We are a group of eight in four canoes going in mid-September for 7 days via EP 23 (Mudro Lake) to do the Crooked Lake Loop which has quite a few portages. The community gear (kitchen area tarp, water filtration system, 4 gal collapsible water jug, filet knife, lightweight aluminum griddle, camp saw, etc.) will be divided between equally between the four canoes so our part of that won't much.

My canoe partner and I are experienced lightweight backpackers with good quality gear and are planning to single portage on the trip. We will be packing a kevlar canoe (42ish lbs), an ultralight campstove, two small fuel canisters, blow up sleeping pads, down sleeping bags, minimal extra clothing, a couple of fishing rods, a small tackle tray, etc. We are taking a heavier (7 lbs) 3 person tent for a bit of extra room.

Each of us are taking dehydrated and freeze dried meals in zip lock bags packed inside separate bear vaults. We are both in our early 60s, in pretty decent shape for our ages and we live close to each other so we can pack our gear together prior to leaving home here in Tennessee.

Our primary question: Is it reasonable to fit all of our gear in two 70L Sealline Boundary waterproof rolltop packs with one pack being pretty light to be carried with the canoe and the other pack carrying the rest or should I be shopping for a larger 100+L pack?

I loaned my bear vaults to my brother and won't get them back until the end of May so I can't figure this out in person right now. Hoping for some experienced help here as I don't want to miss out on a deal for a larger 100+L pack in the meantime if I need one.

Sounds like you are on the right track.

We do similar - in each canoe, we have two packs. One heavy, with community stuff plus one person's personal gear. Second, smaller pack with only personal gear for the other paddler.

Light pack + canoe for one, heavy pack for the other, off we go.

I do think you may need more than 70L for the heavy pack if you follow this strategy, though it might be possible.

And I confess: sometimes we 1.5 portage early in the trip.

My partner and I paddled a loop from EP 23 Mudro Lake through Crooked Lake in a tandem canoe. We single portaged, each carrying a 70L internal frame backpack, a bear canister, a paddle and a PFD. The canoe was the only shared item. I carried the canoe, my starting equipment portage weight was about 100 lbs. and his was about 45 lbs.

IMHO your suggested plan is reasonable unless your intention is to fit all the equipment including the bear canisters and PFDs inside the 70L packs. We carried the bear canisters and PFDs outside of the backpacks.

Tomcat: "My partner and I paddled a loop from EP 23 Mudro Lake through Crooked Lake in a tandem canoe. We single portaged, each carrying a 70L internal frame backpack, a bear canister, a paddle and a PFD. The canoe was the only shared item. I carried the canoe, my starting equipment portage weight was about 100 lbs. and his was about 45 lbs.


IMHO your suggested plan is reasonable unless your intention is to fit all the equipment including the bear canisters and PFDs inside the 70L packs. We carried the bear canisters and PFDs outside of the backpacks. "

We really need to fit the bear vaults in the packs as they would be a challenge to carry separately while trying to also single portage, but the PFDs would be carried externally in some form or fashion.

sns: "Sounds like you are on the right track.


We do similar - in each canoe, we have two packs. One heavy, with community stuff plus one person's personal gear. Second, smaller pack with only personal gear for the other paddler.


Light pack + canoe for one, heavy pack for the other, off we go.


I do think you may need more than 70L for the heavy pack if you follow this strategy, though it might be possible.


And I confess: sometimes we 1.5 portage early in the trip."

I agree with this. We are similar as well. Even the 1.5 early on…don’t be afraid to back off and slow down. Sometimes it takes bit to get your portage legs under ya and at the beginning the packs are the heaviest and we are at our weakest.

T

My vote would be for the 100L-sized pack for the second option for both weight and volume reasons...and because it's another piece of gear to get!

GunnyJC: "

Tomcat: "My partner and I paddled a loop from EP 23 Mudro Lake through Crooked Lake in a tandem canoe. We single portaged, each carrying a 70L internal frame backpack, a bear canister, a paddle and a PFD. The canoe was the only shared item. I carried the canoe, my starting equipment portage weight was about 100 lbs. and his was about 45 lbs.

IMHO your suggested plan is reasonable unless your intention is to fit all the equipment including the bear canisters and PFDs inside the 70L packs. We carried the bear canisters and PFDs outside of the backpacks. "

We really need to fit the bear vaults in the packs as they would be a challenge to carry separately while trying to also single portage, but the PFDs would be carried externally in some form or fashion."

Zip the PFDs on the seats of the canoe. Just make it part of the rhythm of the portage. Step out of the canoe and zip the PFD on the seat immediately.

I use a 70 L. waterproof pack, though a different brand. I carried the larger size bear barrel on a solo trip. My concern is that it would be too bulky in the pack especially with a larger tent. I haven't used my barrel since it's first use. It did make a great seat and I packed other items in it as foods diminished.

There is a single carry portage technique thread that may be of interest. Your September entry should allow you time to develop a technique that works for you. I have no issues with single carrying a canoe, paddles, PFD, equipment pack, and food pack.

Here is how we did it and plan to do it again. Like I think you are, we had three packs. One personal (each) and one we shared. We first lashed fishing poles and maybe a paddle to the thwarts so they are out of the way and don't snag on things during the portage. I put my pack on and then took my thwart bag and hooked it to my pack's sternum strap. You can see it in the below photo with the map case on it. I then hoisted the canoe and made sure I had the stern strap to help with balance. With a stern strap, things are much easier. My buddy put his personal pack on, then our shared pack on his front. Made a pack sandwich. He used his paddle for a walking stick when safety was on the line but otherwise just carried it. I think we threw both of our life jackets over the top of his personal pack, but I'd have to check photos for that.
This worked for normal portages. If things were too slick or this or that we would adjust and take two trips. Normally this would only happen along the trail where I didn't feel right carrying all of that and still staying safe on slick rocks, mud, etc. I did not want to force a single portage and have too high of a risk of injury to myself or the canoe.

I suggest attaching PFDs to the fronts of packs with small s-biners. On uneven terrain one has to pay at least 3-4 times (in effort) for balancing extra weight attached to the canoe extremities. Life jackets are not that light - 2 of them weigh at least 3-4lbs. Likewise, it's much more convenient to tie a short portage rope to the front thwart than a long one to the bow carrying handle. And the portage rope makes some real difference when canoe is carried together with a heavy pack: it allows to keep your hands semi-free at your waist instead of gripping gunwales, using muscles already loaded by shoulder straps.

On a 2017 trip down the Allanwater/Kopka Rv system in Canada we encountered 2 guys who did about 120 miles of this trip in 9 days while single portaging. Their gear was 1-60 liter food barrel, 1 #4 portage pack and 2-day packs. When they portaged they left their day packs in the canoe with each of them carrying the food barrel or #4 pack on their backs while both carried the RX canoe by the handles at the stems.

They explained this is how they travelled on their trips since one of them was still working and had limited time off. Kind of a demanding way to trip but they did it

Thanks everyone for the great input and as a result decided to get a bigger bag.

North 49 Waterproof Canoe Pack 120L - https://a.co/d/hzWmjV2

Looks like some people have issues with the plastic buckles/clips breaking but otherwise seems pretty well reviewed and for the price I can replace them in advance and still feel good about the purchase.

EddyTurn: "I suggest attaching PFDs to the fronts of packs with small s-biners. On uneven terrain one has to pay at least 3-4 times (in effort) for balancing extra weight attached to the canoe extremities. Life jackets are not that light - 2 of them weigh at least 3-4lbs. Likewise, it's much more convenient to tie a short portage rope to the front thwart than a long one to the bow carrying handle. And the portage rope makes some real difference when canoe is carried together with a heavy pack: it allows to keep your hands semi-free at your waist instead of gripping gunwales, using muscles already loaded by shoulder straps."

I've tried the various connection points and I like the bow carrying handle the best. I also use this same strap for lining or pulling, etc. Obviously each person has to go with what feels and works the best for them.

Why the concern with single portaging? Are you in a race? Portaging is part of the experience, take two trips and chill its nice to stretch your legs anyhow.....

nooneuno: "Why the concern with single portaging? Are you in a race? Portaging is part of the experience, take two trips and chill its nice to stretch your legs anyhow....."

I am in my 60's and not really focused on speed, but I am focused on walking less distance due to my achy arthritic knees. I am hoping by going pretty lightweight that single portaging isn't too hard on my knees, but if it is we can easily convert to doing the 1.5 portage technique.

A technique I've used before single portaging a tandem canoe when the portages are long is to pack 2 packs, evenly weighted. PFDs get strapped wherever, the canoe or a pack. One starts with the canoe and the other with the paddles/rods. Whenever the one with the canoe gets tired, just set the front down and scoot back enough for person #2 to step in front, get under the thwart and take off. Person #1 then picks up the rods and paddles and follows along until its time to swap again. With practice this swap can take just a few seconds.