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Wall tent living #6265353
06/23/18 01:15 AM
06/23/18 01:15 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 43
Southern Idaho
R
rockmurph Offline OP
trapper
rockmurph  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 43
Southern Idaho
Alright guys and gals, I came up to alaska again. Working at a remote gold mine as of right now. Looking to trap on my winter off. But here is my dilemma. I don’t want to rent because that’s a waste of money. I would like a remote cabin that I can drive to but can’t find one. I did however find land out torweds circle hot springs but it dose not have a cabin on the land. I will not be there until November if I bought it. So no time to build one. What would life be like if I got one of those Artic Oven tents (the big one) and made that a home to sleep in. Then a walltent to do my skinning, bathing, cooking, and such and also serve as a back up for if something went wrong with the arctic oven.

So I guess my question is how many of you lived in tents in the winter at one point? What are some tips or advice you could give a man?

And yes i know it gets minus 60 i know it’s dark most of the winter I know it’s not easy but I don’t like easy. There’s no good story about something that came easy and there is no pride in something that started off easy. And I know some of you and a lot of older gen guys have lived winters in these tents.


A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control.” -Jordan Peterson
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6265576
06/23/18 01:21 PM
06/23/18 01:21 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 397
Interior Alaska
E
EurekaTrapper Offline
trapper
EurekaTrapper  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 397
Interior Alaska
Are you going to be able to find enough dry wood to last the winter if you get there in November? Better get a good wood stove.


"Wise men learn more from fools than fools learn from the wise."
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6265578
06/23/18 01:30 PM
06/23/18 01:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
I've spent entire winters in a wall tent several times. It can be comfortable but it takes a lot of work.

There is an old saying that goes like this.

Two guys go into the woods. One puts up a tent and cuts wood. The other builds a cabin and cuts wood. Who do you think finishes his work first ?

You say a "remote place you can drive to". I don't think I've ever seen a place like that. BUT.........it sounds as though you can drive to the place you're looking at ????????????

If that's the case....haul some 2 bys and plywood out there and build something when you get there in November.


Mean As Nails
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6265589
06/23/18 02:12 PM
06/23/18 02:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 356
Interior Alaska
R
Rusty Newhouse Offline
trapper
Rusty Newhouse  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 356
Interior Alaska
That was my first thought build a small (12'x12' max.) frame place and insulate it.
4" of fiberglass insulation is way warmer then any tent I've ever stayed in.

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6265734
06/23/18 08:16 PM
06/23/18 08:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
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Hutchy Offline
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Hutchy  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
friends of mine have lived year round in a double wall wall tent now for the past five or six years. They double walled theirs. Even then the amount of wood used in staggering. I would buy a good insulated wall tent, and certainly not one too big. Lots of tent makes supply miners, etc and they say the double walled ones are far and away better. I lived in a single wall tent for a winter, and even though was just there at night, used a lot of wood.

If you could find a way to add fiberglass insulation, maybe the roll kind for doing basements, that would be a huuuuuge improvement. Also, don't forget a way to insulate the floor.

A cabin is far and away better. With small cabins, often the hardest part is to keep from being too hot and regulate the heat.

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6265816
06/23/18 11:34 PM
06/23/18 11:34 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 776
MN, USA
star flakes Offline
trapper
star flakes  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 776
MN, USA
And what do you do in real winter in your tent with a mishap or you get sick. Mishaps are akin to the fire you build has an ember that burns up your tent on a 60 below night. All rhetorical and all reality.
The best choice is the tipi of the worst choices.
As you state you can drive to this not so remote location, make yourself a pre fab out of plywood and lumber that you can handle and assemble there, including insulation with star screws. Get your foundation plank or concrete laid this summer along with all the firewood you are going to need to survive put under double cover of plastic and off the ground.
There are not any sufficient tips to living in a tent in the winter, or a remote location alone, as it is about experience in the myriad of little things that go wrong. There is a reason the big lonely places are not filled with people in cabins or tents, and that is those who try it do not repeat the mistake as most will never do it again.
I would get a partner who would not drive me nuts.

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6265984
06/24/18 08:35 AM
06/24/18 08:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 256
Mo, Ozarks
3
316 Offline
trapper
316  Offline
trapper
3

Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 256
Mo, Ozarks
Purchase the dvd "How to build a classic Trapping Cabin" sold by the Alaska Trappers association . Hard work but a fast build that will give you a cabin when you are done and far better than any tent.

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266254
06/24/18 03:46 PM
06/24/18 03:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
I like your grit. We bought 15 acres in October 25-years ago. There was nothing on the land so we lived in a wall tent while I built a small cabin. Took a couple of months to get the cabin done. We had three kids, the youngest turned one in that tent...nobody died. We eventually built a house and still live on the same piece of land


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266418
06/24/18 09:14 PM
06/24/18 09:14 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
Star Flakes makes a good point about fire. But the point is just as valid about a cabin as it is about a tent. Stove pipe fires can be catastrophic.....burning a cabin to the ground. You just need to be aware of that. Regardless of whether you use a tent or build a cabin, you need to have a cache. Maybe just a barrel with a clamp on lid. With another tent, sleeping bag, clothes, mittens, matches, a pot or a pan. Some food like peanut butter and some sugar. Don't forget a bow saw and another ax ! This is emergency gear you hope to never use.

Needless to say you should also have a supply of any meds you take. Keep all of that away from any source of ignition.

Do NOT be afraid to travel and camp alone. Your fears and anxiety in the middle of the night are far worse than reality USUALLY turns out. Don't let that anxiety cripple you.

There is no boogie man in the dark that isn't there in the daylight. Use common sense and prepare for every thing you can. Do NOT take counsel of your fears.


Mean As Nails
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266521
06/25/18 01:48 AM
06/25/18 01:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 43
Southern Idaho
R
rockmurph Offline OP
trapper
rockmurph  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 43
Southern Idaho
I would have two tents an arctic oven (the big one) and a regular wall tent (to serve as a back up if something goes wrong and for skinning) And yes sorry I shouldn’t say remote but looking to get away as far as I can from the majority of the population while still on the road system since I have a truck and no where to store it if I was to get a fly in property. I do like the idea of building, but I won’t be able to get concrete in. I work at a remote mine until end of October so I will not be there until around November. But I suppose I can use a wood frame the first year then pour the next summer for I’ll have some time off by then. Also would have a truck there that’s if it starts in -60. I will have a generator as well. And central won’t be to far away for fuel.


A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control.” -Jordan Peterson
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266672
06/25/18 10:52 AM
06/25/18 10:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,129
McGrath, AK
I wouldn't worry at all about concrete.


Mean As Nails
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266675
06/25/18 11:00 AM
06/25/18 11:00 AM

O
Oh Snap
Unregistered
Oh Snap
Unregistered
O



Before you put out cash for land to trap from you might check out how many established trappers there are there first! JMO

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266762
06/25/18 01:52 PM
06/25/18 01:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 376
fairbanks,ak.
isnarewolves Offline
trapper
isnarewolves  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 376
fairbanks,ak.
Oh Snap is correct. There are several well established trappers in the area.Little to no opportunity with you doing any trapping. Especially any trapping remotely close to the road system or rivers.


Life is hard. It's even harder if your stupid!
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266788
06/25/18 02:33 PM
06/25/18 02:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 391
ak
nooksack Offline
trapper
nooksack  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 391
ak
Maybe you should try and stay at the mine as a caretaker and trap out there.

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6266880
06/25/18 05:32 PM
06/25/18 05:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 643
North Pole ak
T
Team V Offline
trapper
Team V  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 643
North Pole ak
Oh snap is correct there are established trappers in area I am one. The biggest problem in that area is the wind. I have literally went outside in the winter to make sure my cabin is still sitting on it foundation. The wind just whippes in that area I don't think I would like to do a tent up there. I Now of other established trappers in area also. If you want pm me were you are looking at and I will let you know if I now of any one in area.

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6267077
06/25/18 09:37 PM
06/25/18 09:37 PM

O
Oh Snap
Unregistered
Oh Snap
Unregistered
O



I agree with nooksack!

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6267715
06/26/18 07:05 PM
06/26/18 07:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
M
martentrapper Offline
trapper
martentrapper  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
How "remote" is the gold mine? Can you drive to it also? Maybe if you gave us the general area we could point you to people who could give you info on the area.
Between Fairbanks, Central, and Circle, there are a number of trappers using the Steese Hiway as a start point for traplines.
mt

Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6267951
06/27/18 02:58 AM
06/27/18 02:58 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 43
Southern Idaho
R
rockmurph Offline OP
trapper
rockmurph  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 43
Southern Idaho
I have a very good chance to actually trap the mine in the following years. it’s fly in only north of huslia. A lady works here that use to trap the area until her husband passed away and I’m looking at buying her cabin. Problem is this first year I’m not supplied up for the winter I just got here in April and started work right away. I also have a truck that I don’t have anywhere to store if I was to move out here this winter. And will need to get a sled and all the works flown in yet to. For now I’m looking to get a place on the road system that I can use for When I need to go to town and to store my vehicle and would just trap from it this year just for fun and to get the hang of things. Then next year hope I am more settled and prepared to stay out here for the winter and start a real line.


A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control.” -Jordan Peterson
Re: Wall tent living [Re: rockmurph] #6268081
06/27/18 09:44 AM
06/27/18 09:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
M
martentrapper Offline
trapper
martentrapper  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
I know where that is. Was quite surprised to hear her husband passed away. He had snogos at several fly in cabins in the area. Aren't those snogos still out there? Isn't there a snogo and such at the main camp?
mt

Re: Wall tent living [Re: martentrapper] #6268088
06/27/18 09:55 AM
06/27/18 09:55 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,330
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
trapper
Pete in Frbks  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,330
Fairbanks, Alaska
Originally Posted By: martentrapper
I know where that is. Was quite surprised to hear her husband passed away. He had snogos at several fly in cabins in the area. Aren't those snogos still out there? Isn't there a snogo and such at the main camp?
mt


Sounds like Hog River Gary?

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