Improvised pegs and deadman anchors in snow and sand

A peg driven in vertically only holds through the narrow area of its shaft. In firm forest soil that is enough, because the ground is dense and tough. Snow and dry sand, however, consist of loose grains that easily move aside. A crosswise anchor presses on a much larger area, and to come out it would have to push a whole wedge of snow or sand ahead of it.

The direction of pull is crucial. The line should pull at right angles to the anchor and as flat to the surface as possible. Then the anchor presses against the trench wall and against the material above it. If the line pulls steeply upward, it levers the anchor out more easily. That is why the line is led through a narrow slot in the direction of pull rather than coming straight up out of the hole.

In snow there is an extra advantage: stamped-down snow "sinters". That means the snow grains gradually bond to each other after being compressed, and the snow becomes firmer. So it pays to stamp the anchor in and only then tension it. In wet, warm snow or during a thaw an anchor holds much less well than in cold snow.

The line belongs in the middle of the anchor, for example with a clove hitch. If you tie it to the end, the anchor turns lengthwise when pulled and slides out through the trench like a sledge. A bag is tied off at the neck after being packed full of sand or snow.

Dig deeper than you are used to with ordinary pegs, and across the direction of pull. Fill the trench back in and stamp everything down firmly. Only then tension the line, and let an adjustable hitch take up small movements. Check the guylines when the wind picks up, and especially after a thaw or rain.

Almost anything wide and sturdy makes an anchor: a stout stick, a stuff sack or plastic bag filled with sand or snow, a peg laid flat, at a pinch a ski. Bear in mind, though, that gear frozen in overnight is hard work to get out in the morning – better not to bury anything you will urgently need the next day.

Sometimes the problem is the other way round: the ground is so hard or stony that no peg will go in. Then a large rock helps. Run the line around the rock and stack more rocks on top. The weight of the rocks and the friction on the ground hold the line.

Alternatively you can drive sticks in at an angle, with the top leaning slightly away from the direction of pull. That way the line pulls the stick deeper into the ground rather than out. Short, thick sticks are often more stable for this than long, thin ones.

Make sure stacks of rocks cannot topple and that no sharp edges rub on the line. When packing up, put the rocks back where you found them.

This technique is only for guying out tents and tarps. Anchors that people are secured to – for example in snow when mountaineering – are a specialist field that belongs in hands-on training. How much force an improvised anchor holds is unknown, which is why no figures are given here.

In a storm in an exposed spot, even the best guying is no guarantee. If the weather is getting worse and you have nowhere to retreat to, a more sheltered spot is often more important than an extra anchor. Plan for such situations in advance and keep an eye on forecasts.

Taut lines are trip hazards, especially in the dark. Mark them, for example with a bright strip of fabric, and keep them away from paths. When digging in snow, gloves protect your hands from cold and wet.

Anchors in snow often freeze in overnight. Do not yank them out by the line – the line may snap or the object break. Dig them out instead. A handy trick: put the line around the anchor as a loop rather than with a fixed knot. Then, if needed, you can pull the loop free and dig out the anchor later.

Take everything with you when you pack up: bags, sticks, pegs. A forgotten plastic bag in the snow reappears as litter in spring. It helps to count beforehand how many anchors you have set.

The name "deadman" describes an anchor that simply lies in the ground as a heavy, motionless object. The principle is described in mountaineering and polar literature and is also used with sandbags and buried objects on beaches and in deserts.