I just returned from the Brooks Range and I thought I'd volunteer a review of the gear I used and what I thought worked well and maybe not so well.
First, what I would never go sheep hunting (or anyother type of backcountry hunting without):
Lowa Shee Hunter GTX boots: The most comfortable and most effective boot I've ever worn. 5 hard days. At least 60 or more miles in all terrain and not one blister.
Leki Makalu Poles: Brand doesn't matter, but anyone who hunts sheep without two trekking poles with baskets is asking for trouble. Made going through the worst rocks/shale/creeks/boulders/wet tundra easier and more importantly much, much safer.
Mammut Champs pants: Really impressed with the comfort and performance. Will be wearing them for all my hunts except in very, very cold weagther.
Microtex shirt: As always, almost like a jacket keeping you warm and the wind out.
Wiggy's lightweight waders (7 oz) when you needed them to cross swollen and raging streams, they were very effective. Would probably not last too long with constant use, but for a 5-10 day hunt, very effective. My guide had the "new" wiggy's which are heavier and have more substantial soles, but because of the weight, he didn't carry them and used mine instead.
Eberlestock J107: Somewhat disappointing. The rifle scabbard is very functional and nice, but the new shoulder straps were a pain and overall the pack is a bit heavy at over 7 lbs. Took the fanny pack feature off the first day to reduce weight and with a load of sheep, I was wishing for an external frame pack like the one my guide had. It was a long walk back to camp.
Ultimax socks and Capilene base layers: The best for me. Compared them with smartwool which I wore the first two days of the hunt and the straight synthetics worked much better for me.
Lightweight Mountain Hardware coat: Very good on those high windy places were you stopped to glass. Very light and warm. A real find.

That's a beauty! Congrats on a nice hunt and thanks for the add'l info. I'll be heading up to Sitka at the end of Oct.

Bluefin, Thank you. It was a trip of a lifetime. When I got him back to camp after about 6 hours and 10 miles with more weight on my back then I've ever put on it, and I'm no spring chicken, I swore I would never do something like this again. Must be like giving birth though. Now all I can remember are the great times and all the pain (other than some stiffness in the knees) has dissipated. Planning another trip in 2009 already. Take care

EB
Been wait'in for some Sheep reports..Nice Ram.. Thanks for the gear rport also..
Who did you hunt with on this trip..
AK

EB,great ram,thankx for sharing,,,regards

Thanks EB,

Very nice ram and nothing like experience to determine what works and what doesn't.

Good Reort and great ram! I'm always interested in what gear works for different people. I'm leaving next week for my sheep hunt, and I'll be wearing the same boots and pants. Luckily, I found out early in the summer that Eberlestock packs do not seem to carry weight very well (I was planning on using my j104) so I got a Mystery Ranch NICE & Crew Cab. IT should do what I need very well. Thanks for the report.

Akrange,
The hunt was with Ralp Miller out of Delta Junction (Deltana) and Billy Molls was the guide. He was a terrific companion, worked and hunted very hard and made the whole experience a real pleasure. The ram was just the icing on the cake.

Oh, and one more piece of equipment to report on (how could I have forgotten) - Leica Geovids 10/42 (my xmas present from my wonderful wife!):
The glass was superb (better to my eye than the Swaros EL I have) and the bit of extra weight was worth having the range finder built into the glasses. Very, Very happy with them.

EB
Thanks for the info about the Outfitter.. Added gear info. Was that Ram looking at Ya when you made the shot..
AK

akrange,
No he was actually set to get out of dodge. He was 348 yards away straight up the hill from us and we spotted each other at about the same time. We had seen him earlier heading down (to water we thought) and then going back up both at around 500 yards, but didn't have a real good look at him either time. We "ran" (that's not quite an accurate statement, more like crawled) up after him hopping to see him if he headed out above us. After about 4oo yards we spotted him above us laying down. As I said we both saw each other at about the same time. I was throwing off my pack over a rock as Billy was trying to see if he was legal. I asked him how far he thought he was and he said well over 300, but it's steep, hold for 300 (I had no time to get him in the binos). As I was getting behind the scope, the ram stood up and it was clear he was going to bolt. Billy yelled and waived to try and slow him down (which it did for a split second). He turned from my right to left and started to step out of sight. As he turned, I said he looks damn good to me and Billy said to take him. As I shot his head was already turned going directly away from me, but his body was a half step behind. I shot him low just at the back of his left front shoulder, but because of his body position and the angle the bullet clipped the shoulder, the front of his lungs and exited out the center of his neck. That's the exit wound you see in the picture. I was very lucky. Another step and he was long gone. Take care, EB

EB
Luck is something we all are counting on when we head out each day..
AK

EB,
Congrats on your hunt, that's a great looking ram. I just returned from the NWT and used the Geovids and really liked them. I started out thinking I would like to get some swaro EL 8X32 before next years hunt, but ended up thinking I'd keep what I got.
Don

Don, Thank you. Hope your hunt went well. Yes, having it all in one unit with very good glass, makes it all much easier. Take care

May I ask what your rifle is? Mark

I'm betting Bansner

Actually, it's an Ultra Light .300 Winnie made by Kerry O'Day at MG Arms. As shown it's 5lbs. 9 oz loaded with three shells; the sling is a bit heavy . I have had good luck with their guns, although I know someone on this forum complained about the finish on when of their rifles, which Kerry eventually took back. I also have a .338 Ultra Mag by them. Both guns are extremely accurate and the .338 is truly a one hole gun for up to 5 consecutive shots.

Living the dream! Congratulations man. Someday someday.

Interesting, and useful product performance feed back. Thank you.

I would like to ask you three questions about your back back - load haul system if I may?

What was the total all up weight you had to carry on your 'back/hips' getting to camp, hunting etc?

What was the maximum, worst case load you carried?

Which of the two types of backpacks do you think is most practical for the visiting hunter: internal frame or external frame?

I guess you would realise I was coming to this old question!

I have read in various books on Alaskan hunting, and manufacturers' web pages that the maimum load for an internal frame is circa 75 - 80lbs, while for an external frame it is easily over 100lbs. Some state hauling 150 lbs is possible.

All these loads are based upon the capabilities of a fit, strong, well conditioned packer. Read professional packer / guide or "sherpa".

What made me wonder is the max weight you are allowed in the Super Cub Air Taxis is circa 40 to 60lbs each, including rifle etc. More than this, and another plane journey will be required to get your kit to your drop off point.

Tying this in with:

what a visting hunter is likely to be physically able to carry on their backs "up and down the dales", and

mountaineers use internal frame backpacks because they allow the load carrying system to flex with your body movements as you walk, stretch etc,

I wondered what would be the most practical solution?

I have been researching back packs on the web and noted the Mystery Ranch military / Navy Seals back packs are/ were ? internal frame designs. Additionally, they listed a 'new' product, which they state has the best of both Worlds.

I think it is called the ?something? Overkill. It is an internal frame back pack which will carry 80lbs or so comfortably but will allow you to carry upto 100lbs occasisionally.

Thanks.

I'm no expert on backpacks. Just an old guy who, like you, did a lot of research on packs, etc. before I went on my first sheep hunt (I've done three now) and also use larger packs more than I used to for elk and deer forays into the Idaho Wilderness. In answer to your questions:
A. I flew in a Maule to camp on this hunt, but went out in a Husky. Although I didn't have to pack in, my gear, including Gun, etc. weighed in at about 50 lbs. or slightly less for a 10 day hunt.
B. My pack normally weighed in at about 30 pounds when hunting. That included my gun and extra sheels, my binos (Leica Geos, which are a bit heavier than some, but include the range finder), rain gear, possibles and small first aid kit, whatever extra clothes I felt were needed, extra pair of socks, wiggy's light waders, etc., food for the day and sometimes water, depending on whether it looked like we were not going to be passing streams, etc. for a while (my guide encouraged me not to fill my water bladder, but just carry my bottle (32 oz PowerAid bottle) and fill it when necessary which worked great and saved weight.
C. Max weight I carried was about 105 lbs or so, that included my "stuff" about 40 lbs of the meet and the skull and horns that weighed in about 35 lbs or so. The pack back was about 8 miles and it was not a lot of fun, made even less so by the fact that it was the fifth day of the hunt (we'd covered a lot of territory) and I'm 56 years young. Do I wish I had a great external frame pack for that (like my guide's)? You bet, but generally for a guided hunter who is not normally going to be carrying heavy loads often, I think a good, generally comfortable internal frame pack with otherwise great features (the gun scabbard on the J107 is really a nice one) works great at moderate loads.
Almost more important than the pack for someone that doesn't due this think every day (and even for those that do) are the trekking poles, make sure you get a good pair with baskets. They, more than the pack, will save your ass...Take care, EB

What temperature range sis you encounter and why didn't you like Smartwool?

Thank you EB for the information. "56 years young", I wish I was as fit as you!

My opinions / prejudices concerning 'real World' load carrying ability stem from my personal experience and listening to others.

I once, and only once, used a Berghaus Roc 70 litre (4268 cubic inches) internal frame backpack to take some University text books and work home for the short vacation to work on. The pack was fully loaded with 'door stopper' type thick books!

I walked about a 3/4 of a mile along pavements / sidewalks to the local metropolitan railway station. It did n't do my back, and especially my neck any good!

Additionally, having met many ex military people on shooting ranges, I am surprised how many suffer from back and knee problems. I gather this is due to the silly loads they carried when in the Marines and Paratroopers.

Now, the sharp edge of the military is circa 19 - 28 years old, based upon the BBC reports of losses in Afghanistan and Iraq. These are incredibly fit young men, maybe not medically termed 'atheletes', but at the peak of physical condition and maintained at that level.

Now, for most of us, who work behind desks - to be able to afford to go on a guided hunt etc, you are unlikely to be so fit. Therefore, without doing 'mischief' to yourself, you will be unable to carry anywhere like the same loads as the young, fit guided hunt packers or your guide.

Throw in the weight restrictions imposed by bush air taxis and you will see why I am a little sceptical. The walking across terrain - 'contouring' along slopes, going up and down hills and wading streams etc calls for good balance. From what I have read, internal frames are better for this than external frame backpacks.

Then again, the hunting community in the US do this regularly and therefore would know what you are doing. If it did n't work, the culture is not so conservative you would continue with it out of tradition - "if it was good enough for my father, and his father etc".

There is only so much information you can glean from the web, and much of it contradictory, before you are forced to talk to another human being to obtain some 'real' experience /opinions!

BTW, we often use a shepherd's type pole / staff here in the Scottish Highlands as a 'third leg' for stability when walking across contours and wading streams. It is nice to get an indication how deep the water is in advance!

Thanks again.

Wayfaring, The temps ranged from the mid 20's to the high 60's. I like the smartwool, but given the higher temps I encountered on this trip, I thought the capilene wicked better and dried faster following heavy climbs, etc. I'm going on a late season deer and elk hunt next week in Idaho, the temps will be much lower (I hope) and plan to take the smart wool along.