High Winds: Set-up Suggestions

[Jimsto2]

Wow, lots of good stuff to digest. Thanks.

Stakes were 7" aluminum "Y" type from Amazon. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The tarp is 12 x 10, set-up with the 12' length along the ridge.

I had three staked points to a side at approximately 45 deg angles. The soil was damp NC Blue Ridge Parkway mountain dirt. All I can say is I was able to push them in with my foot to within an inch of the full length. When I took them out, they had all been loosened slightly by the winds, but only the one pulled out. Like I mentioned, the tarp was set-up higher than most of the pictures I see here. Each guy line at the stake to the tarp edge was probably 20-22". I used Niteize guy lines and Niteize figure 9 carabiners to attach. They showed no sign of loosening or slippage. I did not have anything on top of the stakes and I did not drive them in that last inch or so.

[leiavoia]

One more tip for guylines: Add a section of shockcord to the guyline. This prevents the lines from shock loading in a gust of wind, which is more likely to wiggle stakes out. It gives it more range of motion and also gives you self-tensioning lines for free.

[TallPaul]

I’ll add that finding a site with some natural wind protection is a good idea when you know there will be high winds. I typically like high mountain, edge of the world sites but tuck back in the trees more when the wind is blowing.
Agree with using stones on top of stakes or tying off to trees or roots, if available.
I’m not so sure about using shock cord. Lot of anecdotal theories on this but if gusts are say +40 mph I’m not sure it would really help. We need somebody to test this in a wind tunnel

[Bobo1234]

I agree with everything already said, as well as suggesting checking out some "snake skins" for your tarp. They make deploying/packing away your tarp in the wind a bajillion times easier. Also, I definitely support the internal pole mods once you have a tarp that will support them. I got mine for $20 on amazon!

If you want to see some cool gear, eat some great food, and meet some amazing people, come check out one of the hammock hangs in the next couple weeks. The Medoc Mountain State Park hang is this upcoming weekend up near me, and the Yates Place Hang is the weekend after (ABSOLUTELY AWESOME HANG). I'd highly recommend you come check it out, you can come test and see some other set ups and meet some of the friendly faces around here Check em out in the Outings tab!

[ChrisJHC]

If you are 6’5” and could stand under your tarp I’d suggest you’ve got it set up way too high. That would have caused a fair gap between the tarp and ground.

I usually hang my tarp around shoulder height so have to duck down a little to get under it.

In windy weather I pitch the tarp as low as I can and put the windward side as low as possible.

[Phantom Grappler]

Jimsto2, Loki and TallPaul tie out guy lines on vegetation—I agree, good idea
I hunkered down in extreme high winds:
Undo guy lines at stake or vegetation
Tie tarp corners together
Tie end sides together at every tarp loop
If there are bottom loops close to corners, tie them together too
This rig will look like a letter envelope, open only at bottom.
This will work best if tarp is large enough to envelop hammock
Enter and exit carefully and slowly
This is best with tarp over continuous ridge line
Your rig and hammock will swing back and forth in high winds. You will feel wind against hammock, but hammock moves with tarp

Plan B
Rainy and windy but winds less extreme
No stakes, just four corners
Cross corner guy lines like an X at ground in front of tree you are hanging from
Continue with guy lines around back of tree
Guy lines continue for one more lap around tree (in opposite directions) When guy lines get back around tree, tie together
Side-end tarp loops can be tied together too—— to close the ends together

Plan C MAMMA!☔️🛶⚓️

[scrope]

Stakes were 7" aluminum "Y" type from Amazon. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You might consider buying some 9" or 10" stakes from Amazon. They are only $10-20 and would give you more grip in the loose ground. You can also get wider stakes that aren't quite snow stakes but bigger than what you are using.

I'm using titanium shepherd hooks and they have a very, very tiny diameter and I've been concerned about them holding but haven't been in gusty enough wind to have a problem yet. I also have 6.5" and 8.5" hooks from Lawson Equipment and longer holds better. They are lightweight and strong but I like the Y hooks because I have a loop of cord on the end which makes pulling them out much easier.

[OneClick]

They are lightweight and strong but I like the Y hooks because I have a loop of cord on the end which makes pulling them out much easier.

Mine have a loop but I don't think I ever used it. Since your cord is already wrapped around, just use that! More to grab on to anyway. I stuck with the 7" stakes, but like I mentioned just stomp the ground with your heel before inserting.

[MAD777]

I like Phantom Grappler's Plan 'C'


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[Cabbo]

On those occasions when l have known there to be clear sky's but the wind is blowing furiously causing wind cracking with the tarp no matter what, the tarp goes back into the tarp skins, l then deploy the hammock tie outs to stablise the hammock somewhat, a TC can be of benefit here also.