think I might as well use that trash water
to freeze up the outside.
Hopefully that increases the insulation.
I think the chalet au moss is finally 360 iced up.
I love this home,
this bed,
all the little organizational things
that I've been doing to upgrade this place.
A home away from home.