Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27
  1. #1
    SilvrSurfr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Jersey Shore, NJ
    Hammock
    Dutch PolyD
    Tarp
    HG Winter Palace
    Insulation
    HG 0, 20, 40
    Suspension
    Dutch Whoopie Hook
    Posts
    14,716
    Images
    3

    Best stakes for frozen ground

    So last year at the NJ Winter Hang the ground was frozen solid. Luckily I was able to borrow a hammer to pound them into the ground.

    I had a variety of stakes with me - gutter nails, aluminum stakes, and some extremely cheap, thin stakes that came with my Guide Gear tarp. The only stakes that I could get in the ground without bending were the flimsy, cheapo Guide Gear stakes.

    How do you guys address this issue? What kind of stakes are you using and how do you get them in the frozen ground?

  2. #2
    Herder of Cats OutandBack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    8,761
    Images
    129
    I try to use rocks and limbs.
    If you have deep snow burying long branches works well.
    Last resort I use MSR stakes, pounded in with a big rock, and retreive them in the Spring.

  3. #3
    Senior Member fallkniven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    neature
    Posts
    3,775
    Images
    1760
    oh, I remember that day. I broke all of my msr groundhogs, and half the ones I made on the spot. The only ones that had no problem that day were the vargo titanium nails. I bought a pack after that trip. They come in handy in other ways other than staking a tarp too, nice to have a few, even great in rocky ground.

  4. #4
    Senior Member vampiresmiley's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Bay City, MI
    Hammock
    DIY UL w/ dynaglide whoopies (6oz)
    Tarp
    Hammock Gear Cuben
    Insulation
    Underground Quilts
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    233
    Images
    22
    In the winter I like the cheap Coghlans aluminum stakes from Walmart. They hold well in the snow/ground, and if I can't get them out or bend one... I'm not out much. I save my better stakes for the other three seasons.

    Michael

  5. #5
    Senior Member DuctTape's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Hammock
    Claytor
    Tarp
    MacCat delux Spinn
    Insulation
    CCF and Quilts
    Suspension
    web and buckles
    Posts
    2,079
    Images
    2
    Like OutandBack, I tie off to other things. Buried branches too. if there isn't much snow and the ground is frozen, a stick can be frozen to the ground with the addition of just a bit of water. I figure the placement, set a stick down and dribble water on it. by the time I am set up with everything else, it is frozen enough to tie off to.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Md
    Posts
    5,221
    Quote Originally Posted by fallkniven View Post
    oh, I remember that day. I broke all of my msr groundhogs, and half the ones I made on the spot. The only ones that had no problem that day were the vargo titanium nails. I bought a pack after that trip. They come in handy in other ways other than staking a tarp too, nice to have a few, even great in rocky ground.
    Yup I remember talking to you about your Ti nails. I broke a couple easton stakes, msr stakes and bent almost all the gutter spikes I borrowed from LazyRiver.

    I ordered a bunch of Ti Nails from Dutch in hopes that this year I have the luck like Fallkniven and a few others that didn't seem to have much of an issue using the Ti Nails.

    Darn pines make that ground like trying to hammer through concrete.
    "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift---thats why its called a present" - Master Oogway
    It's always best if your an early riser!

  7. #7
    Senior Member Ratdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Swamp in the woods
    Hammock
    XLC, DIY, GT Dbl for day hiking
    Tarp
    WL OMW
    Insulation
    AHE KAQ JUQ, HG0B
    Suspension
    Web with Triangles
    Posts
    4,504
    Images
    2
    It's car camping so I'm bringing bricks again.

    Tried one msr groundhog, it went in but only 1/2 came out.

    You could try pouring boiling water on the ground to soften it, but it will be an ice brick when you try to remove it.

    Maybe a propane torch?

  8. #8
    Herder of Cats OutandBack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    8,761
    Images
    129
    Quote Originally Posted by fallkniven View Post
    oh, I remember that day. I broke all of my msr groundhogs, and half the ones I made on the spot. The only ones that had no problem that day were the vargo titanium nails. I bought a pack after that trip. They come in handy in other ways other than staking a tarp too, nice to have a few, even great in rocky ground.
    Hi fallkniven,
    I always thought Ti was a soft metal that bends easily.
    I'm not doubting your success with the Ti nail stakes it just surprises me.
    Maybe the Vargo's are alloyed with steel or something to make them strong and stiff.
    I wonder if Dutch is listening in?
    I'll bet he would know why these make a good tarp stake.

  9. #9
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Hammock
    I have many so....
    Tarp
    Blackcrow DIY Tarp
    Insulation
    FrankenquiltUQ/Pod
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    23,394
    Images
    62
    I use my Ti shepard hook stakes and push and twist them into frozen ground. That is until first snow. Go at an angle. works for me.
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  10. #10
    Senior Member fallkniven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    neature
    Posts
    3,775
    Images
    1760
    Quote Originally Posted by OutandBack View Post
    Hi fallkniven,
    I always thought Ti was a soft metal that bends easily.
    I'm not doubting your success with the Ti nail stakes it just surprises me.
    Maybe the Vargo's are alloyed with steel or something to make them strong and stiff.
    I wonder if Dutch is listening in?
    I'll bet he would know why these make a good tarp stake.
    generally speaking, it's just the opposite. titanium is incredibly strong and hard to bend. It's much stronger than steel. But like anything else, there are different grades, and nothing is pure... http://www.king-titanium.com/technic...m-quality.html They make such a great stake because they are stronger than steel, yet much lighter than it, and it will not rust on you, like even top grade stainless steels will. More versatile than plastic, I use them for all sorts of things, grill top on my woodburner for example. Yet they won't hold in loose soil, so carry these and sharpen some sticks when you need them, or they're light and versatile enough to carry in addition to a heartier stake. Most times I'll take both a few groundhogs and a few ti nails.
    Last edited by fallkniven; 12-05-2013 at 22:45.

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. What do you do when the ground is frozen?
      By Stormstaff in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 15
      Last Post: 03-13-2014, 15:48
    2. pegs and frozen ground?
      By storm1 in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 29
      Last Post: 02-03-2013, 10:08
    3. tarps and frozen ground
      By djminnesota in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 03-07-2012, 23:09
    4. Best tent stake for frozen ground ?
      By OutandBack in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 18
      Last Post: 01-16-2011, 19:10
    5. My awesome ground stakes
      By Pitch in forum Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
      Replies: 107
      Last Post: 01-11-2010, 19:41

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •