Deep in the woods, we carved a snug dugout into a sheltered bank. Walls lined with insulating moss and earth, roofed with sturdy logs and more earth for camouflage and warmth. The heart? A compact stone-and-clay oven built into the wall, fueled by dry twigs gathered nearby. Its radiant heat transformed the small space, banishing the winter chill seeping from the ground. Wrapped in wool blankets on a bed of spruce boughs, the scent of woodsmoke and pine filled the air. Outside, the wind howled, but inside our earthen sanctuary, warmed by the oven’s gentle glow, we enjoyed a truly cozy, secure bushcraft overnight stay – proof that comfort thrives even in survival mode.
