Phoenix wrote on Apr 12^th, 2013 at 8:00pm:

Gimp of 01: Yes, we usually wear sandals, crocs, Keens, etc. in the canoe but don't trust them for stability on the portage (unless it's really short and easy). So the change into hiking/portaging boots makes us feel more secure (it might also provide a little protection against poison ivy, who knows?). It definitely adds time at each end of the portage to do the change, but we feel it's time well invested.

Actually it was a poke at the concept of a flat easy portage; not at a choice of footwear. Strong sturdy supportive well fitting footwear for a portage should just be a given.

Our routine we developed on the only 2 person trip I've been on was land; offload what the bowman was going to carry across (food pack); load him up and send him on his way. I finished offloading and grabbed my load for the trip across; canoe with whatever we had configured to fit inside it and a light pack. we would meet about the middle point while he was heading back for the rest. I would get to the end; get the canoe into the water and load up all that was there. Once he got back it was a short mission to get the rest of the gear loaded and off we went.

Left the food pack unattended for only a short while; and if the bugs were bad at the end of the portage we were able to shove off rather quickly.