That is my favorite group size.  We have never done 11 days, but usually do 8 days and we always single portage.

We take two dry bags one Large size that holds tent, sleeping bags and mats, clothes, etc.

We use a mid-size bag that for all practical purposes is the camp kitchen.  It carries all the food and cooking gear.

In the boat, both seats have seat bags.  Seat bags contain rain gear, fishing tackle, first aid and other misc. stuff.

One person carries the canoe with paddles, fishing gear and pfd's secured in the boat.

The other person carries the big bag on the back and the small bag on the front. 

Works great for us!

I did a three person group once that was pretty much the same set-up, but the person with the solo boat also carried a small bag.

Have fun!

Having primarily traveled in larger groups and single portaging for much of my tripping experience, I can honestly say that I understand your concern.  Trips of late have been with fewer people, 4 in 2 canoes and up to 3 in a single canoe.  Often we double portage at the beginning of the trip due to the food pack's weight, then are able to single portage for the last third of the trip.  Since I usually carry a canoe across first, I look at the second trip as a nice walk to see what I missed.

For 11 days, my food weight would be more like 45-50 lbs. for 2.  We don't bring that many fresh foods, but we like to eat well and don't bring much dehydrated stuff.  I would say that Preacher's weight quote of 25 lbs. is ultralight.  A Kondos or CCS food pack sould all of your food easily.  I suggest each person pack in own daypack/overnight style pack with room to put 1/2 of the shared gear.  That should result in an easy second carry.

Other than that, I'd suggest looking at cooking/crew gear that you usually bring and pare it down.  You might find that you don't need a large pot, or that it doesn't make sense to put cooked food from a pot into 2 bowls, etc.  Perhaps a dining fly is a luxury you can do without.

Since I use a rod sock (nylon sleeve) to protect my rods during transport (including tow to put-in), I'll generally keep the rods in the socks for long travel day, where I'm not expecting to do much fishing.  The sock is additional rod protection on portages, since I also tend to take 7' rods, so the tip is sometimes exposed out the far end of the golf tube.  

I even lashed the rod sock(s) alone into a borrowed canoe on one trip.  It wasn't quite as good as the golf tube (lost the largest guide on one rod), but neither of my rods got hung up on anything while portaging or loading/unloading.  (Its possible I snapped the eye off with the toe of my boot entering/exiting the canoe.)

dd

BTW:  I frequently use reel wraps for some of the same reasons.  At least you don't have the audible sound of the reel tapping the interior of the canoe as you walk down the portage.

One more vote for the golf club tubes for rod protectors. I’ve just seen too many times when a pack is going in or out of the canoe when a section of the line or the rod tip itself gets snagged. The tube covers the most delicate part of the rod. One positioned in a convenient location for bow and stern positions. Drilled some holes thru the aluminum strip under the gunwale and used cable ties to hold them in place. Take the butt of the rod and hold it in place with a bungee dealy bob or a strip of Velcro for portaging; just rest in on a thwart when traveling from one fishing spot to the next. As far as weight, I’d be surprised if the entire setup weighs a half pound. Not like that nasty heavy PVC.
Certainly a matter of personal preference. This is a system my partner and I agreed upon (also co owners of the canoe). Another member of our tripping party was in attendance while we were doing the install and mildly ranting about how we were wasting our time; nobody needed such a foolish system. I checked; we were doing this on our canoe; not his, so I’m lost as to what the big deal was. Different strokes and all you know.
We did a two person trip. Portage routine was we would land, get the food pack onto his back and he would set off down the trail. I would finish unloading the canoe, load up, and meet him along the trail on his way back. By the time I got to the end, and got all the stuff that was already there back into the canoe, it was not long until he showed up with the balance of the gear. Actually went pretty smooth. Another benefit was the food pack was not left unattended for very long.

If you lash the poles in the canoe below the gunnels you have the canoe to protect them. Just be careful when putting packs in and out.  No heave PVC pipe needed.

It must be just me as everyone else is in agreement........I've not noticed any undue fatigue lifting packs out of the boat or to much problem getting my pack mounted. Maybe I just never paid much attention to it....I dunno.

One tip that I find helpful is to loosen the arm straps, gather the excess strap while you mount up (so it's not prone to work its way under your main padded strap) and then it is a simple matter to pull on the excess strap to tighten everything up. I like a snug ride.

Quote:


I absolutely agree with this statement. Once the pack is on my back, it's just "put one foot in front of the other" 'til the end. But unloading and loading the packs kicks my arse every time, especially at bad landings.

We always double portage, or rather, the stronger go two times and the  tired go one time and rest.

This coming fall we've been talking about a trip that covers more territory and thus have been discussing getting down to single portage. But after reading this thread, and hearing all the valuable experience speak up ... I think I'm gonna push to nix that idea. I'd rather have more walking than heavier packs, and I'd rather have a few more comforts than take chance of being wet, being without some needed fishing gear, a camera or an ample supply of Kentucky bourbon.

-- kypaddler

The PVC pipe will work, so will those plastic golf tubes you can buy for a $1.

I paddle a SR 16 tandem back wards ( rental canoe) I keep 2 rods rigged. I Bungee Bob a tube under each side of the bow seat. Depending on rod length/ rod guide size, you might have to trim tube length accordingly.

I like 7' rods, so with the top 2' foot or so of the rod in tube, the handle is under my seat and Bungee Bobbed in place, either side of me.
I like the single tubes becasue they keep the rods separated and the guides protected, but the principal is the same no matter what size tube you use. With 2 paddlers, the bow guys tubes are under the stern seat and visa/versa for the stern guy.

On open trails, the rods are well protected, but if your bushwacking. or the trail is overgrown in places or full of dead-falls, you might want to use one of those nylon rod sleeves that will protect 90% of the rod/line from snagging up.

I'd work all this out at home before you hit the water. If it's your own canoe, I'd substitute some good heavy Tie/Wraps on the tube end. I think most people that try this type of set-up, are pleased with it, once they adapt for their gear requirements.

Strong legs and core (abs) are the key. Strong abs will protect your back when lifting. Exhale on the lift, suck in and keep your abs tight until your load is balanced.  Any of the exercises mentioned will do the trick. The tip about loading/unloading packs being as tiring as portaging sometimes is right on. There's nothing wrong with having your partner hoist the pack and you slip into the shoulder straps from a balanced/upright position. Then you do the same for him. Solo, I often set pack on bow plate of canoe/log/rock , then turn and slip into it.

I'd bet that more than a few paddlers have wrenched their backs/hips/shoulders, trying to lift a heavy pack, especially on uneven surfaces or from an awkward position. It makes NO sense to plan a great trip and then hurt yourself the first day out and suffer the rest of the trip. Same advice for portages. Don't let your ego write a check your ( * ) can't cash

"Food for 2 people for 11 days should weigh ~25lbs.
Total kit for 2 people should weigh ~50lbs."

That seems to me to be a little on the light side for an 11 day trip - I pack ultralight, as light as anyone, and a lot lighter than most.  2008, Food for 2 for an 11 day Quetico trip was 29lbs; canoe weighed 39; that's 68 lbs out of a total of 147, so the rest of the gear, clothes, fishing stuff, whatever  had to weigh 79 lbs.  Carrying 75lbs apiece isn't too hard, though it would be about 50% of body weight, but we still double tripped most portages.  That's for an end of May early June trip when it snowed on the first day - you could get away with not carrying a set of spare clothes and camp shoes in summer, but I can't think of anything esle that could have been left behind, even for a summer trip.

on short portages especially, there just isn't that much time gained by single vs double tirpping - like others, I'd rather make up the time on the water, rather than punishing myself on the portages

Bungy Dealy Bob's (or whatever they are called) are great for fastening
paddles and rods to thwarts. I bought some shock cord and made longer ones for fastening life jackets under seats.