Pitching a tent in snow

[adh24]

Never really thought of this but how does one pitch a tent in the snow. Mainly concerned about staking out the fly. Just dig down till you hit earth or are there some sort of special anchors I would need. Will be up in the bowl beginning or April. Will be utilizing the tent platforms. The two tents that will be used are a MSR hubba hubba and a Mountain Hardware Meridian 2.

[skiyak777]

You can buy special fabric anchors, but its not worth carrying the extra weight. Use other things that you've brought along- ice axe, skis, shovel, a stuff sack filled with snow, logs, rocks, anything you can bury in the snow. On a platform its a little different- I've tied the guy strings to the boards on the edge of the platform, but for stability in wind you'll still want some guylines anchored in the snow.

[RR]

You can buy special fabric anchors, but its not worth carrying the extra weight. Use other things that you've brought along- ice axe, skis, shovel, a stuff sack filled with snow, logs, rocks, anything you can bury in the snow. On a platform its a little different- I've tied the guy strings to the boards on the edge of the platform, but for stability in wind you'll still want some guylines anchored in the snow.Mesh stuffsacks are great and weigh next to nothing...make sure to have the large size push-button Toggles on the drawcords of the ones you will use for anchors..its very easy and secure to loop-hitch those p-bT. Adjustments are easy if you slack a bit and then readjust.

They work well in powder snow (fill & bury) and best if you pack the snow on top of them, making sure to leave the draw cord and p-bT exposed so you can loop-hitch the p-bT.

[Ispoiler]

I like using a few plastic bags, they weigh nothing and are free. Fill them with snow and tie them off. When done empty the snow out or put it in the sun to melt for drinking water.

[Affix Snow]

Find some dead wood. Bury if needed.

[PWDR8S]

Find some buried avy victims ... tie to them and re-bury... Just use caution if pitching there.... The victims were likely caught in a slide there and you might be the next. :eek: :p

DO NOT PITCH IN AN AVALANCHE SLIDE. It may be convenient and no trees, etc but it may be the last thing you ever do. :rolleyes: Just common sense folks.

As for anchoring... I've used bandana's to branches to plastic bags and my bud's pillow case and hat...(man o man was he P.O.'d) :p