A tip for staking your tent
A friend of mine recently camped near the summit of Mt. Baldy. He said the ground was so hard and rocky that he couldn’t even stake down his tent.
Staking a tent on hard ground can be a challenge. I once watched a friend of mine work up a sweat while pounding his stakes so hard into a rocky ground. His stakes started to bend and he was on the verge of yelling at the top of his lungs.
There’s an easy solution to this problem – and it doesn’t even involve jackhammers or drill bits.
Step 1: Find at least four thick broken branches at least one inch thick and at least 18 inches long.
Step 2: Insert one stick through each loop where you would normally stake your tent. 
Step 3: Pile as many rocks as you feel necessary to keep the tent stable.
(While I was on Mt. Whitney using this technique in 30-40 mph winds, I piled close to 40 pounds of rocks on each corner of my tent. The tent was stable as can be in the heavy winds)
If you have a persistent problem while out in the backcountry, e-mail your questions to a16photos@gmail.com.
Categories: | Time: 7:01 pm (UTC+8)
