Building an in ground oven for Sweat Rocks, suggestions advice

Hi! I'm building a sweat lodge on my property, it's very dry here for most of the year, and normally it will just be me and my wife sweating, so there won't be people outside to watch a big open fire pit.

So I was thinking of making an enclosed oven to heat up my rocks in, that would be safe to leave burning while I'm inside the sweat. I would like to do it with any natural stuff that I can, and spend no money if possible.

Does anyone have any experience doing this? Or have you seen anything like this that you could give me some ideas from? It doesn't have to be extravagant, it's just for heating up rocks.

 

I would dig a rectangular pit, 2-3 feet deep, and find a grate to put over it..

you could heat rocks, boil water, cook a stirfry all in one spot!

I don't have much knowledge, but this would be easiest unless you have crazy amounts of rock and cant break the ground very well.

the other alternative would be to build up(i suggested the first method because of your dry conditions to keep the fire in(or down)...building up would require some work and rocks/stones and just create a pit I would guess, dunno...

i would love to build a sweatlodge and an outdoor kitchen, so hopefully others have good info... maybe we can both learn

goodluck

 

Dakota fire hole..

YouTube - DAKOTA FIRE HOLE


The Dakota Fire Hole


The Dakota Fire Hole2

 

Wow, and with a broken arm taboot!

 

that kid is a member on another board we are members of. his arm got fucked up in iraq almost two years ago . its STILL in a sling. kid gardens,does bivouacks ,well hell check out his other videos.

he dont let it slow him down. from typing at him you can tell its frustrating for him but he grins and bears it.
he is a fine young man..

 

wow, i commend that man, war is no good

 

You can heat fire brick on a gas campstove and use a 2 man tent or tarp. Songs and prayers are still heard. I haven't smoke the pipe in the tent but have burned sweetgrass. Two bricks work but six or eight seem better.