fine, I'll see how Ben uses ST's tricks putting his pack on in a few weeks when we share a shuttle and have a few days together on Murdock.

To me it sounds like a process fraught with never the right log, rock or hill to plop your pack on in order to get in. I might take a closer look at putting it on the bow. On the other hand that would put quite a bit of strain on my knees squatting and then getting upright. I suppose I'm just being stubborn as I have been putting my pack on my way for a very long time.

Back issues have been getting my attention though. Yea my pack is pretty dang heavy. I might triple the first 10 days especially since after the first few days the portages are fairly short.