Simple Tipi Shelter

**Alaskan Survivalist** · 06-19-2010, 03:40 AM

This is so simple I questioned whether I should even post it but I know how people like to complicate things, especially those new to survival but thought maybe it was so simple it may be overlooked and we are here to share survival tricks and this is one of my favorites. This is not only the simplest shelter, it is the fastest, easiest, cheapest and best shelter you can have. It took me about 45 minutes to gather wood and put this together. I did it last fall just to have extra storage but I could have survived in it all winter if I had to.

First I gathered 6 poles, the straighter the better and cut to same length.

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Take the three heaviest poles and lay 2 facing one way and one facing the other between them. Loosely wrap and tie them together with rope. Don’t worry rope will tighten.

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Spread the 2 poles that lay together and then lift center. Then use the single pole to lift tripod. I have seen people go through all kinds of contortions trying to raise tipi’s but I have raised huge tripods for lifting motors by myself using this method.

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Now just lay three other poles in the crotch the tripod poles provide. This gives you much more space than just using tripod. Indian tipi’s I made used three poles in each crotch but you really don’t gain that much more space considering you have to cut twice as many poles.

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Now just cover with a tarp leaving a gap at the top and build a fire inside. You have heat, light and cooking and a structure that will hold up to wind and snow loads.

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Makes a good greenhouse to if covered with clear plastic. Sides can be rolled up on hot days and brush can be thrown on it for insulation in the winter. When dealing with severe cold it is best if you seal up tight and use wood stove to heat. If you don’t have much money to spend this is a great alternative to expensive tents that are not near as strong or warm.

**crashdive123** · 06-19-2010, 06:39 AM

Nice tutorial. Any pics of your entrance or the inside?

**BENESSE** · 06-19-2010, 07:11 AM

For once I am not intimidated by a project. By golly, I think I just might be able to do this!

Now if I sealed it on the top say, because of rain but had the "door" semi-open would it be safe to use a butane type stove or an Esbit?

**Rick** · 06-19-2010, 08:21 AM

Very nice tutorial. Don't worry about being too simple. My brain has enough to do just remembering to breath. It looks like you might be around 15-18 feet tall. How did you place the tarp at the top?

**your_comforting_company** · 06-19-2010, 11:14 AM

Excellent tute AS! I have set up engine tripods using the same method and I have seen others really overcomplicate it. It really is that simple!

**Justin Case** · 06-19-2010, 11:20 AM

I have always thought this would be the preferred shelter type, correct me if wrong, but you can build a fire inside and the smoke will go out the top , right ?

**Alaskan Survivalist** · 06-19-2010, 11:45 AM

Crashdive, I just used a bungee on the end of tarp as entrance. Rick I used a stick to lift tarp into place but it is also strong enough to lash a stick between poles to stand on if you need to get up there. I have tied hammocks between poles and hang stuff on them to dry. This structure will carry a load. Bennesse, you can always provide as much ventalation as you need. You would be surprized how much shelter it provides just being half covered. Justin, yes you can build a fire inside. Indian tipi's use smoke flaps at top to help vent under certain windy conditions but for the most part it works just fine. I just leave a seam on one side and open it as wide as I need. Nomadic Siberian Eskimo's seal them tight and use wood stoves to heat but that is in severe cold.

**Aurelius95** · 06-19-2010, 03:25 PM

Great pics and tutorial. If you were putting a wood stove in it, I assume you'd vent it out the top? I think they sell portable wood burning stoves, and the pipe fits inside the stove for storage/travel.

**hunter63** · 06-20-2010, 05:17 PM

As, thanks for bringing up the Tipi, great shelter, stand up well in storms, warm.

I used this one at rendezvous for many years: used 15 poles, + 2 smoke flap poles.
As the cover was cut and sewed to shape, it was ties to the last pole at the top, the cover and pole was lifted together, then cover was spread out to both sides and pinned at the door, w/ locust pins.

Dia was 16' poles (lodge pole pine) were approx 30'.

Pole were set up in the tripod, rope wrapped around and tied, when stretching out tripod would tighten up rope.
Left a long end on the rope, so after the main tripod was set up, the remaining poles were laid in, then the rope was wrapped around all the poles from the outside (just walk around) at least 3 times, with the end hanging in side, then staked down.

After canvas was adjusted to fit, sides staked down.

This one used a liner, hung from a perimeter rope around the inside.

Smoke hole flaps were opened and closed depending on the wind, or wrapped around the center to keep out rain.

It stood up to many bad storms, and yes, you do get some rain around the center, just don't sleep there, LOL.

Having a fire inside evaporates most of the dripping from the poles

Door faces the east, MIL sleeps by the door, next to the wood pile, master of the lodge sleep in the back and everyone else sleeps around the perimeter, fire in the center.

Also pictured is the squaw lodge, out side kitchen and get out of the weather awning.

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**Alaskan Survivalist** · 06-21-2010, 12:47 AM

Hunter 63, I made a Soiux Tipi back in the 70's and loved it. I keep telling myself I am going to make another but I still remember how much work it was hand stiching all that canvas.

**hunter63** · 06-21-2010, 11:37 AM

AS, Thanks for posting the "Down and Dirty" Tipi. Simple, fast and effective.
Some rep your way. (oops, can't, need to spread around)

I was looking at old rendezvous pic to see if I could find pic's of a similar one made with white tarps, wrapped and tied off.
Similar to yours pictured.
That guy used it at many rendezvous and I suspect it was probably more "authentic" than the "cut and sewn Tipi's you see mostly.

Also a couple of "Wickiups" made the with tarps as well, sorta of a round lodge covered and tied, hides being used traditionally.( would be pretty expensive these days, lots of tanned hides).

We used ours in a couple of "frozen butt" rendezvous with only a couple of bales of straw laid down under a drop cloth.
Very warm and toasty, and it's easy to see why these shelters were used for a long time by the Native Americans, long before we showed up and made life hard.

**Alaskan Survivalist** · 06-21-2010, 05:38 PM

The book I used for instructions to make Sioux Tipi is still available.

http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Tipi-Re.../dp/034530425X

This is a great read and the Laubins are recognized as being the most knowledgable on the subject of Tipi history and construction. They cover many other types of tipi's I just chose to make the Sioux tipi.

**hunter63** · 06-21-2010, 08:20 PM

I purchased my cover, but used info on the "how-to's" for te rest from Mother Earth News Issue #1:
Gives lay-out of panels, poles, etc.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natur...dian-Tipi.aspx

**Rick** · 06-21-2010, 08:27 PM

Thank you for that link, Hunter. This quote was well worth it in my book. I think it's just great!

"Ye kin live in it forty below zero and fifty 'bove suffocation an' still be happy. It's the changeablest kind of a layout for livin' in." — Caleb Clark, The Old Trapper

**Alaskan Survivalist** · 06-21-2010, 08:33 PM

I should also mention that I use 6 pole tipi poles to suspend 10 man Arctic Army tent. It works better than trying to drive stakes in frozen ground. I just gave the tent and a cut down barrel stove to my nephew so he would have a place to stay while he built his cabin on Yukon river property or I'd show you some pictures. It is one hell of a tent!

**Batch** · 06-21-2010, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Alaskan Survivalist

I should also mention that I use 6 pole tipi poles to suspend 10 man Arctic Army tent. It works better than trying to drive stakes in frozen ground. I just gave the tent and a cut down barrel stove to my nephew so he would have a place to stay while he built his cabin on Yukon river property or I'd show you some pictures. It is one hell of a tent!

See now, it might just be me. But, I would never own a ten man tent.

A one man and nine woman tent is definitely more my speed. Course it ain't in the budget!