I have some very old (about twenty of them) aluminum stakes that are very light and sort of thick. Years ago (when the tops came off) when I got home I heated the top end and bent it so that it had a hook on the end of it at the top.. The self made hook is thick enough and strong enough that I can still use the "hooked end" to pound them into the ground. Then I have a strap that I carry on my pack with a carabiner on the end. When I get ready to pull up stakes, I just hook the strap (actually the carabiner) through the hook in the peg and a good stout pull will get them out every time. I think they were originally about 10" long, but now with the said hook, they are probably around 8" long and for me that is plenty long enough...sabre11004...

The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there !!!!