That tent stake trick a park ranger in Colorado told me about

Last summer I was out near Estes Park and a ranger watched me struggling to get my stakes in the rocky ground. He just said, "stop hammering them straight down, angle them toward the tent and use a rock under the head." I thought it was nonsense until I tried it, the stakes stopped bending and actually held in the gravel. Now I carry a flat river stone in my gear bag just for that, it weighs maybe half a pound but it saves so much frustration. I also started setting stakes at 45 degrees before I even clip the guylines, which keeps tension way better in wind. Has anyone else picked up little field tricks from folks who work outside all day? What's the best one you've heard?

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robert_craig2d ago

Remembered a buddy swearing by the same trick after a windy night in Moab.