I decided to set up my SubLite in a completely exposed spot in advance of a forecasted 8" to 14" inches of snow today. I intentionally set it up without TheraBand tensioners since they're not something everyone has. I did use the supplied line from the apex and then added a line via my familiar short pole for the rear. So it sat there in about an inch of existing snow for about 10 minutes before the new snow began, and yes it's really coming down now. I'm not going to brush off any snow or even look at the Sublite until the snow ends. I'll take some photos then and I fully expect that it will be a favorable result. I'm posting now so that you can wait out the result with me.
Upate after 2 hours: Around 2.5" of snow and it's beginning to increase in intensity. Snow is really piling up along the sides as it slides down. Snow along the ridgeline seems to break up and slide off about an inch at a time. A small amount of the last breakoff is still visible. So far, so good, but the only ventilation right now is in the foot area and the apex vent.
After 3.5 hours and 4+" of snow: OK, I decided not to stake the SubLite out at the side mid-points thinking that it wouldn't really matter, well it's beginning to matter. The snow piling up on the center of the sides is really pressing the sides in and pulling the center base along with it. This probably could have been made a much better situation with the mid-points pegged out. Even with no outside intervention the SubLite is still useable.
Update at 7" of snow: put my boots on this time and headed out again. I expected the SubLite to be in exactly the stage it was in. The center sides had continued to be squeezed inward and now, without any intervention the sides would be pressing in against anyone inside. Of course this would not happen under normal situations where the snow could be knocked off or pushed away, but that wasn't the idea of this "test". Anyway, this would be as far as it would go… I of course, left it there just to see what it would look like in the morning. I have to go out early tomorrow, but hopefully I'll get a photo or two. (Note: That's my yardstick in the photo)
Update for following morning: It was still snowing very lightly and the snow depth was close to 13". Last night I debated on whether or not to give it a bit of help and clear off the snow a bit. I didn't, and this morning was a bit dismayed to see that the poles were still holding in the inserts, but the tabs which were triple line stitched to the top of the SubLite had ripped away from the silnylon. It's something I should be able to repair, and possibly even make stronger, but none the less it was upsetting that I'd let myself risk actual damage when I left it as it was last night. Note: The snow depth right around the tent appears even higher since so much came off of the tent. As a reference, the top of the rear pole is 19" off the ground.
In conclusion: The Sublite stood up to more than I thought it would. If I had pegged out the sides it would have fared even better. I don't think I'll have a problem using this one if anything less than a blizzard is forecast, even though it did have a disaster after being left unattended in so many, many hours of snow.
For those of you who asked: The poles were still in the slotted holders. The broken threads can be seen from the tabs. The damage to the tent material was minimal, but does need repair. The photo of the SubLite damage didn't show much, so I haven't added it.
See photo sequence in a slideshow:
http://s444.photobucket.com/albums/qq164/Quoddy1/SubLite%20in%20the%20Snow/?albumview=slideshow
It's still snowing, never stopped, but it is much lighter. The big snow is coming again tomorrow.
