Proper staking technique?

[WaffleBox]

I had my new tarp set up in my backyard yesterday in hopes that it would rain and I could go stand under it and look for leaks in the ridgeline. A pretty severe thunderstorm ended up rolling through (after dark so I couldn't go look for leaks), and 3 out of the 4 stakes got pulled out of the ground almost instantly. I use titanium shepherd hooks, Lawson reflective cord, Dutch hookworms and 3/32" shock cord tied to the D-ring. The ground in my backyard is pretty soft. Do I need a different stake, or is my staking technique just bad? Here's a high quality MS paint rendition of how I set up my stakes. The orange line represents the guyline, the grey is the stake, and the black is the ground.

stake.png

[jamaulwall]

Your staking technique looks correct. I'd guess since the ground is soft a Y stake would hold better in the wind. In harder ground you'd be fine with the shepherd hooks.

[Nodust]

That's how I stake. I carry ti Sheppard hooks also but added two MSR groundhogs. I have had good luck with just two for the upwind side or for soft ground.

[DuctTape]

This is one reason I dont use stakes, as I can almost always tie off to other saplings, rocks, roots, etc... When I need a stake, I grab a stickvand sink it as far as possible. Often this is a foot or more in pine duff. Stakes will not work in some of the places I go.

[Kamper Kurt]

I often have to knock a stake down to ground level and put a rock on it. A little more effort but it does the trick.

[WaffleBox]

I appreciate all the replies, but I'm a little disappointed I haven't yet received any offers to hire me as a graphic designer.

[MAD777]

In my quest for weightlessness, I tried those skinny titanium stakes (short ones of course) and learned that stakes are NOT the item to sacrifice to save weight.

I even carry a snow stake that doubles as my potty trowel just in case I have a particularly soft spot.

However, in New England those ti nail stakes are great for wedging into that rock.

[WaffleBox]

What stakes do you use down here MAD?

[MAD777]

What stakes do you use down here MAD?

A combination of 9" aluminum nails and 7" groundhogs, plus that snow stake, just in case. Where I can tie off to vegetation, I do.

Here's that 9.5" long by 1" wide snow stake weighing 1 ounce... http://smcgear.com/9-1-2-perforated-tent-stake.html

[Gravity]

I had my new tarp set up in my backyard... severe thunderstorm...3 out of the 4 stakes got pulled out... titanium shepherd hooks... is my staking technique just bad?... MS paint rendition...

Try pushing the shepherd hooks more deeply into the ground, as far as they can go - bang them with a stick or rock when they are almost all the way in. Be careful that you don't bang on the tie-outs, only the stakes. If you used them according to the diagram, they are not deep enough, and the back and forth from the wind will loosen them. It'll be a bit harder and messier to pull out when you're ready to go, but may save you from having to carry heavier stakes.