stakes for winds in fall?

For many years I used shepherd hook stakes in the WRR.  I always camped in the trees.  Several years ago the hooks proved to be insufficient during sustained wind while camped in the trees.  I piled on some rocks for additional anchoring but now I use old Golite Y stakes or MSR Groundhogs.  If camped above treeline I would not want to rely on skinny hooks.  All IMO, of course.

I suggest 8″ Easton or 8″ Y stakes.

If you pile rocks on top of the tie outs/stakes, make sure that they are not rough otherwise the wind could cause the line to shred. (you could put some vegetation or stuff sacks in between ).

@johnzotk – thanks for the insight regarding relying on shepherds hooks.  They are what I typically use for the tent.

@ franco – appreciate your expertise regarding decisions around the tarptent,   While I’ve definitely anchored my tent with rocks, that’s just because it was easier to use a few rocks rather than pound stakes into the hard, rocky ground, but not for high sustained winds as a real possibility.

Not sure if I explained the point correctly.

I am not suggesting not to use rocks (I have used them many times myself…) I was just pointing out that rocks can cut through the guylines/tieouts.

This is a friend’s Moment in strong winds :

note the size of those rocks.

The background should give an idea of the sort of wind it was blowing there.

I’ve never had to put a tent on solid rock in the winds. Stakes always worked. Can’t fault the rocks enhancement anytime, anyplace.

thanks for the clarification Franco.

Comparative review and testing of a bunch of different stakes:

https://backpackinglight.com/tent_stakes/

Rene, thanks for posting the link to the tent stake review. Very interesting!

great link! Thanks,

#BPLwiki

We can dream…