AK caribou shelter

[WeiserBucks]

Looking at different shelters for Sept caribou. I've never been there and have no clue what I actually need, what works and what doesn't. I had a Hilleberg tunnel tent but sold it due to entry/exit requirements, hated it. Currently have a SO hot tent but concerned about extreme wind and looks like a lack of firewood based on the videos I've seen.

So, what works and what doesn't? Is my hot tipi worthy or do I need a no BS 4 season Hille/SG/Kuiu storm star ect or ?

 

[KChunter71]

 

[WeiserBucks]

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I also have an Alaknak, but it won't make weight for this wrasslin match.

 

[dutch_henry]

Depends where you're going and how you're getting there. Can you share more info?

My choice for boat or car is an arctic oven. Fly in w/ basecamp a 6 person dome modded with stove jack. On the move a SO redcliff with stove (if there's wood for fuel) or mountaineering tent w/ candle laterns (if in tundra/barrens). Interior weather can be all over the place in September. The worst is extended clouds/rain, in which case having a way to dry out gear and warm up is really really nice. Whatever it is, quality stakes and taking the time to guy it out is key

 

[WeiserBucks]

Depends where you're going and how you're getting there. Can you share more info?

My choice for boat or car is an arctic oven. Fly in w/ basecamp a 6 person dome modded with stove jack. On the move a SO redcliff with stove (if there's wood for fuel) or mountaineering tent w/ candle laterns (if in tundra/barrens). Interior weather can be all over the place in September. The worst is extended clouds/rain, in which case having a way to dry out gear and warm up is really really nice. Whatever it is, quality stakes and taking the time to guy it out is key

Flying out of Kotz, early September, 80 lb limit.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Uncle and I flew out of naknek AK , we used a west wind? 6 man dome it was kinda cramped, but withstood some heavy rain and wind on the hunt, that would be my main concern ( wind ) , wood was a luxury for sure. A Colman stove was worth the weight,
best o luck up in the circle

 

[kaboku68]

Browning Glacier Extreme is about $600. Not Arctic Oven but it weighs 28lbs and you could put a small stove and stove jack in it. Arctic Ovens are north of 2K and worth it if you plan to do lots of hunts but if not you can pick up the Browning at SW. The Glacier Extreme was developed on Kodiak and is a copy of the Arctic Oven.

You could also buy one of those Eskimo Ice Fishing Tents.

 

[dutch_henry]

Excited for you. I've only been there in winter, really want to get back in the fall. I think a lot of it will to come down to personal preference and how it fits into the rest of your system. 80 lbs can go fast. Based on you mentioning the Kuiu storm star, I'm assuming you're going solo,with one partner, or don't plan to bunk together.

You should be able to find willow to burn, possibly some driftwood depending on the drainage. But don't necessarily count on enough fuel for extended burns.

Something like the North Face VE25 would be bombproof but has a peak height of 48". Heats reasonably with multiple candle lanterns, could potentially rig a small stove in the vestibule. My Redcliff w liner and stove has been decent in situations like that but have always taken pains to find lees from the wind. I did once have my carbon pole snap due to a combo of snow and wind loading during the night. Field repair worked fine but something to consider.

 

[OXN939]

Flying out of Kotz, early September, 80 lb limit.

A beefy 4 season, 2P tent is a good idea. Very good chance you'll get some strong winds with nothing to break them. Mountainsmith Morrison 2 did great.

 

[VernAK]

A quality 4 season plus a tarp would be my choice.

 

[WeiserBucks]

There will be two of us but we're each bringing our own shelter. I plan to bring a quality tent of some sort and a tarp or two to get stuff out of the weather. I'm thinking my shelter needs to be sub 10 lbs or so to make the weight limit for the bush plane.

 

[LongWayAround]

A buddy and I are having the same debate.

Our current options are basically his seek tipi or my alps 4-man dome. I haven't used the dome in any extreme weather but it seems sturdy and the flye pitches very tightly. The tipi is always appealing but the wind and seeming lack of fuel for the stove make me question whether it's the correct option.

We're scheduled for September 17-25, flying out of Kotzebue.

What do you guys think is the better option?

 

[S-3 ranch]

A buddy and I are having the same debate.

Our current options are basically his seek tipi or my alps 4-man dome. I haven't used the dome in any extreme weather but it seems sturdy and the flye pitches very tightly. The tipi is always appealing but the wind and seeming lack of fuel for the stove make me question whether it's the correct option.

We're scheduled for September 17-25, flying out of Kotzebue.

What do you guys think is the better option?

Go sturdy as possible! , my hunt it rained every day, windy ( 35+ mph)
ground was soggy, be prepared for it ,
best o luck on the tundra

 

[Antares]

A beefy 4 season, 2P tent is a good idea. Very good chance you'll get some strong winds with nothing to break them. Mountainsmith Morrison 2 did great.

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Holy smokes. My back hurts just looking at that picture.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

We went with the SO 8 man with stove, and each of us packed an ultralight tarp for additional shelter, or a meat cache, or a just in case the tipi failed. The 8 man with stove and metal pole is around 15 pounds if I remember correctly, but it's really nice when you are cooped up for days on end.

I get a Duraflame log, and slice off chunks like a loaf of bread for use in the stove. That alone is usually enough to take the chill off in the morning and heat up a cup of water for coffee. It also works wonders on drying out the sticks I gather while I'm out wandering. We burned the stove a short while first thing in the morning, and on a couple of evenings with just basically twigs and driftwood.

I also like that you can pitch the 8 man down to the 6 man size if you are really worried about wind or the size of the footprint. We had pretty good winds, probably in the 35 mph range on both of the last two trips and the 8 man held up great.

 

[OXN939]

Holy smokes. My back hurts just looking at that picture.

Wasn't bad at all! There was a nice relatively flat spot under the tent. Also, these dudes help a lot

 

[S-3 ranch]

I guess it’s worth the money to pay for a equipment plane load, if needed , we had a Cessna 206 take us out and two fat boys and equipment going out was easy, return took 3 loads .
21 days in the bush takes some planning.
( now glad on my not shooting a moose )
but I am a major anal about needing equipment and it being in a storage unit in King salmon ! Buy quality and buy once cry once