What stakes are you using?

**FJRpilot** · 08-28-2016, 09:26

On a recent back country trip, we had to hang our hammocks/tarps in an area where the ground was heavily covered with loose Forest "duff". I have always carried aluminum "Y" stakes (7.5 in) to tie out my tarp lines, but they just couldn't find purchase and I was unable to get a suitable pitch on my tarp. I ended up taking rocks and putting them on top of the stakes but bu the morning, the tie outs were loose.

Would stakes designed for snow have been a better choice?

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**JmBoh** · 08-28-2016, 09:37

probably would have. thise wide v shaped one for snow or sand.

**Dylanc95** · 08-28-2016, 09:51

I use 6 inch shepherd hook stakes. If there's a lot of duff, I usually spend about 5 seconds kicking away some of the duff to get to solid ground. In the morning, after I pull out the stakes, I kick the duff back over the spot and it's like I was never there.

**TrailSlug** · 08-28-2016, 09:53

I have this problem in our area as well so I bought a little longer/wider set of stakes.
https://www.rei.com/product/102782/msr-dart-tent-stake

**DrPhun** · 08-28-2016, 10:27

Around here in the east there is at most 4" of duff. I understand out west there can sometimes be be 3' of duff. I have some of the snow stakes, more if sandy, and they are wider and a little longer. It depends how deep your duff is - if you can't get through it then using rocks as you did, or perhaps existing shrubbery or making a longer stake from a stick might work better.

**Flatliner** · 08-28-2016, 10:55

I use the little TI v stakes and bump into that issue frequently. What I ended up doing was lengthening my lines to give me more options. I can almost always find a rock to wedge along or a sapling to tie on when I can't find decent ground.

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