Tent stake selection for Glacier Nat’l Park

I was fine with a Lightheart tent and 6" Ti shepherd hooks in GNP for a 8 day solo, including a massive thunderstorm at 50 Mountain. Sitting somewhat exposed in a windy and thundery deluge is the moment of truth for your equipment selections. GNP was a bit rockier than what I'm used to in the Southern Appalachians, but I was just fine…no regrets.

You will be pitching your shelter in well-used tent sites, which means packed soil. I suggest using something that you can pound into the ground. I prefer MSR Groundhogs, but they are probably heavier than you prefer.

MSR Groundhogs for sure. I even bent one this summer pounding on it in the hard and rocky soil–a Groundhog, not a Ti stake.

When I take my Duomid, I do bring Ti stakes for all the guyouts, but I use Groundhogs for the main stakes.

I can't speak for Glacier, but the Vargo Titanium Nails (.6 oz) are the toughest thing I've found. You can darn near drive them into solid rock. They also make an ultralight version.

+1 on Groundhogs They smoke the competition in holding power in this informative article.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/tent_stakes.html#.VJl81bjDAo

A takeaway from the article

"Based on my holding power tests, the aluminum Y-Stake seems to be the lightweight stake of choice. A 5-inch long aluminum Y-Stake (with pullout loop) weighs about the same as a 6.25-inch titanium Shepherd Hook stake (.34 ounce versus .32 ounce, respectively). It can withstand being pounded into the ground with a rock, can be sunk below ground level to gain extra holding power, can be readily augmented by placing a rock on top of it, and it doesn't bend easily. Because of the rigid design, going to a thinner extruded aluminum alloy Y-Stake may further decrease weight while retaining adequate strength."

Don't forget they are easier to spot on the ground too.

Thanks for sharing your insights, fellows!