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Wind

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WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT WIND

1. Two pebble ties between each pole will hold the bottom of the cover much more securely than just one tie. This is also require to ensure your tipi retains waranty coverage.

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2. Poles cannot be moved by wind gusts if two stakes are driven behind the butt at a right angle to the pole. 18" x 3/8" rebar works very well for this.

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3. In windy weather, it is wise to set the back of the tipi into the wind. Even the Indians departed from the traditional "East facing" posture when strong winds threatened from an easterly direction. If the wind blows against the front of the tipi it is difficult to block it out with the smoke flaps and it will usually push the smoke back down into the tipi. Also, a strong frontal wind causes problems when the door is opened.

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4. With the back of the tipi into the wind, the fire works even with the smoke flaps closed. Use dry wood and keep a flame going to produce enough heat to lift the smoke up and out of the tipi.

5. The Reese Tipis door is impervious to wind if the sewn-in dowels are stretched across and on top of the Door poles and under the fabric of the tipi cover. This is our own exclusive design.

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6. An ample supply of dry wood for a fire, a propane fire pit and/or a good heater with plenty of fuel is essential when the wind is accompanied by cold temperatures.

7. The bottom edge of the liner (dew cloth) may be buried or held firmly to the ground to prevent chilling gusts of air from penetrating the Lodge. On one of our winter camps, we had pulled the bottom edge of the liner out under the butts of the poles. Then we ditched around the tipi, anticipating rain, we buried the edge of the liner with dirt from the ditch. The sandy soil at our campsite made this easy. The Indians frequently used rocks to hold the edges of the liner firmly against the ground. However, we do not recommend burying the edge of the liner except in an emergency. It makes the edge of the liner dirty, and if done for a long period of time it will cause the fabric to rot.

8. The shape of a tipi allows the air to flow around it and minimizes the force of the wind.

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9. A tipi cover should be designed to fit high on the Lift pole to shield the pole opening from the rear. The top edges of the smoke flaps should encircle the pole structure at the narrow point in the rear and extend diagonally upward toward the front like a high winged collar. When closed, the flaps should fit snugly around the narrow neck of the pole structure to block out wind and rain. Tipi covers that hang low in the rear do not provide good protection against wind and rain. Even a moderate wind can blow smoke back down into a tipi if the cover hangs low at the neck. This is one of the reasons that we prefer the Sioux design - because, if made properly, it will fit snugly at the neck whether the smoke flaps are open or closed.

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