Parachute Over Fire

Hey Folks,

I'm wondering if anyone on here as ever 'pitched' a parachute like this before? A few friends and I are trying to social distance and do some winter camping and I remembered seeing this idea a few years ago. If anyone has pointers on how to best set this up or is willing to offer a parachute for us to borrow, that would be amazing! I'm in Hopkins, MN and would be happy to pay for postage if you are too far away and would mail it back after we use it.

We did this trick at Camp Wilderness in Boy Scouts at winter camp. It was very warm under the parachute. Brings back memories. eBay has used military ones for $149.

VaderStrom: " Parachute Over Fire

I have seen this picture before and immediately wanted a parachute myself. When you locate or buy a parachute, I look forward to hearing back here about your experience.

OCDave: "

VaderStrom: " Parachute Over Fire

I have seen this picture before and immediately wanted a parachute myself. When you locate or buy a parachute, I look forward to hearing back here about your experience."

Yeah, it does look pretty awesome and I imagine would make for a fun winter outdoor “heated” area. I don’t think I’ll be swinging a $150 shoot right now but will keep any eye out. Any leads are appreciated.

Savage Voyageur: "We did this trick at Camp Wilderness in Boy Scouts at winter camp. It was very warm under the parachute. Brings back memories. eBay has used military ones for $149. "

Can you elaborate more? Was yours set up this far off the ground? I'd imagine you could heat a shelter that sized with a fire, but with the sides 4 ft off the ground, I'd be surprised it would be warm.

Chuckles: "

Savage Voyageur: "We did this trick at Camp Wilderness in Boy Scouts at winter camp. It was very warm under the parachute. Brings back memories. eBay has used military ones for $149. "

Can you elaborate more? Was yours set up this far off the ground? I'd imagine you could heat a shelter that sized with a fire, but with the sides 4 ft off the ground, I'd be surprised it would be warm.
"

This was 45 years ago! The only reason I remember it was it was a cool thing to try at camp. All I remember it was warm from the fire or heat off the chute. It fills just like a hot air balloon does. I think the one I saw had a rope tied up to a tree to get it to fill, probably staked out at the sides. Like I said a lifetime ago.

Seen this every year at the winter camping symposium. Too bad it was cancelled this year.

I was actually at the event where that picture was taken. Wisconsin Frozen Butt Hang a few years back. Nick Gordon is the guy who owns it. You could contact him via his website - nowoutdoors.org
It’s being pulled up and lowered with a pulley system and fixed to a ridge line and then you have a few guyouts, as you can see in the pictures. The heat from the fire then balloons it out. Can’t say that it’s that much warmer under there, but it keeps the weather off and looks pretty cool. Not sure where he got it from or what model it is.

Thanks for the intel. I'm looking for ideas to get my family outside this winter and I was hoping the parachute would be a semi-heated space. Sounds like it is pretty cool, but not worth the investment for me.

I want one!!! Too bad it is too expensive for sort of a test or whim.

Grandma L: "I want one!!! Too bad it is too expensive for sort of a test or whim.
"

Yup, that's the exact thing I've also unfortunately landed on. I'll be keeping an eye out for one though. :)

VaderStrom: "

Grandma L: "I want one!!! Too bad it is too expensive for sort of a test or whim.
"

Yup, that's the exact thing I've also unfortunately landed on. I'll be keeping an eye out for one though. :) "

By the way - I live on the Hopkins - Mtka. border - when not at my cabin north of Grand Rapids. So, "hi" neighbor

This is a new one to me, so I wanted to ask: Why don't sparks burn thorough, of burn up, the parachute canopy?

SouthernKevlar: "This is a new one to me, so I wanted to ask: Why don't sparks burn thorough, of burn up, the parachute canopy?"

To some small extent they may but most would bounce back off or not have the heat to burn I’d guess. A lot depends on how big your fire is and how dry of wood you have.

Grandma L: "

VaderStrom: "

Grandma L: "I want one!!! Too bad it is too expensive for sort of a test or whim.
"

Yup, that's the exact thing I've also unfortunately landed on. I'll be keeping an eye out for one though. :) "

By the way - I live on the Hopkins - Mtka. border - when not at my cabin north of Grand Rapids. So, "hi" neighbor"

We are very close then! Maybe after all this quarantine fill time is past I can seek advice for my everlasting hot tent build. I see your projects in the DIY section often.

Sounds good - I have done repairs on hot tents but never built on. shouldn't be too hard - sewn the fabric together. The design should be pretty basic too. now you have me thinking!!

Grandma L: "Sounds good - I have done repairs on hot tents but never built on. shouldn't be too hard - sewn the fabric together. The design should be pretty basic too. now you have me thinking!! "

Glad to have you thinking! :) I'd love to hear any recommendations you have. I've never handled canvas but it seems pretty easy compared to the ultralight materials I've sewn in the past. I have my aluminum tent frame mostly put together and as long as I can sew mostly straight lines with the old singer I think I should be okay to get going.

Three years ago we were on Seagull last week of September when the temps dropped, and it sleeted and snowed.

One of the guys was an ex Scout leader and said he would set up a super shelter. Basically he used one of our tarps as a sloping roof, and three others as sides making an enclosed lean too. This all went around the fire pit. Then he stacked a lot of rocks around and on the fire pit with an opening in the front, essentially making an oven.

We kept the wood dry under those tarps and a fire going throughout the time we were there with very little wood needed as we just wanted hot coals, not flames. Even in sub 30's, it was so warm in that structure we would sit in there with no coats on.

We've had a BIG one of these set up at a few of the MN Frozen Butt Hangs. I'm not at all convinced that it's any warmer under it in that case, although it probably would be effective for that on a much smaller scale where you could pitch it closer to the ground. However, it IS super nice when it starts sleeting - it did do a nice job of keeping that off us. I've never been around for the process of getting it up though, so I'm not sure how that works exactly.