How do you stake your tarp in snow?

[Scottybdiving]

I bought some of these to use in sand. They are supposed to work in snow, sand, or scree. I have only used them in sand in Grand Canyon and they held pretty well, especially considering the sand was dry. Here is a review in snowBackpack Gear Test Review

As a follow-up, I just returned from Mt Shasta, in northern CA. We set up camp about 1/4 mile and at the same elevation, from the base of their ski lifts. The official snow depth was 68" at the base and 120" at the top. After postholing to a select spot, I stomped down the snow in the area of the hammock. I dug about 6" down from there and pushed the SMC T-Anchor as far down as I could by stepping on it. Then I covered the hole with more snow and tamped it down. I was able to connect Opie's guy lines and tighten it enough to stretch the tensioners all the way. It was solid and not going anywhere.

When I removed them two days later, due to slight thawing and freezing, I had to dig them out with a pick ax from our camp. This could have been difficult with no tools and leads me to believe they don't need to be burried so well.

Overall, very impressed with them. I have now used them in snow and dry sand.

[RootCause]

As a follow-up, I just returned from Mt Shasta, in northern CA. <snip>
Overall, very impressed with them. I have now used them in snow and dry sand.

Thanks for the follow-up, Scotty! I am also impressed with the tension you're able to get on that tarp! I've done a lot of playing in snow, building forts/sled runs/obstacles with the kids and so on, but never tried to anchor a tarp. It looks like it's going to be much easier than I anticipated, as long as I don't have 12" of the really poofy powder to work with....

[Scottybdiving]

The snow wasn't poofy but it was 68" deep. Mt Shasta is a 14er but the nearby ski area is only about 5400' at the base, so the snow is not powdery like CO. I did stomp it down 1st, then dig a hole about six inches deep, so the stake probably had 6" of compacted snow above the top of it. The snow was wet enough to compact well, almost too well.

BTW, they now have 84" at the base as of this AM.

[Shug]

I often stamp the snow .... put my snow stake in sideways .... let it sit up 10 or 15 minutes and then tighten my guy outs. Gives a little time for the snow to set up.
Sno-Stake Shug

[Rilmoigan]

I use these, they are small(ish), lightweight and haved worked very well in the very 'fluffy' snow we have here: (um, stamped down, of course, like Shug says).