Thank you Marten. I honestly can't explain how, but for some reason I had a gut feeling the stretch from Irregular to Eagle was going to be of particular difficulty. Heygi's mention of rope work and now your description of a "stunted spruce bog" has served to heighten my anticipation level. I am hoping that it will not be excessively hot or wet on that day.

Now please bear with me as the questions I am going to ask are likely to be patently obvious for anyone with minimal experience using maps and GPS in conjunction.

I have read in one of your accounts (superb BTW, very enjoyable) where you described entering the waypoints to the portages ahead of time into the GPS. Am I correct in assuming that you use the UTM grid on the maps to arrive at the numbers? If so, what method did you use to accurately divide the "tenths" inside a kilometer "box" that the grid makes. Is there a mathematical tool that you can purchase or devise? Or did you estimate?

Thank you for educating me. Maybe I can carry a few loads across for you someday.  ;)