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Tent stakes? Or appropriate options?

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 3:34 pm
by eddy_line
Planning first trip to IR, paddling & portaging from McCargoe across the island. With all of the descriptions of a "rock" island, carved by the glaciers, I'm wondering if it is possible to use tent stakes to anchor tents or tarps, especially in the paddle-in campsites? I have used small bags, filled with available small rocks when gravel-bar camping; wondering whether that method might be necessary in some places.

Re: Tent stakes? Or appropriate options?

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 4:05 pm
by Ingo
You may bend a stake or two hitting a rock, but not a big problem. I've always been able to drive stakes close enough to where they need to be.

Re: Tent stakes? Or appropriate options?

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 4:50 pm
by Keweenaw
Ditto what Ingo said. The really thin titanium stakes would be best. The big plastic stakes the worst.

Bob

Re: Tent stakes? Or appropriate options?

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:22 pm
by Damon S
I use the MSR stakes that are shaped like a star pattern. Really stout/durable stakes and I've used them everywhere. They work nice because they'll actually push between jammed rocks in the soil, unlike the thin ones.

Re: Tent stakes? Or appropriate options?

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:51 pm
by fonixmunkee
Damon S wrote:I use the MSR stakes that are shaped like a star pattern. Really stout/durable stakes and I've used them everywhere. They work nice because they'll actually push between jammed rocks in the soil, unlike the thin ones.
+1. They are called Groundhog stakes and are relatively cheap, actually. It's the only thing I use for staking down my tent in all sorts of soil and conditions.