I carried this gun with me to every rendezvous I went to.I started out camping in a Bakers' lean-to at rendezvous's.Then to a 8'by10' wall tent with a custom hand made stove.Then to a tipi or "lodge" many want to call them.I always put out a traders' blanket selling goods made over the winter.Met a lot of great people.Never took many pictures back then but did once here of the 2 tipis I owned and camped in.Unique shelters.Used to "froze foot rendezvous"/"hunt or starve rendezvous" back in them days at camps of less than 6 and at camps of over 700 at rendezvous's in many different states.You learn about all kinds of different types knots rendezvousing also.
Tipis of the western plains usually always have 15 poles for the set up & 2 poles for the flaps.I usually carried 18 poles [1 extra in case].These were for Sioux and Cheyenne type tipis.It all starts from a tri-pod with the rest of the poles layed into the crotches in the right sequence.
A tipi is normally set up facing the east.Away from the westerdly prevailing winds.This helps the smoke draft better from the tipi.The smoke flap poles can be turned pointing most any direction yet to help with the draft.In case of rain the smoke flap poles can be criss-crossed in front of the tipi closing the smoke flap hole all together.I've been through some very heavy intense rains with these and very little rain ever comes in.
There is tipi etiquette to be learned when living in these.Goods and wood pile have their places around perimeter along with sleeping areas.After entering walking to the left around the camp fire.At ceremonies inside the owner sits at the place of honor right directly behind the fire pit.Sod taken out for pit is the alter laying directly behind fire pit.Peace pipe used during ceremonies is handled and filled by owner handed to the heart side with it never passing by the door and returned to owner.
The "books of buckskinning series" are very informative books learning about a tipi.Laubins' books too.With practice these structures can be put up and moved into in around an hour.The problem to solve by most is a way of hauling the poles,but with a little will & ingenuity that is easily solved too.You can expect nowadays to spend upwards of $1000.00 or more for such a shelter.Unless you live in an area where poles are available to you to harvest and you have the equipment/know how/and proper pattern to make your own.The final outcome of living in one is very rewarding and a special connection to the earth and it's surroundings.
Measurement size is the width across the base of lodge.
18' tipi [easily house 4 people comfortably] This was a Spring Valley Lodge tipi using 25 to 26 foot ling lodge pine poles smoothed and treated with linseed oil.A Cheyenne style type tipi.A 1 pole neighbor behind it.
(https://i.imgur.com/T3rJUvz.jpg)
14' tipi [easily house 2 people comfortably] & still have this one and all it's parts.Here's some pictures of it after it arrived to me.I usually do a dry run set up before I take it camping.I also wanted to fit up a 2/3rd's ozan for it too while it was set up.I use 22 to 23 foot long black spruce poles for this one smoothed and treated with linseed oil.I made that 2/3rd's ozan [false ceiling which helps for winter camping] for this tipi.It was referred to as a hunting camp type lodge.Made by a buckskinner I know by the name of "mud turtle".A siouw style type tipi.They called me the "hatman" because I made so many fur hats.
(https://i.imgur.com/ed7aMzs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Ryfj7i4.jpg)
willow rod backrests for furniture/possible bag hanging I use bow hunting nowadays.A wooden kitchen box and other boxes storing food items and clothing and equipment were used too.I used liner poles on this one.Not totally necessary though.A liner rope along the top edge of inside liner can be used also.It's that inside liner to the ground and outside cover a few inches off the ground that makes such a lodge simple and versatile.It drafts the smoke out of the lodge.It can withstand very high winds also being cylindrical and being staked down every 2' around the outside cover edge and staked down from the apex of poles straight down inside the tipi as shown.
(https://i.imgur.com/BHgMre0.jpg)
I have a friend that elk hunts out west every year in a tipi yet.Many know him and some call him bare foot Tom as he hunts bare footed.