Tying The Tipi Tripod
admin May 20th, 2008
I was going through a few old tipi pictures and I thought you might all want to see how I tie the tipi tripod together.
Using one end of a good manila anchor rope, tie an overhand knot at the loose end of the anchor rope to keep it from slipping out. If you have an anchor rope larger than 3/8 inch, you will find it easier to lash the tripod poles with a smaller rope to which you can attach your heavy rope for wrapping around the pole structure and for anchoring the structure.
Start by tieing a clove hitch where the tipi poles cross (tie-point). Pull the clove hitch tight - then add two to four turns around the tipi poles at the tie-point, slipping the end of the rope under itself to create a half hitch with each turn. The Indians usually made four turns around the tipi pole tripod.
Make sure this knot is very tight - one way to cheat a little is to to not spread the tipi poles as much as they will need to be spread once the tipi is up - then by spreading the tipi poles, you will tighten the knot. Lift the tripod being sure that the base of the tipi poles do not slip away. When you swing the north tipi pole into position to form the tipis tripod, the lashing is stretched and becomes very tight. The lashing should be snug, use caution that you do not break a tipi pole as you spread the tipis tripod.
For more on tipi setup, pleas visit Reese Tipis -Tipi Setup page.
