How to Build an Underground Shelter

Watch Ryder

Ireland is home to many neolithic tombs and mounds so it is quite resonating to see a man of Irish descent continuing a very Irish legacy. Here is the story:



Mike, the owner, dug out the underground shelter / bunker from 1995 to 1997 by hand with no mechanized equipment to help him. This was at 10,000 feet elevation with short summer seasons. The most expensive consideration was buying concrete (about 100 bags of 80 lb concrete) to the total of $1000 - $1500.

Unfortunately there are no pictures (that I am aware of) of the 1995-97 digging as this was before digital cameras and the builder was on his own with no-one to take pictures. (I don't think he began taking pictures until 1999-2000?). The above is of a new project (underground cabin build).

Here's the video of the bunker build in the meantime.

The plan (not followed to the letter, but you'll get the picture)



Images...

Blast Doors:

These are steel and reinforced with concrete in the event of a big TEOTWAKI.



Roof Cross-section (sort-of):

Three layers of logs, 6 layers of waterproof sheeting, concrete and dirt



Bunk-beds and Ladder for accessing Emergency Hatch



Emergency Hatch



Landscaping and drainage ongoing:



Gun Port



Stores and Tools

Watch Ryder

Covert Exhaust system for Stove (tree stump faces road):



Roof goes into the Mountain! Maybe one day they'll be another tunnel going to the Cabin Build (that's another story though )



The design and plans shown in the vid are of a small pole shelter triple-clad with roof logs and sheeting (waterproof).

This allows the weight of concrete and earth on top for the overhead. For the walls logs and steel 'H' Beams along with more sheeting (waterproof) then earth.

The internal space resembles an 'L' shape as recommended for fallout / blast shelters. This is small but incredibly strong and resistant to cave-ins, earthquakes, disasters. The shelter is multi-functional with two bunks and two stoves providing heat.

A main entrance with a steel blast door and an emergency exit / trapdoor are installed.

The year round temperature is about 35 - 45 degrees without being heated. The bunker has been featured on multiple social-sites and Mike is often contacted by television companies for it to be shown on mainstream broadcasts. The Colony short-listed him for appearing on the show but ultimately another was chosen.

However when the challenging conditions are revealed to TV companies (short accessible seasons, snow fall requiring snow-mobiles etc) the producers normally go for an easy access bunker elsewhere and underground shelters that are more fancy.

This is doable by any able-bodied male (or female if driven enough) with the right location.

The location inspired a fictional film which was shot at Mike's Bunker called After The Fall / Raiders of the Mountain Hold:

I'd have many more pictures to show you BUT the retarded hosting site has crashed / won't let me upload any more pictures.

If you have any questions, please ask and I'll try and get a bit more specific.

wayoutwest

Our neolithic ancestors worked out that the strongest and most durable material for chamber construction (prior to covering with earth mound) was stone.Looking at the pictures of Mikes bunker, it appears that he is making stones out of 'gone off' bags of cement. This is a pic of one in Scotland....5000 years old, and still standing-
Attachment not found.
.....now I wouldnt mind living in that one if it had a limecrete floor and a decent stove put in.

wayoutwest

maeshowefisheyeint204p.jpeg

Calibos

I think the Irish legacy is one of mental health issues tbh.

Think this thread is better suited to the Survivalism or CT Forums.

Watch Ryder

Calibos wrote: »

I think the Irish legacy is one of mental health issues tbh.

Think this thread is better suited to the Survivalism or CT Forums.

LOL. Don't put yourself down now.

The gone-off concrete was used for the outside landscaping but for the roof and walls it was ordinary concrete.