Big snips, then Scott said; > It may have survived simply because its' owner knew how to > properly stake out a tent. Okay, sounds reasonable, but begs the question from people with my experience level.... what is the "proper" way to stake out a tent????? How about giving us a condensed tutorial on it. Last week (first time in a modern tent)I angled the stakes away from the tent ("top" pointing away from the tent, "pointy end" in closer towards the tent) to provide resistance if wind hitting the tent was pulling on the stake, I did not anticipate winds high enough to require guy ropes so opted not to use them, and my peg loops are not adjustable so I just pegged it through the loop "as is". I nestled the tent up against some underbrush to act as a wind block - just in case. I made sure everything was taut. Is all that proper or improper, and what else do I and people with my lack of tenting expierence need to know? Rick - Poquoson, VA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com> > Okay, sounds reasonable, but begs the question from people with my > experience level.... what is the "proper" way to stake out a tent????? Interesting question. My TNF tent came with instructions for guying the tent both externally and internally (the internal lines help keep the tent shape in extreme winds at the expense of feeling like you're sleeping with a spider :-) My other tents had instructions, but I didn't keep them, so I can't refer to them to see if they included extensive guying instructions. Check your tent's instructions. Your approach to tent peg angle is correct. The other thing is to ensure they are deeply set and the guy rope is hooked on the peg right at ground level. If they are set high and the line attaches at the top, the peg will either bend or be pried out of the ground. If the soil type is wrong for your peg and they don't hold, use rocks, logs, or other deadmen to tie back to. Conveniently placed trees or picnic tables are useful too. If your tent doesn't have guy line attachment points near the top of the tent, you haven't got the ability to set the tent against extreme winds. Mountaineering tents, like TNF, SD, MH and others, come with high level tiedown points built-in. Most other tents don't, so Scott's comments are a little unfair for some campers. They have to rely on the fly's peg-out points (if they exist) to add stability (i.e. some tent flies are pegged out away from the tent body and can act as stabilizers; others are attached only to the ends of the poles and cannot). I once had to pitch my Eureka Timberline in a high-wind, stormy place. I was on a canoe trip, so I took my canoe barrel (60 liter, mostly full) as a deadman, and jury-rigged a tiedown to one end of the tent with the line tied to the point where the two upright poles connected to the ridge pole. My vestibule had to suffice as a tiedown at the other end. If you can't find enough things to tie to and jury-rig the extra stability, you're stuck. It is true that improper tent setup can seriously compromise strength and stability, but if you're following the tent's instructions, that's the best you can reasonably do. If you live in an area where high winds and/or extreme storms are expected, you should spring for a high end tent and get the features designed to survive in extreme conditions. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rick, the basic premise of your tent stakes is correct - however, much depends on the soil on which you erect the tent. EG - on rocky beaches/sand; use a deadman. To do this, you dig a small whole, anchor the tent lashings with a guy rope (or equivalent), attach these to a large rock/stick, then bury same in the whole. Fill the whole back up, and add weight on top of the deadman. This becomes a bombproof anchor. For rocky beaches, I attach a guy line to a medium size rock, and then cover it with more of the same. In snow, I use the same principle, but use ski poles, snow flukes/stakes or even skiis as the deadman. My tent has withstood 100+mph winds doing this. Next, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use guy ropes. This is because "...I didn't anticipate..." - you never can. It may take a few extra minutes, but if a howling wind creeps up at night, you aren't trying to claw your way to the opening to get out of a windblown tent. Next, get good tent stakes. I prefer the stakes REI carries which are made of T7079 aluminum - there are several manufacturer's of these, and they are about $1-1.50 each. They are practically indestructible, and can be used in many soils (except snow,sand or rock) :) Biggest plus is they are very lightweight. Sierra Designs makes something called a 'cliplok' - which attaches to the material of your tent, and becomes additional guy points if you need them - I always carry at least two. Last, when you think your tent is taut, it isn't - tighten it more. Here is where a good quality tent is priceless, as you can really really cinch them down tight - I'm talking the old 'bounce a quarter off it" tight. I am happy to share any insight and/or thoughts on tents, and hope this really helps. One more thought on tent stakes...attache the guy line as close to the top of the stake, and then push it below ground level, try not to leave any of it sticking out. BTW, did I mention ALWAYS use guy ropes?? Scott Simpson Anchorage Alaska "There is always one more thing you can do to influence any situation" Lt. Gen Harold Moore, USA (Ret) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com wrote: > what is the "proper" way to stake out a tent????? How > about giving us a condensed tutorial on it. Others have covered most of the bases on this, Rick, with the main ingredient being "make sure your anchors (stakes, rocks, deadmen, boulders, unwanted relatives, etc.) are solid," and various recommendations for specific stake material. I think for almost all of the wilderness campsites you are likely to use, native materials are the best, with emphasis on use of buried logs, large rocks, and the like. Those wimpy 1/8-inch diameter aluminum pegs sold with most tents are pretty worthless in most coastal sites. They work well enough in sod (think grassy campgrounds) or dense "soil," which coastal environments generally do not have. To keep it simple, I'd suggest you carry three things: 1. a set of the more durable version of the 10-12 inch plastic stakes available at K-mart for the times when you will actually have relatively consolidated ground. This will handle the campground situation. 2. a small collapsible saw 3. a small hand axe The latter two will allow you to fashion mongo stakes or deadmen from driftwood when you camp on sand. When you need rocks to anchor the tent, you don't need tools; you need Bruno to do the heavy lifting, and you to tie the knots. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I would add a small collapsible shovel or trowel for sandy areas or gravel bars. It makes it much easier to get that deadman into the ground far enough to stay. Also useful for cat holes where those are still appropriate. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Never miss a good chance to shut up." Will Rogers WhiteRabbit - ICQ#111665477 > To keep it simple, I'd suggest you carry three things: > > 1. a set of the more durable version of the 10-12 inch plastic stakes available > at K-mart for the times when you will actually have relatively consolidated > ground. This will handle the campground situation. > > 2. a small collapsible saw > > 3. a small hand axe > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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