Tent pitching help needed

Not sure what you mean by "the rock thing" so sorry if you've tried this already: Assuming there are rocks around, I usually bring lengths of cord for this. Tie one end to the tent's stake out loop and the other end to the stake itself. I pull the cord tight and lay the stake flat — and weigh down stake and cord with rocks. Or you can use the stake like the end of an anchor — and just pile rocks all around. Some people tie cords directly to rocks and weigh down with more rocks.

I haven't done this option but if you know you'll be camping at sandy places, you could bring 6 or so plastic shopping bags — fill them up with sand and tie them to the tent's stake loops like so many anchors.

A slight variation of what Ben said would be to insert your stakes at an extreme angle, then place a heavy rock over it.

Another option is to tie the guyline around the middle of the stake, and bury it a couple inches under the sand. The stake will lay flat, perpendicular to the cord. Now place a heavy rock on top of the stake and let part of it lay on the line if possible. You will not be able to do this directly to the loop on the tent, but will need some extra line. It works much better with a tarp or tarp/poncho, which is another reason a tarp/poncho is my first choice.

Usually when hiking in terrain you describe, there is not a lot of percipitation, so most nights a shelter is not necessary. I only pitch a shelter if there is a chance of percipitation, otherwise the shelter stays in my pack and under my legs.

Get a Tarptent Rainbow! You can use your trekking poles to stake out the corners if you ever find yourself in that situation again. Sorry that this is not REAL advice, but either way, try doing what the people above said. Good luck!

Stakes horizontal like a deadman supported by a rock.

Unfortunately none of the rock weighed over two pounds and there were just not enough of them but I did try some of the stuff already mentioned to no avail. A rainbow might be a better solution for me all around then anyways.

What about a bivy shelter like the Big Agnes 3 Wire? No need to peg.

Tricky!

A dozen bread bags. Fill and bury. Like Mike C has shown for snow.

Cheers

This may also help if you have enough stones
Franco

I don't know about that. The bricks would likely throw off his base weight.

But it is a pretty cool idea.

David
That is a trick, those bricks are made out of foam. The Contrail stays up because I trained her to do so.
The idea is that the pole gives you a greater amount of surface to pile rocks on top. Does not help with the front part…
Tip : set up the front first where you can peg it in then do the back
Brett
Get some longer pegs, Easton or Y type . I usually have 8 with me, four long ones and a mix of the others.