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....

[rosscrazyelk]

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

I don't see any prices

[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

I don't see any prices

I think that you need to click on "return to shopping cart"

[WapitiTalk1]

16x20 tarp coming in Mail on Tuesday will fit the frame I built like a glove. Staked down with a few tie lines and I think it'll work fine for early archery season bike in missions. Wall pieces are slid down on thinner 18" pieces of rebar. We'll see how it does in the wind when I get a tarp on it.

[Tim in Wa.]

What did you make that frame out of?That looks like it would handle the wind pretty well

[kentrek]

Thatl be sweet!  Couple natural support posts in the middle incase it gets a snow load and youl be set 

[Watimberghost]

That looks like it will work great!

[WapitiTalk1]

What did you make that frame out of?That looks like it would handle the wind pretty well

3/4" PVC pipe and connectors.  Drilled a small hole in each connector flange to slip a piece of baling wire thru (like a cotter pin) to prevent slippage.  Not sure if I'll rig additional piping for further support across the main side pipes, but, might use some lenths of para cord tied between them to help stiffen it up a bit.  I like the idea of some additional, vertical, wood support posts in maybe two spots inside (thanks for the rec Kentrek).  I purposely cut the side poles a bit short so I'd have 4ish inches extra on the 20' wide tarp on each side to stake down.  With guy lines fore/aft, I think it'll work fine for early season.  Not so sure how it would handle the snow 

[WapitiTalk1]

Oh yeah, another retired Army buddy brought me this a bit ago.  After taking out the multi fuel attachments (hoses, carb, regulator, etc.) so it is just configured to burn wood, I think I can get this 1980 Yukon Stove down to less than 20lb (stove and pipes). I may just bike cart it in to my WA spot so we have a bun warmer/clothes dryer in the backcountry lodge.  It'll be taken in just "once" and greased up/stashed for subsequent years.  it's not set up all the way in the picture (actually sets level; will take it home tonight and work it over) but these old critters do throw out some heat.   

[coldsteel3d]

I don't think snow would be a problem with sides that steep, are you gonna be able to enclose atleast one end?

[WapitiTalk1]

I don't think snow would be a problem with sides that steep, are you gonna be able to enclose atleast one end?

Yah, will take enough light mil plastic to enclose at least one end of the hutch.