[pct-l] tent stakes

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

My tent requires a minimum of 6 stakes to set up. I started out with  
6 tiny titanium stakes. They did not hold very well, especially for  
the front and rear of the tent, without applying enormous rocks to  
each stake. Along the trail I found a regular large aluminum hook- 
shaped stake. I found that it was capable of holding the rear of the  
tent so I kept it. Then later I found a Y-shaped stake and found it  
did a good job holding the front. Then later I found an X-shaped  
stake. So I carry 4 titanium hooks for the 4 corners, the aluminum  
hook, the Y and the X for a backup. I only carry one backup stake  
because it seems to be pretty easy to find stakes on hikes.

On Apr 9, 2011, at 5:51 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> My wife and I are here staring at our collective pile of tent stakes
> wondering how to divide them up (since we are mostly camping  
> separately) and
> which ones to leave behind.
>
> What type or mix of stake types do you experienced PCT hikers  
> bring?   Do
> you bring two full sets of different types?   Just several more  
> than a full
> set so that you have a mix?   Just enough of some type and simply  
> deal with
> the misfit situations as they come up?    Inquiring minds want to  
> know.
>
> Thanks much,
>      David - White Jeep