Hi everyone. I'm Kyle, one of the new boots at Wheaton Labs. I'm staying in the Tipi up on the lab.
I've been here since last Sunday and I'm just settling into the rhythm of the day. I am used to getting up early and hard physical work but it has been a huge change having a necessary rhythm of heating the Tipi and spending mornings and nights without internet. Honestly it has been nice waking and sleeping with the phases of the day.
I'm excited to post updates of the project I'm helping with but today's post is all about how my morning's start.
I'll have some design ideas for Tipi in the future.
BeforeDawnFire.jpg
Here is the inside of the Tipi before dawn
Kindling.jpg
Getting the cold heater started
NiceandHot.jpg
Now it's putting out some heat
SplitingKindling.jpg
Getting fuel for tonight and tomorrow morning
GoingExploring.jpg
After feeding Bella, I got her to go explore
MorningView.jpg
Here is the first thing I see when I go outside
MorningCommute.jpg
The shortest and most scenic commute I've ever had
Daniel and I started one of the roundwood timber gates at Allerton Abbey. Nothing worth a picture yet but I'll deliver one when its done.
In the afternoon a bunch of boots went up to Fred's plot and planted hundreds of seeds. I did oak acorns, maple seeds, peas, and persimmons. And I only fell on my ass once. And on my face once.
Really I wiped out 4 times today... Mixing ice, mud, and slopes together is pretty treacherous.
Okay now on to the cool design stuff. My ideas for improving the Tipi.
ExistingFloorPlan.jpg
Here is the Tipi as it is now
ExistingSetup.jpg
Hope this 3D sketch is good enough
ExistingSetupImprovements.jpg
I think wrapping the heat deflector further around and over will help push the heat to the center and bed. A canopy will slow escaping heat and hold it lower down inside.
WildAssProposal.jpg
If I could change the whole thing... Probably a dozen reasons these are a bad ideas but I thought I would sketch it out anyway.
After doing some clean up this morning, everyone gets Saturday to themselves. So I took a trip over to Missoula and stocked up on some food and a pot and pan. It's time to tinker with Rocket Mass Heater cooking.
StockedUp.jpg
I'm going to try making rice, oatmeal, potatoes, and yams. No internet on the Lab so I report results tomorrow. All I need is water and fuel.
StavesandHandles.jpg
Here are some of the staves I'm making into bows and some oak limbs for tool handles. Most of the staves are red cedar.
DullTools.jpg
I've got to sharpen my hatchet, draw knife and scrapers before I start on the staves.
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