AYOG (MYOG) Titanium Snow Anchors

[David R.]

Assemble Your Own Gear for Titanium Snow Anchors.

Purchased:

1. Titanium UL Sand/Snow Anchors from Dutchware ($12.50 each):
   http://www.dutchwaregear.com/titanium-ul-sand-snow-anchors.html
2. Small Guy Wire from Toughstake ($7.99 for 4):
   http://www.toughstake.com/products/accessories1/accessories/small-guy-wire/
3. Cheapo 4cm aluminum carabiners from ebay ($4.79 for 30):
   http://www.ebay.com/itm/121711858896
   (Cheapo 4.7cm aluminum carabiner: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271766764857)

Re-drilled the middle hole with 3/16th bit and added a small slot with a milling bur for toughstake guywire.

Cut the stainless steel ring off the toughstake guy wire and added the aluminum carabiner.

Total weight of snow anchor with guy wire and 4cm carabiner is about .75oz

Cost is about $14.66 each not including shipping and tax.

Obviously the weak point in the system is the cheapo aluminum 4cm carabiner which I tested to about 40lbs before it started to deform. I’m considering using a cheapo 4.7cm carabiner which tested to about 70lbs before deformation although I would prefer a nice titanium s hook that could be squished together at the cable end. Any thoughts on the load rating I should be looking to achieve for they guy wires for a Hilleberg Nammatj 3?

The toughstake small guy wires I received with my small toughstakes sand/snow anchors are 17″ long while the small toughstake guy wires I ordered separately are only 14″ long with a.02oz difference in weight. I believe they are moving to the 14″ wire for future products.

I also want to try the same toughstake guyline system with the REI snow stake which should be arriving soon. I’m hoping I can use the REI snow stakes in a horizontal deadman position for the stakesouts around the base of the Hilleberg tent and use the Dutchwear snow anchors for the fly (vestibule) and ridge support lines.
http://www.rei.com/product/845328/rei-snow-stake

I hope to test these out in the next few weeks and will report back with a functional test.

[Roger Caffin]

That’s rather neat. The Al crab would worry me: maybe some Ti wire split rings?

I would think that 8″ traces should normally be enough too. Possibilities…

Cheers

 

[David R.]

I received the 4.7cm aluminum carabiner and it tested out to have a little less strength then the smaller 4cm carabiner.

I also bought some additional snow anchors as the Ti ones are rather expensive and my wallet was weighing less then my gear could afford. Eventually I would like to save up and get 8 more Dutch Ti snow anchors.

They of the new snow anchors are aluminum and weight around double the Dutch Ti anchor but they seem reasonable for less critical anchor positions and the hilleberg nammatj 3 needs 14 anchors in total. I think these aluminum anchors would best be used in a dead-man horizontal position.

First is the orange REI snow anchor and it weighs 33.1g (1.17oz), measures about 24.5cm x 2.7cm, and is $1.95 ea (not including shipping) if you can find them in stock anywhere.

The second is a stake I found on ebay (the listing said 7075 aluminum but…). Weight is 25.5g (.90oz), it measures 23cm x 4cm and is $8.61 for 5 pcs  or $1.72 ea (shipping included).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311377968847

The REI stake is thicker and heavier and the ebay stake is more flexible and lighter although it is wider and would seem to hold better than the less wide REI stake although it might be more easily mangled pulling it out of crusty icy snow. Both have pre-drilled holes that on the larger side for the toughstake guy line although they would seem to work satisfactorily. I suppose one could drill yet another smaller hole in them if worried.

Weights and cost with the 14″ toughstake guy line and small aluminum carabiner:
REI Snow Stake: 37.4g (1.32oz) / $4.11 ea
Ebay Snow Stake: 29.90g (1.05oz) / $3.88 ea
Dutch Snow Anchor: 21.3g (.75oz) / $14.66 ea

I still wonder what the functional maximum load limit might be for the hilleberg guy lines. Those little aluminum carabiners are only good to 35-40lbs but perhaps that’s enough although I would still like to find a suitable lightweight solution to replace them. The replacement needs a hook or clasp to hold the hilleberg guy lines coming from the pole sleeves as these lines are a loop from the upper sleeve attachment to the lower sleeve attachment.and cannot readily tie into a split ring or similar.

[Paul S.]

They have 4 packs of the Dutchware anchors on Mass Drop. Link

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