Backcountry Lodge?

[WapitiTalk1]

I've chewed on this for quite a few years and have never acted on it. What would be a good way to build a backcountry shelter for a couple of cats to sit under/get out of the rain? Yah, we've each got our two man (one person) backpack tents to sleep in but I've always thought it would be nice to have a separate enclosure to sit under in the evening and in the morning especially if there's rain. I sure won't pack anything in during a normal backpack hunt unless it was hauled in prior to the hunt on a scouting trip. We're mountain biking in about 4 miles on our WA hunt this year, pulling in a game cart, so I'm gonna figure something out for a backcountry lodge. Thinking about just a lightweight 12X16 tarp strung between two trees on a rope with some lines stretching the sides and corner grommets with some para cord. Have you folks set anything up back in there in addition to your sleep tents? Thanks for your thoughts in advance. RJ

[JimmyHoffa]

I used the sticks laying around once for the 'frame'.  Then put a tarp over the top stick and tied the corners with twine. 

[WapitiTalk1]

For 4 guys we pack a 16x16 tarp strung over a rope between trees. Don't even bother with tents.

I like your style mister. 

[kentrek]

Weve done an a frame out of logs...and a big tarp..bigger the better ! We build tables aswell...just need to pack in a big tarp and a couple select size pieces of ply wood..on table to cook off and another to eat off

Tarp,table tops,Hammer,nails, lots of twine...all about 7 miles in !

Go in a day or two ahead of time..scoute and build camp...pack water... it's home away from home for up to 4 weeks 

[WapitiTalk1]

Weve done an a frame out of logs...and a big tarp..bigger the better ! We build tables aswell...just need to pack in a big tarp and a couple select size pieces of ply wood..on table to cook off and another to eat off

Tarp,table tops,Hammer,nails, lots of twine...all about 7 miles in !

Go in a day or two ahead of time..scoute and build camp...pack water... it's home away from home for up to 4 weeks 

Nice.  Of all people, I kind of expected you to come back with "tarp, tarp... I don't need no stinking tarp", not table tops and hammers. 

[kentrek]

Weve done an a frame out of logs...and a big tarp..bigger the better ! We build tables aswell...just need to pack in a big tarp and a couple select size pieces of ply wood..on table to cook off and another to eat off

Tarp,table tops,Hammer,nails, lots of twine...all about 7 miles in !

Go in a day or two ahead of time..scoute and build camp...pack water... it's home away from home for up to 4 weeks 

Nice.  Of all people, I kind of expected you to come back with "tarp, tarp... I don't need no stinking tarp", not table tops and hammers. 

Haha well that'd be the base camp....my bivy camp 6 miles further away is alil different story ! Time and a place for everything  it's pretty nice have those bike carts to haul in a comfy base camp....between 3-4 guys and a couple trips we live quite comfortable at our base camp 

[ridgefire]

We have a 12x16 wall tent with a stove that we have packed in to our camp which is also four miles from the trailhead. We also have cots lantern grill tables chairs and target that we just keep it stashed up there from year to year. It takes some work getting the stuff in but sure is nice to have, especially during bad weather. I would look into a Kifaru tipi for a lightweight shelter for a couple guys, light and tons of room.

[hunterofelk]

Yeah, I've seen a lot of stashed camps in the backcountry.   Usually looks like a garbage dump.   

[kentrek]

Yeah, I've seen a lot of stashed camps in the backcountry.   Usually looks like a garbage dump.

Are you implying that ridge fires stash is a dump ? Have you seen it 

[ridgefire]

Everything is wrapped up in tarps and buried in a place where we are not to worried about someone finding. Far from looking like a dump.

[kentrek]

Back to the topic...another is for a base camp use a cheaper poly tarp instead of a fancy kifaru or like wise...they both get ember holes or have the gramets get tore out the same so might as well save the fancy light weight stuff for the mobile bivy camp 

They also make fancy lighter weight chairs that add a ton of comfort to those late night cribbage games 

[Tbob]

Yep, we always just set up a tarp anyway possible for the 2-4 of us to sit out and sip bourbon and smoke stogies together even if it's raining..

[Tim in Wa.]

This guy makes great tarps from small to really big http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/tundratarp.htm for a smaller one google jimmytarps

[buglebrush]

I love the idea, but honestly after a long day in the woods in September I barely stay awake for food. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Watch, Fat Guys in the Woods. "Creek", will tell you all you need to know....