Stakes vs the Frozen Ground

**Wanderlost** · 12-12-2016, 13:20

I'm just starting to get more into cold weather camping. In Virginia, that tends to mean cold temperatures but not much in the way of the white stuff. I was out this past weekend and the ground was nice and frozen. I was using some Y stakes and wound up sacrificing some (about half) to the God of Lost and Broken Equipment. What's the secret to staking out when the ground is frozen, there is no snow to dig into, and you've exhausted all the "natural stakes" (sticks, rocks, roots, etc)? Bigger stakes? Smaller Stakes? Head back to the car and grab a beer and a steak?

**Burg54** · 12-12-2016, 13:42

I know that you said "exhausted all the "natural stakes"" but I would probably say that finding some decent size rocks (say 25lbs-35lbs) to tie off to is the way to go if there are no other options.

**Eidson** · 12-12-2016, 13:43

I've typically gone with nearby rocks or extending my lines to reach and tie off to nearby trees. But if that isn't an option, I carry a handful of 8" titanium nail stakes. They're very simple and not that great for anything but very hard soil. I've pounded them into rocky, frozen soil a number of times and haven't broken or bent one yet.
I'd recommend bringing the beer and steak from the car regardless

**Tyst Död** · 12-12-2016, 13:51

Lol. I just staked out this weekend. I also have the Y steaks. I used some wood we cut for the fire to pound them in. I only set them 4 or 5 " deep so I can still hit the top to loosen them up.
I'm throwing around the idea of getting TI tent nails....tho the ones I want are around 60$

Sent from a phone somewhere

**OneClick** · 12-12-2016, 14:13

I've pounded y-stakes into frozen ground...man do those stay in the ground after that!! Luckily the one time I did it was at home so I was able to pour some hot water on them. I guess I could do that in the field, but that's a waste of fuel and water. No, I'm not going to pee on them!

Cold without snow is basically misery, hell, torture to me. I don't find myself in this situation, but if I did, the nail stakes sound like a winner.

**BrianWillan** · 12-12-2016, 19:16

The best stakes I've found for use in frozen ground are long nails. Some use 6" Gutter spikes. I like the 8" or 10" landscape spikes (really big common nail) that are readily available at any big box hardware store.

The trick to using them is to not pound them in all the way. Leave 1" or so sticking out. To remove them when packing up just tap them in a little further with whatever hammer device you used to pound them in. This will break the hold that that frost in the ground has on them and they will pull right out.

Cheers

Brian

**rais'n hammock** · 12-12-2016, 20:02

+1 for the titanium nail "stakes". I prefer them when the natural stakes are scarce. I carry 4-8 of the 8" on most every trip.

**Dutch** · 12-12-2016, 23:20

Ti nail stakes are best. The worst is the Pine Barrens in NJ. The ground is all sand and it becomes concrete in the winter. I use aluminum gutter nails which I know will be ruined but they are so cheap I don't care. I will also use small logs. One on each side of my tarp to tie to.

**Tyst Död** · 12-12-2016, 23:38

Originally Posted by Dutch

Ti nail stakes are best. The worst is the Pine Barrens in NJ. The ground is all sand and it becomes concrete in the winter. I use aluminum gutter nails which I know will be ruined but they are so cheap I don't care. I will also use small logs. One on each side of my tarp to tie to.

Have you ever thought about making a TI nail with Fleaz type integration?

Sent from a phone somewhere

**SilvrSurfr** · 12-13-2016, 00:00

Originally Posted by Dutch

Ti nail stakes are best. The worst is the Pine Barrens in NJ. The ground is all sand and it becomes concrete in the winter.

Amen to that - I remember my first time in sub-freezing weather in the Pine Barrens. I saw other people sweeping snow away from under their hammocks and tarps, so I did the same. Little did I know that the snow was insulating the ground, keeping it from freezing. Note to self - don't sweep away perfectly good snow from underneath your hammock and tarp!

Luckily, people with more experience had brought a hammer. I always carry one in sub-freezing weather, weight penalty be darned. Sometimes a hammer is the only way to get a stake in, or out, of the ground, especially in the sandy soil of the Pine Barrens.