[pocomoonskyeyes]

OK obviously the Plains Indians carried everything they needed to erect their TeePee(Tipi) Poles, shell, curtain, stakes, all of it.Once it was initially erected they would take a string and measure the size of it. in this way they could "Draw the circle" for where the supporting poles would go. In a way it really isn't too much different than us taking a backpacking tent. Once you set it up a few times it gets easier and easier. All they really did was make a tripod,then lay the other support poles in place. Then the shell of hide was placed and "sewed" with skewers and pegged down. Then the curtain was hung and a fire pit built. Sleeping places arranged and "Home" was set up. The "Curtain" actually touches the ground on the inside and has dirt piled up on the edges to make the floor Draft free. Attached to the support beams/poles so that it did not touch to allow air to rise along the shell The space between the "Curtain" and shell was used as a storage area.
You could get around having to carry the poles, by having a piece of string using knots to mark the "measurements" of the poles and "circumference" of the support poles base. That way you could get all your needed structural support from wherever you were going, when you got there.

EDIT: I was actually thinking about seeing if sclittlefield could make one out of some lightweight nylon or something to use as a primitive winter camping shelter.

[Democracyman]

If you hang the peak from an overhanging anchor point and bury or otherwise secure the periphery, you wouldn't need a framework -- unless you anticipate heavy snowfall.

As long as the fire is small and preferably contained, say in a hobo stove, I wouldn't anticipate problems melting the plastic or tape. Eskimos will burn an oil lamp inside an igloo; while not raising the inside temp to sauna proportions, it raises the temp from well below freezing up to not-quite-melting, and the igloo stays intact without melting.

I think this plastic tepee idea is genius. Cheap, light, and probably very effective. If there are no overhanging branches, you could even make a tripod from three long branches to make a suspension point. I'll have to give it a try.

I am not sure on how to secure the bottom yet, but if in snow one could
make duct tape grommets, to make these you stick a 2 by 2 inch piece of
duct tape where you want a grommet and then use a hand held paper puncher
to make a hole, one piece of duct tape is strong enough and if you
use two of them it is stronger than one mil plastic. This is good enough for
our ultra light and cheap usage.

Then you take short sticks tie these to the grommets and then bury them
side ways in the snow this is your dead man snow anchors, go around the
bottom of the tepee and then you have it anchored, Like this you may not
need supporting poles or very few. You can try to anchor it
off the snow or maybe better anchor it into the snow and dig snow holes
around the edges to allow air into the tepee.

This is a design in progress. I think the basic structure made from a square
section of plastic should work, just need to figure out the details without
adding weight.

Dan

[Democracyman]

The top of the tepee, you need to make a pre-made hole, of some size,
I am not sure what size??? 12inch diameter? Then you should make some strings
around the hole some how with a central position to hang the shelter from.
You can use a stick or rock to throw the string end over a limb then pull the
shelter up, then tie it off. I imagine double sided duct tape around the edge
on top and some sort of way to tie in strings on it.

Question should the strings to hang the shelter from be thin steel wire? I think
maybe so. This is where the smoke will be leaving the shelter.


Dan

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Here is a Site that has a pattern for making a reproduction teepee. It may give you some ideas.
Plains Indian Tepee - How to Make, Erect, and Decorate a Tepee (Teepee, Tipi)

[Democracyman]

Here is a Site that has a pattern for making a reproduction teepee. It may give you some ideas.
Plains Indian Tepee - How to Make, Erect, and Decorate a Tepee (Teepee, Tipi)
__________________

Thanks, I like the door design they used, maybe something like that
can be done on the plastic shelter. I am surprised on the design of
the flaps to get the smoke to flow out. I am not sure how I can design
this into a plastic sheet shelter and will think on it.

Dan

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Here's another site, that has a better plan/pattern, that may help you solve that problem.
How to Build Teepees: Make Indian Teepee; TePee Making, Natve American Tee Pee, Tipi, Tipis, miniature real