I have a question on how much weight most of you carry and a comment on my situation. I used to be very active but now I'm about 330 lbs. I am 6'3" but I'm still too short for my weight. I need to drop aout 100-120 lbs. I was told last year I am diabetic so the weight needs to come off for more than one reason.

I'd like to go out west in the next couple of years and hunt elk. I'd like to pack in and out. I'm thinking I'll need to carry close to 100 lbs on my back to make this possible. Now here is just what I can figure from looking in Cabelas catalog. I know there are lots of other places and lots of lightweight stuff I don't see in here.

pack and frame 10lbs

tent (good size) 16 lbs

sleeping bag and pad 10lbs

rifle and flyrod 10 lbs

So it looks like I am close to 50 lbs before I figure cookware, food, clothes and tools. Plus all the extras I forgot about. It's been maybe 20 years since I've been camping. Am I way off? And yes, I know I've got a lot of work to do. Losing 100 lbs and then packing it on my back is not exactly a ying/yang kind of thing. I need lots of exercise and walking/climbing to get in shape.

How far do most of you elk hunters pack in on public land? 5 miles? 25 miles?

Thanks.

I am sure you will get alot of input but for my money 100 lbs is a lot to go in with. What if you shoot something. I was heavier than I am know by about 80 lbs. I lost weight and tried to get into shape. I am in decent shape but I would never head out with 100lbs on my back, maybe to a base camp a short distance from the trail head and then I could make daily excursions with a day pack. Even if it took you a couple trips to the base camp area I think it would be worth it. There are alot of faactors that are capable of hindering your performance, likme altitude etc. Also if you fellwith 100 lbs on your back you might get hurt pretty bad. I would do small loads multiple times if it was me.

That sounds like wise advise. It also sounds like a lot of weight but I didn't think making 2 or 3 trips was feasable if I was 10 miles from my truck. And what if I shoot something? Come on, get real. I never get a shot at anything!

Loose the tent! A tarp will do.
Get a lighter pack! It shouldn't weigh 10 lbs.
I wouldn't want more than 50 lbs on my back starting out, and that INCLUDES food, cookware, etc. You don't need all that much. I'd consider packing in 100 lbs unfeasible.

The longest I've hiked in to 'base camp' (that's where my tarp is and where I leave my sleeping bag) on multi-day trips is about 5 miles. For shorter trips (2-3 days) I've gone up to 10. I'm sure if I was really fit I could do some more, but consider the journey back! Are you really going to make 6 trips back and forth to get your elk out? if you are 10 miles in, that's a 20 mile round trip. That's 6 flippin' days!!

You need the horse outfitters for that type of distances.

Frans

there are tents out there that are much lighter--kifaru, titanium goat to name two that fit the bill which allow you to pack in a lightweight small wood stove, that collpases, if you desire---and there are many others that are just tents with no real means of heating besides what comes from you----as stated you can't pack light enuff it's a killer when you're out of shape and not used to the mountains in the first place, so going bare minimum isn't to be taken lightly---I have a 17lb canvas tent and it's too much, this year I bought a titanium goat tipi(7 lbs and should sleep 4 fairly comfortable) and their bigger stove(3 lbs), but there are 4 of us going so we can divy up the weight---so one you need to decide if you're going to go cold camping or want warmth from a stove and then tent/tipi shop accordingly--are you going alone or can you split the weight with a hunting bud or two---again going bare minimum is what you need to keep in mind--that includes everything---the lighter the better in all aspects----take heed from the others that are experienced in this, I'm still a rookie in this, but you learn fast if you want to keep doing it---good luck---chris

Old Cane
If you carry to much weight you'll pay for it..As mentioned a waterproof tarp for a tent and a bivy bag..Trap 1.5 or less lb.. Bivy bag 1.5- 2 lb..With the bivy you can take a more compact/weight Sleeping bag..Weight reduction the key.. One last thing, shop for the best trap,bivy, S.bag..
AK

You might want to pay for an outfitter to haul you and your gear into the backcountry. Trust me you will still need to be in shape to hunt elk even if you get packed in. Also the outfitter will haul your elk out if you are successful.
KC

thnaks guys. this is the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

I know there is lighter equipment out there. I was wondering what most guys do. I really would like a tent so on rainy days I could sit inside when in camp. I'm also 6'3" and i just like tents I can stand up in. I do understand the small tent and no tent ideas. I can always crawl out and stand up outside. I have one like that but it weighs as much as the new larger tents so a new tent is going to be on the list. I have seen 8-lb packs, 4-lb tents and 4-lb bags with 1-lb pads. I do like half shelter type tents with a flpa that makes a full pup tent. I was thinking more about comfort with the larger tent but packing comfort is going to have to come first. Distance was also a big consideration. Packing meat 20 miles is not going to work. If I can make 5 miles work I should be ok. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions on where to go and hopefully you guys will have better answers than when i ask my wife that question.

I admire your desire to try packing in for elk, it's not easy, I've done it quite a bit over the years. A couple of things that might make it easier:

Pack and everything else you might need (which is a hell of a lot less than you think) 40 pounds, 50 absolute max.

Try to get as light a rifle as possible, also a 44 might make sleeping out in the open in grizzly country just a bit more restful. These two items can add another 10 pounds or more!

So now you're up to 50 to 60 pounds for absolutely everything. That's a lot more than it sounds on paper! I'm 6'3 also, but I weigh in at 180 and run 3 to 5 miles per day and live year round at 4500 ft. 60 pounds is a load period.

How far in? I've packed my share of elk out over the years and 3 miles from a road is a far as I'll go. Now that road could be an old logging road where I can get a game cart in to make the last bit to the truck easier, it depends. Trails that are uphill in both directions will lessen that distance. The best I can do is to pack an elk out in 5 loads. And that friend, is a bloody bitch.

Number one thing I've learned ALWAYS have a complete camp back at the truck. In my case this is a small travel trailer with warm clothes, big fluffy sleeping bag, propane heater, and lots of good food. Learned this the hard way: Packed two loads of elk quarters out to the truck, took all day, and ended up hiking back to my camp at night (in bear country), yep it snowed, and I was misserable. Packing in during the fall months is very different from a July backpacking trip with the kids. You can die, no kidding.

I was in the outfitting business for a while and just like military operations the most important thing you provide your client is logistical support. ( I know you guys think it's getting game and all that, but it's not. It's getting you THERE and BACK alive at the least and in comfort and a bit of style if I did my job right.) Obviously you can do this yourself but remember you might not actually save any money over just hiring someone, especailly if this is your first trip or you only plan on doing this once or twice.

As was pointed out, a 100 LBS pack is not a good plan. Maybe a pack weighing 1/2 this amount is justifiable. Remember you will also be carrying a rifle in your hand. The good news is, I think, that you are over-estimating the weight of some of the equipment. I'm guessing your pack and frame should weight 5 LBS or less; your sleeping bag and pad should weigh less than 5 LBS (maybe close to 3.5 LBS); your tent should weigh 8 LBS or less. You are going to have to accept that backpacking compels you to make some compromises. Sure, I would like a 10'x14' wall tent on my backpacking trip and a nice wood burning stove just in case . . . but that is not practical. You need to accept that your tent will be small and that you won't be able to play basketball inside.

Of course, you will want to take some summer backpacking trial runs before you go hunting. Start first with an overnighter, not too far from the trail head. A lot can be learned from something this simple. After you learn from this initial trip, take a multi-night backpacking trip. Good equipment is important to satisfaction and pleasure. Good boots are important.

Good luck with your weight loss program too. Think of the additional years of life you will be giving to yourself as well as the improved quality of life you will be giving yourself. I know it is hard, but it is worth it. You may wish to combine modified eating habits with physical training. When you exercise, be careful about cutting out the protein from your food. You might dial back on fats and carbohydrates, but be mindful of not cutting back excessively on protein intake. Your body needs protein to build and repair muscles. Some people have a tendency to diet without exercise. This tends to trim off fat but also muscle mass. Then if they go off-diet, as is not uncommon, they will replace the lost muscle mass with fat, placing themselves in a worse position than when they started. Exercise. Walking works. Taking the stairs at work helps. A long journey begins with a single step.

thanks again. when I was a teenager my dad and I used to carry about 80lbs each. He was an ex-ranger and I was just determined to keep up. He was always stronger than me. I didn't think I'd ever be able to get into that kind of shape again so if all of you guys were doing it it was something that needed to be crossed off my list. Since everyone seems to think 40-50 is more the norm, maybe I can do it. The point made about the expense for just doing it once or twice is a good one. It may be more made to order to hire an outfitter and ride in. I'd love to haul the hroses out and ride my own but they are not mountian horses and i have no idea how they'd react to the new sites and sounds. Plus the fuel cost hauling them 1000 miles each way would make it questionable if it was worth it.

Get your cardio in shape so you don't have a heart attack with the extra exertion. Also invest in some very good quality supportive boots to protect your feet and ankles for serious injury. If you don't mind the expense the Russel Moccasin company makes some great boots for rough terrain.

Most drop camps range from $600 to $1000 depending on time of year and where and how far you want to be packed into. That is per person.
With the price of diesel today it is probaly cheaper to go with the outfitter than haul your own horses!
As far as equipment goes I think it depends on when you are hunting. I have no problem hunting out of a backpack in September during bow season, but come November during rifle season it can be plain miserable.
KC

Good advice from HunterMontana and Alsatian. You can get good lightweight gear and come in at 50-60 lbs. max. Backpack hunting, and hunting in the mountains in general is one of the best reasons there is to get on a workout program and stay with it. It motivates me year-round. That, and getting older, I don't want to quit until I'm 70.

I do a fair amount of backpack hunting, and HunterMontana is right, for packing out meat, you don't want to go too far in. For a big bull, I'd go in 4-5 miles, less for a cow.

And remember, the reason to backpack is to lose the crowds. You can do that by going in 2-3-4 miles in a lot of places, no need to go further. Most people don't want to carry one that far.

If you don't lose at least 1/3 of that body weight , all this is purely academic. They'll find you dead at the side of the trail not too far away from your vehicle. Physical fitness is a definite requirement at this game and you can't ignore it.
Grizz

I have to chime in again. There is no substitute for youth. I lost weight, got back into shape, but there is no way I can do what I once could do. Stretch and do aerobic type stuff also work on your core and balance. Above all as Old Grizz said lose the weight. Good Luck

I don't know, Grizz. I can pack 50lbs about 5 miles now, no problem. Add some incline and ok, maybe only 2 miles, maybe a bit more. Not sure why I'd die. I'm still here.

"And remember, the reason to backpack is to lose the crowds. You can do that by going in 2-3-4 miles in a lot of places, no need to go further. Most people don't want to carry one that far."

That is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. Thanks.

I just stopped to take a break from packing my own pack (I'm leaving tomorrow) and thought I'd chime in. We're only going in about 3 miles and on level terrain. From there we're striking out for moose hunting. We don't want to get too far that we can't get the meat out.

I think a good day in the mountains with a 50lb. pack will take you about 4 or 5 miles unless you're in great shape. I'm in average shape and that's enough for me. If it's really rough terrain I suggest not pushing yourself to
go further than comfortable-that's when accidents happen. That 5 miles will get you well beyond the weekend warriors and the granolas. Remember to camp where you have access to water, that's important.

A while ago Grizz and I biked into a spot and we went about 8 miles one way-with only day packs no overnight equipment or hunting stuff. We were pretty tired at the end and we got to coast a lot!!

Someone said that when hunting in the mountains you only take enough stuff to survive the trip and I think that's pretty accurate. You have to be brutal about leaving stuff at home and then get even more brutal and leave some more. Hiking in too far means you have to take too many trips back and forth to get your equipment and meat out.

Obviously being overweight is like carrying that much more weight in your pack. Plus there are the other problems associated with obesity, such as a diminished cardiovascular system etc. So Grizz might be right although there are some fit fat people and you might be one of them.

happy hunting!

the chef

I like my packs to come in under 50lbs On a two person hunt they weigh in at about 55. On a three person hunt we can get then under 50 a four person hunt down to around 40 but that requires one to sleep close in a 4person tent. I normally like to put 3 people in a 4 person tent..

I like to figure about 3 lbs of tent per person so a group of 3 can have up to a 9 lb tent. I have done a couple of 70lb packs going in when my kids were younger and I had to carry some of there stuff. But after the first couple of meals that dropped off.

But I found a 70 pack isn't fun any over 60 gets to be a pain. A 40 lb pack carrys real nice.

Plan carefully get some good partners divied up the weight as much as possible. If your the one carrying the tent the others get to carry some of the other gear ect.

Start by making a list of what you NEED to do your goal:

tarp or bivvy sack yes, but big tent, no.
rifle yes, fishing pole no.
3 pound bag yes, 1 pound foam pad yes,
4 pound pack yes, 10 pound no.

I am 55, run 2-3 miles every other day, and weigh 215 at 6 feet tall.

I can still pack in 50-60 pounds to a base camp 5 miles away, but that good trails.

Add your rifle and binos to your pack weight, and you are pretty soon at 60+ pounds Maximum, if you camp on water source.

Forget Cabelas, for pack-weight stuff go to REI store or get their catalog.

And the best advice I have seen here is REALISTIC, GO FOR A DROP CAMP FIRST> you will need your energy for the hunting, not the packing in, as there will still be plenty of stout leg pounding with any elk hunting spot once you get past the road-warriors.

Jameister

50 pounds is tops for me, considering a 10 mile hike at high elevations over mountainous terrain.

By the way, there is no way you should take a 16 pound tent. 4-5 pounds max.

Well my pack turned out to be 60-70 lbs and we probably gained 800feet in elevation or so. The trail was a cow trail and very uneven and muddy but still better than a scree slope or other hardrock terrain. My point is that we went in 3.4 miles by gps so it was a little further when following the trail up and down etc. So it was probably close to 4.5 or 5 miles-that was far enough for me. It took a 1.75 hours and I did it in 1.5 with a lighter pack. I'm just telling you this to help guage the distance that you might consider hiking in. By the way we hunted about 3-4 miles in the morning and evening each day that we weren't hiking in or out.

the chef

I figure about 30 min per mile on a trial in the mountains With a 50 lb pack. Some times more some times less depending on the trail and Elevations.

I have done some 10-12 mile days thats a lot of work. Now I try and plan my trips to around 5 mile days gives lot so time to make camp and enjoy the country.

I try to finsh packing by 3pm I have more then once walked into my camp site jsut be fore dark and rushed around like crazy getting camp ready. The biggest pain in the ass in a new camp is finding a good bear tree and getting the food hung dam I have frought that battle more then once.

I much preferr to arrived eary get set up make a lesurely dinner and enjoy.

I could do 8 or 10 if I had a good camp and food waiting for me.

Old Cane. Listen good to what you're being told, or you are going to make one Hell of a mistake. I can tell by your original list and high level of confidence that you are at square-one.

I started thinking about my packpack Dall sheep hunt in the NWTs exactly like you, then trimmed by ego down, and got serious. When I had everything in line, I thought, I flew into the McKenzie Mountains. At base camp I re-thought my gear list and left stuff. After we touched down with the float plane the next day the outfitter and guide watched me re-pack gear and recommended some things to leave. I thought some of that stuff was pretty important, but I left it in the plane and did fine without it the next three days.

After returning to base camp and getting ready to fly back into another area, I left more gear behind. When we landed on that mountain and the guide and I were planning our hunt, we went through our gear one more time and left stuff on the side of the mountain for when we got back. It was a tough hunt and I was carrying about 40-45 pounds max, plus meat coming back. I still had everything I needed.

Think about it. Don't overload your a**.

I did a three day hike around Mt. Hood (Oregon) at the "Timberline Trail" -- 40 miles. Solo.

Part of the "trek" was to fine tune the 'lightweight' hiking gear. Three days, and I didn't cook anything. Powdered milk, granola, a water purifier rig, dried fruit, trail mix, jerky.

Titanium pot, sleeping bag, tent, internal frame pack, minimal clothes. I wasn't hunting, and so no firearm -- which is really a weight factor.

Lightweight Buck folder, small one.

This is a decent trail, footwear was good quality, lighweight "cross-trainers."

Total weight for the gear ran under 20 lbs.

-- And with that weight, I could do the 12 - 14 miles/day required to get around the trail in three days, two nights.

There's a lot of discussion online about "ultra-light" back packing. It's amazing how much mileage you can cover when you're not hauling tons of crap you don't need.

quote:

Originally posted by Kensco:
Old Cane. Listen good to what you're being told, or you are going to make one Hell of a mistake. I can tell by your original list and high level of confidence that you are at square-one.

I started thinking about my packpack Dall sheep hunt in the NWTs exactly like you, then trimmed by ego down, and got serious. When I had everything in line, I thought, I flew into the McKenzie Mountains. At base camp I re-thought my gear list and left stuff. After we touched down with the float plane the next day the outfitter and guide watched me re-pack gear and recommended some things to leave. I thought some of that stuff was pretty important, but I left it in the plane and did fine without it the next three days.

After returning to base camp and getting ready to fly back into another area, I left more gear behind. When we landed on that mountain and the guide and I were planning our hunt, we went through our gear one more time and left stuff on the side of the mountain for when we got back. It was a tough hunt and I was carrying about 40-45 pounds max, plus meat coming back. I still had everything I needed.

Think about it. Don't overload your a**.

I wish I knew what in the world you are talking about. High level of confidence? Huh? Making a mistake? Huh? Why do you think I'm asking questions before I even get started? I am stating it's going to take me two years to even consider this and I'm asking how much and how far. I see you used an outfitter that set up your base camp. I'm talking about carrying my base camp on my back. If I can't do it myself I won't do it at all. Is that ego? I don't think so. That's wallet. I'm not rich like you and can't afford to pay someone to do what I can do for myself. Again, if I can't I won't. I won't overload my a** if you don't overload you mouth. Geez. All you had to say is you carried 45 pounds for however far you went. Plane, guide? Man, must be nice.

Best wishes in the future.

Old Cane, I dont think Kensco was trying to insult you and he did not have a camp set up in the mountains already either, not that I know him but I know the kind of hunting he was doing. A super cub weight restriction is pilot, plus roughly 250 lbs for hunter and his gear theres no monster wall tent in that plane. Just a hunter and his backpack and rifle.For mountain hunts where you carry all your gear on your back you have to pick gear selectively. Just to give you an example. Your tent and sleeping bag figure is 26 lbs. My tent sleeping bag and pad weigh more like 6 pounds. So theres 20 lbs that would be calculated in for a 7 1/2 lb rifle, 1 1/2 pound binos, 2 lbs spotting scope, 1 lb tripod, 6 lbs of clothes, and 10 lbs of food for 7 days. I am almost field ready for the weight of your tent and sleeping bag to exist in the mountains for a week. All I am getting at is that when you are doing extreme backpacking and hunting at the same time their is gear best suited for backpacking and gear best suited for hauling in on 4 wheelers and horses. I know some extreme elk hunters that do a lot of backpacking to get into elk country and they use similar gear to what I use for sheep hunting. I can head into the mountains for a 7 day sheep hunt well under 45 lbs with no problem, and i am not going without anything that I need and rest assure fully equipped.

Here is the sage advice that has saved my life several times.

The less you carry up the mountain, the less you carry up the mountain.

Build your stamina slowly. You'll have more fun and live longer.

Cane:
Listen to what the other guys are saying. Your tent is way too heavy. No packboard/frame combo should weigh 10 lbs. Sleeping bag should not weigh anywhere near 10 lbs. I'd get rid of the sleeping pad too but that's me.
Get a light weight, single person QUALITY tent but make sure you have enough room in it. I'd look at an MSR tent. You could carry an extra lightweight nylon tarp to set up as a windbreaker & be able to stand up under it.
When we go sheep or caribou hunting into the Brooks Range, which by the way has no timber, the above set up is what we take. The only difference is that we take a 3 man MSR tent since both of us are on the large side. It weighs about 8 lbs. With us however, we go for 2 weeks or so. For a lightweight cooking stove, get an MSR Whisperlight. Food is freeze dried. 1 small pan, a spoon & an insulated metal coffee cup. I gotta have my coffee.
Listen to what the others are telling you. We're only trying to give advice based on our experiences. Good luck with what ever you decide. Bear in Fairbanks

Gentlemen,

A quick couple of questions on 'weight'.

A quick bit of research showed typical weights for mountaineering type trekking geodetic tents to be, with pegs etc, around 3.5 - 4.3 Kgs. Lets say that is 8.5 - 9.5 pounds for argument sake.

I have read the backpack itself should not weigh more than about 5 - 5.5 pounds. Yet the pack/frame combo may need to 'haul' 100 pounds.

For one moment, lets restrict ourselves to a max carry weight for the 'average' 35 plus hunter to this weight. Afterall, not many of us are 22 year old Royal Marines / Paratroopers/ French Foreign Leginaires etc etc. And the mountains do not seem to be getting less steep!

The typical weight of the recommended brands of both civillian external frame systems and military type internal frame systems appear to be weighing around 7 - 8 pounds.

Add to this, say 8.5 to 8.75 pounds of long action .30-06 type rifle with a 6x scope and I make the load about 27 pounds. Say about 31 pounds when adding in 40 rounds of ammo and a light weight binocular.

Then there is a week's food, additional clothing etc. Wiggys synthetic type sleeping bags weigh circa 6.5 pounds, say another 1 pound for the pad and I am up at 50 -55 pounds.

I read somewhere, I think it was in the books by Harold Schetzle, Tony Russ or Marc Taylor on hunting in Alaska, that your 'going out' pack weight load should not be more than 50 pounds because of the additional meat/rug - hide, skin trophy etc weight coming back.

What am I missing here?

I do a lot of backpack hunting in northern bc. We go in from 7 days up to 17 days depending on the hunt, I have not been able to get my gear/gun etc under 65 pounds, however I am quite satisfied with that. Tent should be no more than 10 pds (for three guys), sleeping bag should be two to four pounds, msr or some variation of that for a stove, light food - here it vary's depending on how your body reacts to limited food, freeze dried is best but sometimes a power bar for breakfast with a coffee and a pouch of pasta for supper is enough.. it is for me but we are all different. Do not get caught up in gadgets, which create extra weight, I would definetely take a tent, however bring a survival blanket for those nights you may want to "stay out". good luck, sounds like you have the right attitude and planning two years in advance is a good idea

I spend each August hunting for sheep. My pack is under 50 pounds, as hard as it is to do. I am a one trip guy, so when I come out, it is all in the pack. Usually return trips are around 125# or better. All of the super cub flights that I have flown in weigh your pack. It CAN'T be over the 50# limit. We were tossing stuff not needed. We have learned over the years to split stuff between partners and not take anything extra that isn't needed. We take small/light knives, one wyoming saw, etc. One thing I won't leave home anymore is my compact pillow from Sportsman's Warehouse. With that and my thermarest, all is good. Bring a quality space blanket to use if you take an overnight trip to somewhere new.

Depending on where you hunt Elk a very nice compromise is to pack in with the gear you need (I agree lighter is better) but when/if you get an Elk rent a packhorse for a day to haul him out in one trip. you can make arrangements in advance, bring rope & game bags to hang your quarters and or boned meat up overnight - this does assume trees in the area. We have done this a couple of times with large bulls.

Old Crane,
Best of luck to you on your upcoming hunt. You’re off to a good start by taking 2 years to get physically fit, this is something you will not regret and will make the trip a memorable adventure. 100 lbs, is a tremendous load to carry for an extended distance, careful shopping should allow you to trim that by about 40%, At your present weight, you undoubtedly have enough strength to initially handle a lot of weight, but with each step you take those extra pounds will multiply exponentially. Above all get the best boots you can manage to afford, get them now & break them in during your physical training. Your weight is only one issue; the Diabetes is another, combined together, they can be a dangerous combination. Be sure you see your health care professional on a frequently while you are training. Diabetes can cause severe circulation problems in your legs and especially the ankles. I have a friend with a similar size to you, a few years ago he was diagnosed with Diabetes, because of his weight, he developed chronic circulation problems in his ankles and was needing a walker within two years. Safety is the most important part of your trip, without it your dream trip will become a nightmare. I’m not trying to pick on you, but just hoping you have a great trip.

Dave

robthom,
Not many guys I know are going to take in a 9lb tent for a sheep hunt. Most 2 man tents will be less than 7 lbs(some less than 5) and that weight is shared by two people equaling 3.5lbs per person. My one man tent is less than 3 lbs. Pack weighs 7 lbs and gun weighs 7 1/2 all up. I dont know anyone that carries 40 rounds of ammo either. I take like 7-10 shells total. Thats roughly 18 lbs for pack, gun and tent.Just over 20 with sleeping bag included. That allows you another 30 or so lbs for the rest of your gear, if your trying to stay under 50lbs which I highly reccommend. my pack will not way over 50lbs for a ten day hunt and usually weighs closer to 45lbs on 5-7 day hunts.Hope this helps understanding teh weight issue.

Old Cane,

My appologies to everyone I've not read the whole thread. I'm sure there's great advice, but none better than this:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by HunterMontana:
Pack and everything else you might need (which is a hell of a lot less than you think) 40 pounds, 50 absolute max.

I spent three summers backpacking in the early 90's at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp in Colorado. One thing to keep in mind (someone's probably mentioned this already)...you'll be gaining 8,9, or even ten thousand feet between Tennessee and your elk hunt. That alone should probably encourage you to keep your carry weight to 40 lbs.

Just think of it this way...you'll have plenty of weight to pack-out after you shoot the big one!

Best wishes,

friar

There are also lighter packs out there. Go to a knowledgeable dealer and get fitted for a pack. Being properly fitted will go a long way toward your comfort level. The weight of your load will be properly supported on your legs and hips instead of your shoulders and back which is what will happen with an imporperly fitted and adjusted pack.

With the lightweight backpacking gear available today you should have no problem getting the weight down. Pick up a couple issues of backpacker magazine. It will give you an idea of what is available.

Lot's of good advice on this. I have made a few trips that are always harder than you like getting stuff in and out.
We packed in 6 miles in Central Id. and gained about 3700 feet from trailhead to camp. The first four miles were no big deal as the trail gained altitude gradually, the last two made me wonder!
Go as light as you can with everything! A proper fitting backpack is a must for helping you last. I got one from Moosejaw that was being discontinued for a reasonable price and it made a huge difference.(Dana Designs) I now have a Wiggy's bag and inflateable sleeping pad. I only take dried food stuff and we used a fire to boil water over. Though some years you'll have to use a stove due to fire restrictions. We filtered water and I took only enough clothes to get by. Get boot's well ahead of time and be sure they're broken in.

Here are some things I learned the hard way.
1.Pack frame with removable bag - light enough but not comfortable. My hips were killin' me. The bag ripped out on the way out.
2.Mil-surp sleeping bag was heavier and not as warm. It was cheap enough, but not enough given the weather.
3.Rocky boot's suck! Sole split across under the arch. They were broke in, but broke down. I am using Danners now, but get the best boots.
4.You won't need the whole mess kit. If you're eating dried food from a pouch all you need is boiling water and a spoon.
5.Plan to bring as few clothes as possible. They get heavy.
6.Rain gear is too heavy. I use Frog Toggs for backpacking now.
7. If you are with a buddy and sharing a filter bring a straw. He won't be around when you need water.

As was said earlier, bring stuff to camp at the truck, seperate from your pack. It takes several trips to bring out meat, sleeping when you get to either end of the trail is better than walking back in, in the dark. If the weather gets to bad, Having a full on camp to fall back to can make all the difference in the world. Nate

Here is a nice link to really get down to the nuts and bolts of what you need and don't need.
http://www.backpacking.net/27-pound.html#addwate

As an avid winter boundary waters camper, I don't deal with elevation, but there are plenty of -10 degree nights in store. Please keep in mind that a larger tent has a larger internal air volume to keep warm.

Another item you may want to consider is the ExPed Downmat. They are a little larger than the thermarest foam pads, but there is no comparison to comfort and warmth. They are about 3.5 inches thick. (This allows you to lay on your side and not bottom out) And, they have an R-value that stomps conventional mats (your bag is now much warmer than advertised). When you consider that the bulk of your heat loss comes from the ground contact, IMHO this is an area where taking on an extra pound in the pack is well worth the burden. Plus, you will sleep better and that always is a benefit but not easily measured.

FYI
In the heart of the winter, I use a Marmot 2 person tent (5lbs) with a ExPed Downmat9 dlx (44oz) and Mountain smith 0 degree down bag (3lbs); I'm always nice and toasty knowing that I can weather most any storm for a total gear weight cost of just under 11 pounds.