Ditch Your Stakes: A Guide To Alternative Shelter Anchors

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Can you leave tent stakes at home? The answer is a definitive "sometimes."

Stakes are perfect in tundra, soft forest floor, grassy fields and alpine meadows, but woe be unto you if you depend on stakes in snow, sand, or rocky gravel bars. The solution for snow is the venerable deadman anchor (or, for political grooviness, deadperson).

For this text, I use the example of TARP set-up almost exclusively. Obviously, the same rules apply for TENT set-up, but since the tension on the cord is higher on a tarp, we'll use that as our worst case scenario.

Leaving the stakes at home requires a high level of competence when it comes to setting up the tarp. I teach expedition skills with tents and tarps, and I adhere to extremely high standards of aesthetics and safety. Aesthetics means the tarp (or tent) looks absolutely beautiful; nothing less than perfection is acceptable. Safety means it won't be compromised because of wind or precipitation, leaving the sleeping camper vulnerable to hypothermia.

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This topic has 48 replies, 38 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by Eric Blumensaadt.

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

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Jul 8, 2008 at 4:30 pm #1230065

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Ditch Your Stakes: A Guide To Alternative Shelter Anchors

Jul 10, 2008 at 2:20 pm #1442385

Frank Deland
Member

@rambler
Locale: On the AT in VA

Great diagrams. Just a reminder, however, when one buries tie-outs in snow and tamps it down, one might be digging through ice in the morning to retrieve what ever was buried.

Jul 10, 2008 at 5:18 pm #1442408

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

> when one buries tie-outs in snow and tamps it down, one might be digging through ice in the morning to retrieve what ever was buried.
Make that 'every morning' in Australia. It can be very hard to even get a plain aluminium angle stake out of the ice: the ice locks in very hard onto the surface of the aluminium. I have had to use an ice axe to dig out each stake. But there was no ice there in the evening!
Different places, different conditions, different solutions. Mike has lots of solutions.

Jul 10, 2008 at 5:41 pm #1442412

Michael Davis
Member

@mad777
Locale: South Florida

Quote: "when one buries tie-outs in snow and tamps it down, one might be digging through ice in the morning.."

I think mike's reference to 'flossing' addresses this concern. The idea being that you will be able to slip your line off the deadperson even when iced over.

This of course assumes that you have used a stray stick as a deadperson and not your hiking pole. Oops! Could be worse; could be your ice axe down there! :-)

Jul 10, 2008 at 7:24 pm #1442425

Michael Davis
Member

@mad777
Locale: South Florida

Hi Michael Martin,
Those Nite Ize Figure 9's look interesting. The small size is advertised for line diameters of 2mm to 5mm.

Have you, or anyone else, used these with the AirCore PRO Dymeema guylines sold on this site. I have that line and it is 1.7mm diameter.

Jul 10, 2008 at 7:44 pm #1442429

Michael Martin
BPL Member

@mikemartin
Locale: North Idaho

Michael-

Sorry, but I don't know if the Figure 9 will work with AirCore Pro…

Anybody tried this?

Jul 10, 2008 at 7:59 pm #1442432

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

> I think mike's reference to 'flossing' addresses this concern. The idea being that you will be able to slip your line off the deadperson even when iced over.

There are no dead persons around here! Down with political correctness!

More to the point, out on the plains there are often no spare dead sticks on the surface – or under the surface. We have to use stakes.

Different places, different problems.

Jul 12, 2008 at 9:31 pm #1442694

Christopher Kuzmich
Member

@obchristo2

Great article.

Have enjoyed Mike's various books over the years. Laughing and learning at the same time? Priceless!

Thanks,
Christo

Jul 13, 2008 at 1:39 am #1442706

Andrew Lush
BPL Member

@lushy
Locale: Lake Mungo, Mutawintji NPs

I enjoyed your article, Mike. Very informative and useful – thanks a lot.

Just one point: For lots of little critters, rocks = home. If you pull up up a rock to use as an anchor, you are consequently destroying the habitat of a whole suite of insects and other assorted arthropods.

Just something else to add into the mix when considering "stakelessness" and our responsibilities with "leave no trace' principles.

Jul 13, 2008 at 9:27 am #1442731

Mike Clelland
Member

@mikeclelland
Locale: The Tetons (via Idaho)

I agree about the little critters in the topsoil around rocks. It's something I should have addressed. But, if there is top soil, it should be easy to get a tent-stake in there. So no need to annoy the little locals

The rocks I use are mostly only in sandy river bottoms (no critters) and in high alpine boulder fields (no soil, no critters).

And – I want to re-state that I actually DO take stakes out there. But, there are some places you just can't get 'em to work.

Once again – thanks for all the kind words about the article and the cartoons. It's fun for me!

peace,
M!

Jul 17, 2008 at 6:54 pm #1443392

Roman Dial
Member

@romandial
Locale: packrafting NZ

We packrafters, especially up here in Alaska, are often too wet, cold, lazy, and un-sophisticated to bother with knots on twine and so use the same straps we use to keep our packs on the boats to keep the rocks and sticks strapped to the 'Mid. Instead of friction knots we use the friction slider.

We used spectra cord (2 mm?) on the Cuben Fiber Oware Mid for only a week before the rocks abraded through it and we had to go to straps.

The straps I am talking about are not fastex buckles (they pop under tension) but friction straps. While they do weigh more than 2-3 mm spectra they are functional for a broad array of things and work especially well for shoe/boot repairs.

BTW Mike, your article was great.

Jul 17, 2008 at 6:56 pm #1443393

Roman Dial
Member

@romandial
Locale: packrafting NZ

Tying off to bicycles works well, too. Use the pedals and lay the bike away from the shelter.

Aug 11, 2008 at 10:15 am #1446632

Margaret Snyder
BPL Member

@jetcash
Locale: Southern Arizona

I used rocks as anchors up on Jackson Glacier this weekend and it was much more secure than I could have imagined. My tent was drum tight while my friend's flapped about like a circus tent.

Jan 6, 2010 at 1:10 am #1560017

Paul Davis
Spectator

@pdavis
Locale: Yukon, 60N 135W

It may just be me, but in the Yukon I spend a fair amount of time camping on gravel bars on the river, and in abandonned gravel pits along the Alaska highway bike camping. Both places are great as they are not good bear habitat, have good visibility, and are noisy if Mr. Griz strolls by…

So I have taken to semi-permanently tieing mesh stuff-sacs to my tie-out loops on my Bibler I-tent, and filling those up with glacial rocks, sometimes with small stones as fine as marbles….

In fact, the only time there seems to be enough soil around for a tent peg is in a government campground!

Apr 7, 2010 at 6:55 am #1595214

Hendrik Morkel
BPL Member

@skullmonkey
Locale: Finland

Loved the article, Mike C! articles are among the best because of the great use of language (grooviness!) and the illustrations just rock. Thanks, I learned a bunch =)

Jul 27, 2011 at 2:39 am #1763497

Shaun Carrigan
Member

@gubid

How long would you cut the guys to be able to use these techniques?
Thanks.

Feb 26, 2012 at 9:00 pm #1845415

Tjaard Breeuwer
BPL Member

@tjaard
Locale: Minnesota, USA

Last night I had solidly frozen ground with 2"(5cm) fresh snow on top. It was in an open forest. I tied of to trees and shrubs, but as Mike mentioned, they were often in the wrong place.

None of the them were close enough to 'stake' the sides of the tarp all the way down to the ground, leaving the sides open and spindrift inside.

Any suggestions?

Feb 26, 2012 at 9:07 pm #1845417

Travis Leanna
BPL Member

@t-l
Locale: Wisconsin

Tjaard,
If you have very sturdy stakes, like a simple nail stake (not the easton ones, the heads can break off) or MSR Groundhogs, they will pound into the frozen ground easier than you'd think. Find a good rock and hit the stakes as squarely as possible, and they'll go in. Not as easy as summer, but that's expected.

When you want to get them out, they'll be frozen in. Take your rock and give them a good solid tap squarely on the head, which will loosen them up. They'll slide out of the ground with only a bit of tugging. Not too bad. Just make sure they have good strong pull-loops on them.

Feb 27, 2012 at 1:27 am #1845461

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

Hi Tjaard

Under those conditions you may find that Ti wires will go in easily and hold well. Works for me.

As for spindrift under a tarp – that's what a winter tunnel tent is for ;-)

Cheers

Feb 27, 2012 at 9:29 am #1845544

Ike Jutkowitz
BPL Member

@ike
Locale: Central Michigan

Hi Tjaard,
If there's even just a few inches of snow on the ground, I'll usually dig down to solid ground and bury sticks, with the guylines draped loosely around them. I pile snow on top (keeping the end of the guyline accessible) and compress it by walking repeatedly over the top. Then I let it sit for 5 minutes or so until it hardens. Once the snow has set, I use a slippery half hitch to tension the guylines, as Mike describes in his article. Where I live, there's always sticks and snow in the winter so I don't ever bring stakes.

Mar 2, 2012 at 10:30 am #1847868

Tjaard Breeuwer
BPL Member

@tjaard
Locale: Minnesota, USA

Roger, what do you mean with 'Ti wires'?

Mar 2, 2012 at 1:57 pm #1847949

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

Hi Tjaard

See photo at http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Pegs.htm#Pegs
The orange stake D in the 1st photo is a classic Ti wire.

They are commercially available, for instance
(painted) http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/vargo_titanium_flourescent_tent_pegs_-_6_pack.html
(plain) http://www.aerostich.com/off-the-road-again/campsite/tent-accessories/wire-titanium-tent-stakes.html

Caution: the unpainted ones are extremely easy to lose in grass or mulch! Get the orange ones!

Cheers

Jul 9, 2012 at 6:32 pm #1893503

Ken Thompson
BPL Member

@here
Locale: Right there

Bump of a classic.

Apr 8, 2016 at 9:52 am #3394764

Ken Thompson
BPL Member

@here
Locale: Right there

Mike, you are missed.

Dec 5, 2016 at 7:32 pm #3438949

Eric Blumensaadt
BPL Member

@danepacker
Locale: Mojave Desert

I knew and have used all methods except two – the V tunnel-with-line in the snow and the rock pile with a stick.

The rock pile is the cleverest!
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