I am new to this forum so thought I would introcduce my aself to this forum by posting this project I have been picking at for the past year or so. I just finished about a month ago and we have been enjoying it very much!!! Hope you enjoy.
With two little ones I can't get out for all the extended outings as I used to, and they are still too young to join me so, I decided to set up camp just out back. I am fortunate to be surrounded by woods and a nice size river a 150 meters awayr so you don't have to go far out the back door to feel like your way back in the woods.
I want to continue to keep my kids involved the wilderness , what it has to offer and how to be comfortable with just the basics.
I am building this wigwam and camp site for many reason, for fun, for camping, bushcraft classroom....
So tell me what you think, its my first one so constructional criticism is fine.
Used birch sapling they line the ditches of my road, grow like weeds!
Phase 1- structure....
The first two pics are of just the main poles, (step one).
the following are after the three horizontal rings are installed, (part two) to add rigidity, really does!
It is now ready for phase two, covering. I would have liked to use natural materials but due to the size, the amount of materials needed, time i have, maintenance needed, kid and fire friendly.... i decided to go with canvas. I got some guys keeping an eye out for deals on canvas.
Once that is done, lets just say for Phase three, interior with have a little more than a ring of stones for a fire pit!
will keep you posted, i am picking away at it. what ya think?
phase two
as i stated in part one I am building this in the woods out my backdoor to maximize the time i can spend working on it and time i can spend enjoying it with my young kids. Even though it is not yet realy finished this has already proven to be a wise decision.
so this first pic is where I left off and new i had three things left to do;
First thing is to cover it. I didnt want to use natural materials as the amount i would need to cover it, the upkeep and the time required for both so, I acquired some military modular tent sections from my army surplus store and converted them to a wigwam cover. I cut them up and lashed them in and they are not going anywhere!!good covering and ventilation. It has four screened windows, each of which have a roll up plastic window and cover. For the doo I just haul one corner of the main section aside and tie it off...youll see. I also have the asbestos stove pipe sleeve to install over the fireplace.
Second, was to weave more branches in the upper section of the shelter to keep water and snow from hanging up on the flatter sections. I did this before i put to cover on but didnt take any pics until after it was on. Now i will wait and see if it needs any additional branches weaved once the rains and snow start.
Third thing was the FIRE! due to the fact that the kids will be using this as much as me I wanted it to be kid friendly. So I decided to salvage some old fire bricks from an old home being renovated and build a brick wood stove type jobie. This keep be great for heat retention and safe for the kids. 2/3 rds of the way up I turned some bricks in to hold a cooking rack. left a hole in the back of the stove to enjoy the flames and heat when in the back of the wigwam. The fireplace is in the middle of the wigwam and chose to put the front of the stove facing the entrance of the wigwam for ease of loading it.
the chimney is not yet installed but all is ready. Dont think I will have time before i leave tomorrow to go Moose Hunting in Newfoundland for two weeks:4: ......... Once i get back and put in and once she is blowing smoke i will post again, just thought I would give you all an update now.
Didnt take many pics while building it as when I started I really didnt know what I was doing! I went off one hand drawn picture and a paragraph from Mors Kochanskis book Bushcraft. It also turned out bigger than I.... imagined I guess, but then again I didnt build it, it just came to be and I only helped.
Phase three
I finsihed the chimeny and will post pics soon with a fire going.
hope you enjoyed!!??
With two little ones I can't get out for all the extended outings as I used to, and they are still too young to join me so, I decided to set up camp just out back. I am fortunate to be surrounded by woods and a nice size river a 150 meters awayr so you don't have to go far out the back door to feel like your way back in the woods.
I want to continue to keep my kids involved the wilderness , what it has to offer and how to be comfortable with just the basics.
I am building this wigwam and camp site for many reason, for fun, for camping, bushcraft classroom....
So tell me what you think, its my first one so constructional criticism is fine.
Used birch sapling they line the ditches of my road, grow like weeds!
Phase 1- structure....
The first two pics are of just the main poles, (step one).
the following are after the three horizontal rings are installed, (part two) to add rigidity, really does!
It is now ready for phase two, covering. I would have liked to use natural materials but due to the size, the amount of materials needed, time i have, maintenance needed, kid and fire friendly.... i decided to go with canvas. I got some guys keeping an eye out for deals on canvas.
Once that is done, lets just say for Phase three, interior with have a little more than a ring of stones for a fire pit!
will keep you posted, i am picking away at it. what ya think?
phase two
as i stated in part one I am building this in the woods out my backdoor to maximize the time i can spend working on it and time i can spend enjoying it with my young kids. Even though it is not yet realy finished this has already proven to be a wise decision.
so this first pic is where I left off and new i had three things left to do;
First thing is to cover it. I didnt want to use natural materials as the amount i would need to cover it, the upkeep and the time required for both so, I acquired some military modular tent sections from my army surplus store and converted them to a wigwam cover. I cut them up and lashed them in and they are not going anywhere!!good covering and ventilation. It has four screened windows, each of which have a roll up plastic window and cover. For the doo I just haul one corner of the main section aside and tie it off...youll see. I also have the asbestos stove pipe sleeve to install over the fireplace.
Second, was to weave more branches in the upper section of the shelter to keep water and snow from hanging up on the flatter sections. I did this before i put to cover on but didnt take any pics until after it was on. Now i will wait and see if it needs any additional branches weaved once the rains and snow start.
Third thing was the FIRE! due to the fact that the kids will be using this as much as me I wanted it to be kid friendly. So I decided to salvage some old fire bricks from an old home being renovated and build a brick wood stove type jobie. This keep be great for heat retention and safe for the kids. 2/3 rds of the way up I turned some bricks in to hold a cooking rack. left a hole in the back of the stove to enjoy the flames and heat when in the back of the wigwam. The fireplace is in the middle of the wigwam and chose to put the front of the stove facing the entrance of the wigwam for ease of loading it.
the chimney is not yet installed but all is ready. Dont think I will have time before i leave tomorrow to go Moose Hunting in Newfoundland for two weeks:4: ......... Once i get back and put in and once she is blowing smoke i will post again, just thought I would give you all an update now.
Didnt take many pics while building it as when I started I really didnt know what I was doing! I went off one hand drawn picture and a paragraph from Mors Kochanskis book Bushcraft. It also turned out bigger than I.... imagined I guess, but then again I didnt build it, it just came to be and I only helped.
Phase three
I finsihed the chimeny and will post pics soon with a fire going.
hope you enjoyed!!??
welcome to BCUK
and the conversations around the 'virtual' campfire 
