Camping in Sand

[ustbeeowl]

What would you recommend for setting up tents in the sand?

 

Our troop is going to be camping at Assateague Island, VA in June and since it is all sand, how would you secure the tents? The little 1/8" wire pins won't hold at all in that loose material, so what would work?

 

Thanks

 

John

[OldGreyEagle]

you know those plastic bag you get from Wal-Mart and other sundry and assorted stores? Take a bunch of them, one for each stake you would normally have.

 

Once you get to the Campsite, fill the bag with sand and tie it to the stake loop, bury the bag under the surface of the sand and things will hold. Now, be sure when you are striking the tents to count the number of bags the youth have as you dont want the bags left in the campsite.

 

Since its Assateague Island you may also want to have strategies to put up will the ponies. Keep all your food in coolers and be sure the pic-nic table benches in the group sites straddle the cooler tops else the ponies will play soccer with your cooler until they open. Bring lots of repellent and watch for the Sikma elk.

 

BTW, I thought the Island itself was in Maryland, but I could be wrong. Be sure to spend one night in Ocean City

[PeteM]

It is in BOTH states.

 

See http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=wl

 

Pete

[scoutldr]

What you're looking for is called a "Deadman anchor". Campmor sells one for around 10 bucks, but it sounds like you can make one, as OGE says. The trick is to bury them deep enough into the wet sand so they won't pull out. They are also used for snow.

 

See also:

 

http://www.paddling.net/sameboat/archives/sameboat215.html

[anarchist]

ustbeeowl,

 

easiest way is to have each set of scouts (2) chip in 2 bucks a each and buy two sets (of four) 15 inch galanized tent stakes at Wal-mart ($1.97 for set of four). On a typical "A" frame (timberline type) one per corner and two on each side of the fly will hold the tent down in 40 plus MPH sustained winds (been there and done that at Assateague). Our troop has done this camp for the last 9 years and we factor the stakes into the camp fee each year. We now have about 160 stakes in two large buckets that are only used for beach and "mud-o-rees". We replace the ones that get bent beyond repair each year. You will need a few hammers with pin puller loops at the handle for easy removal when you break camp.

 

The "scout is thrifty" way is to get 16 - 1 X 4 boards (per tent), 6 or 7 inches long and bore a hole through center of allboards...dig 8 holes at "stake locations". Take "paired" boards(two boards = one tent stake) and lay one board over the other board, run you lines through the holes, open the board sets to make crosses...bury the crosses and eight sets will hold in 60 + MPH winds...'course many tents will blow apart at 50 MPH...(BTW- cheap domes get eaten by the winds at Assateague.

 

OGEs way is problematic in that the boys will be temped to simply tug the lines loose leaving the polluting plastic bags in the sand and the next Nor'easter blows them up and "around" to become turtle food...I am not a big fan of plastic bags...at least the ones sea life mistake for jelly fish and try to consume...If you have real polypro sand bags or cloth bags ...then have at "it", but please, leave the cheap plastic in the recycle bins at home.

 

If you are camping at the National Seashore group camp sites(which are in Maryland) or the Assateague Island State Park (also in Maryland) you will also need some funnels and grey water containers as you can not dump your grey water in the sand. The mentioned strategy for ponies is important! If you leave food easily accessible the Park can (and will) "write you up" for feeding the wildlife so pack every food item in strong snap or latch lid plastic box or cooler and bungie them to help thwart the very determined ponies.

 

To the best of my knowledge there are no public camp sites in the Virginia side of the park just private commercial campgrounds next to the park. I hope you are in the National Seashore or State Park as they are so much better that the commercial experience...good luck!

Anarchist

[ustbeeowl]

My mistake.

We ARE in Maryland, not in Virginia. (Old gray material just ain't what it used to be)

 

Thanks for the advice. We WILL utilize it.

 

John