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I am training with my backpack for an upcoming trip to Alaska. Basically, I am doing 2 things at the present. I am climbing a near by hill for an hour or so with 65 pounds. On Sundays, I am going for a long hike (8-10 miles) with the weight reduced to 50 pounds. I am noticing a problem consistently that I need help on. When I put the pack on, I take great care to make sure all of the straps are adjusted evenly. I notice (first) on my right hip that it feels as if there is more pressure on the hip. Later on, I feel as if the right side has more of the weight. This is in spite of checking all of the straps, making sure they are identical lengths on both sides. A couple of hours ago, I finished my normal Sunday long hike and had the same issues. When I went to get in the shower, I noticed red marks on the right side of my chest, right shoulder and on the right side of my back. What do you think causes this? I have a theory but I will withhold it until I hear the opinions of those who know far more than me. Thanks! | ||
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That's a lot of weight if it's really concentrated (like if you're hauling a couple bags of lead shot) so if it shifts just a bit, it can really throw off the balance. Your gait can do that too, if you take shorter strides with one leg or the other. And if you're using a single trekking pole, the motion on one side can move things around. In general, if you're feeling the weight on one side too much, you need to repack to where the weight feels centered. Red marks on one side is a bad sign. One other thing it could be is the frame isn't bent correctly to match your back. I'm assuming no scoliosis, quality pack, good boots all that stuff. Carrying that much weight, no matter who it is, is a matter of getting the fit just right. And rarely, very rarely do all my straps measure the exact same. Adjust it until it feels good. The when it doesn't feel good, re adjust. If I am working, hunting season is too far away to imagine. If I am getting things ready for hunting season, opening day is perilously close. | |||
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What pack are you using and what does the suspension look like? ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Barney's. | |||
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Let me add what is in the pack . There is an old heavy sleeping bag in the bottom. Some dumb bells and sand bags. There is a 10 pound medicine ball. Also , 3 bottles of low calorie Gatorade. My personal guess is that some of this is shifting when I put the pack on. | |||
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That's a good guess Larry, especially if you're putting it on one strap at a time. I like to use gallon water jugs or They're big, weigh 8lbs each, and are bulky enough that they don't shift easily. Plus, if you're on a long hike and don't have the juice to finish, you can dump some out and reduce the weight. Nothing you carry will be as dense as iron weights, so you want to try to recreate the balance of the pack to as close as possible to the actual contents you'll carry. This includes bulk. The way you pack is almost as important as how much weight. Heavy stuff towards the middle or lower part of your back. You're trying to match your normal center of gravity. | |||
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Mine rides like a dream and that included weighing over 100 pounds coming out with gear and Sheep split up between Brett, Jena and me. That memory foam yoke on the Barney's pack is the bomb. Try packing your pack with the gear you are going to use, especially the outside pockets. You will get used to were everything is quicker. I also used half gallon water jugs for added weight. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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This is why I am not going on the hunt with you  Mike | |||
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 Come on Mike. There is still time! | |||
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I have a Barney's and it's a good pack but fairly heavy. I bought a Stone Glacier (they are made in Bozeman, Larry) and they are much lighter but still handle the weight well. You can save some serious weight and I've found the SG is more comfortable for me. I'm happy to ship you mine if you want to check it out and try it or let me know if you'll be up here for work and I'll get it to you to check out if you're interested. Just a thought. Chris | |||
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Chris: I may be in MT late next week. I will let you know. | |||
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Bereta682E...... That made me laugh!!! Thank you. Ski+3 | |||
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Heck Larry! Ring me up if you are near Kalispell MT. We can share training stories. I leave for Azerbaijan June 11th.  Ski+3 | |||
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If I go, it will be to Helena. Waiting on clients to tell me. At least you have mountains and hills to train on. | |||
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Larry, Sounds good, give me a shout if you're headed this way. Chris | |||
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Larry, My sheep hunting was a long time ago but the basics are the basics. My last hunt in the Wrangells I was training at the end with 85# and I just don't believe there is a way to make that comfortable. No matter what I did my thighs became numb and stayed that way long after the hunt. We did get our sheep though. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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Honestly, I believe the things in my pack were shifting. This was compounded by me not stopping to adjust things as they loosened up. Now that I have taken time to secure things as much as possible, it is much better. I am up to 67 pounds. I am thinking of how much higher I will go if any more at all. | |||
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Two guys and one sheep is a breeze. Each will have about 80lbs on the way out to include all gear. No sense in training for that much weight. If you can pack 50-60 lbs for hours, that 80lbs will not be an issue. Personally I see little value in training with excessive weight. The odds of injury increase dramatically the more weight you add on. A stumble, or a slip is all it takes, and you're done. I pack up to about 40-60lbs when "training" in the summer depending on where I'm hiking. For a guided hunt, the most you'd probably have to pack is 1/2 a sheep, if that, unless you wanted to do more. Of the nearly dozen rams I've been around, the average weight of meat/head/cape is about 80-85lbs. I'd think pretty hard about making two trips to get all gear and meat out. | |||
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Get an extra guy to carry the packs! An extra wrangler is not too expensive unless you have to share a tent with him.... | |||
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I have 2 guides, one of which will no doubt act as a packer. It is a 2 days hike to get to the valley. It is going to be tough regardless. I would far rather be prepared than under prepared. | |||
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My hats off to you for taking the time to train properly. I don't think it's possible to be in too good a shape to hunt sheep or goat. The terrain will smoke you no matter what you do. I used one full and one partially filled bag of water softener rock salt the last time I trained for a sheep hunt. They come in 40 lb bags. Didn't shift around too much. | |||
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My pack with gear and 7 days food was 57 pounds counting rifle, ammo, and three liters of water. That would mean my "half of a sheep would have to weigh 30 pounds (if I ate or dumped all my food) to be at the 80 pound mark. Even boned out and leaving cape and horns in the field (which isn't happening) I don't think you can get a sheep down to 60 pounds even boned but I guess I could be wrong. Found this on the internet.... Five of the rams we weighted (easter Brooks Range) were from 200 to 220 "live" weight; hanging weights close to 100 each and boned all about 80. Hanging weights were about 50 percent of the "live" weights and boned weights 80 percent of the hanging weights. Eighty pounds of boned meat from a mature ram (at least in the Brooks Range) is a good "ball park" figure for estimating how much meat will have to be transported. Certainly important information for making the decision of "where, when, and how much" can be harvested. These sheep were weighted in their entirety, including entails. All were mature, full curl plus rams. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Thanks. At age 60, I have to. | |||
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