Winter Snow Sport Gear
Winter Hiking & Snowshoeing
Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#103892 - 09/29/08 05:04 PM "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...??
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
I'm spraying all my SMC snow stakes and anchoring flukes with clear polyurethane to hopefully prevent them from being so DARN frozen in when I go to remove them from the snow.

I'll let you know this winter how this BRILLIANT! idea works out. (Now back to another can of Guiness.)

Eric
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#103893 - 09/29/08 05:20 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: 300winmag]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Uh. Eric, isn't the whole point of them freezing in so they don't pull out when put under tension?

I'd rather dig them out than have them come out in a high wind. Just a thought.

Why not just make disposable snow anchors out of a tree branch and tie them off with something like a trucker's hitch that you can release and pull out the cord?
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#103894 - 09/29/08 06:21 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: TomD]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Really depends on the kind of snow you're playing in - I think on the firmer pack stuff I kinda prefer the way eric's thinking. in the fluff or goo I have to pack down I go for the
bury it deep with a cord coming out approach...
_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


Top
#103895 - 09/30/08 10:04 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: 300winmag]
bmisf Offline
member

Registered: 09/15/03
Posts: 629
Yeah - I'm happy when they stay in the snow; I wouldn't coat them in any way.

I use a lightweight ice axe to get them out - never have had a problem removing them after a few quick strokes with the adze to crack open any layer of ice, then I pull them out with the pick.

I like the SMC T-anchors best; the snow stakes are a distant second.

Top
#103896 - 10/01/08 10:23 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: TomD]
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
Hi Tom,

"Supposably" the stakes & wider flukes are holding on the snow at an "optimum angle". They should be placed so they are pulling against compacted snow and not need to rely on chunks of ice frozen to them.

At least this is the physics. Real world stuff may be different. ("Your results may vary.")

Eric
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#103897 - 10/02/08 12:39 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: 300winmag]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
I've used the bigger snow flukes to make a belay anchor on hard snow, so the little ones should work the same way. The snow stakes are a different deal. When I was up at Yosemite, they kept pulling out because the snow was so fluffy. You don't see powder that often in the Sierra, but this time, it was pretty deep, so getting them to stay in the snow was almost impossible. One reason to use a freestanding tent. The snow was so deep and soft that when I stuck my skis in it, they went all the way up to the binding with little effort.

I asked this question on VFTT and using the stakes or something else as a deadman seemed to be a popular choice. With a deadman made from a branch, you could freeze it in and just pull out the line if you tied it off right.
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#103898 - 10/04/08 12:33 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: TomD]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Tom D

after stomping your tent platform, lay out the tent and then really stomp the stake sites and add more snow until those sites are hard enough to drive in a stake. When it consolidates it will be like ice. After placing the stake, stomp once more lightly to tighten the snow around the stake.

If you use dead men, just loop the line around the buried dead man and tie the loose end above the snow. Then when you leave, simply untie and pull the cords down and around the deadman. no need to dig them up.

Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

Top
#103899 - 10/04/08 12:39 PM Re: "Freeze-Free" snow stakes & flukes...?? [Re: Jimshaw]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Jim,That's pretty much what I had to do. Fortunately, there was no wind at all, so I didn't spend a lot of time worrying about it. I was on the way to Dewey Point and it was pretty much dead calm after the big snowfall.
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 158 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum.com