pack frame

[scare]

What is the correct way to put on a pack frame, for hauling out 50lb loads? I have an external frame pack, and I'm not sure what is the best way to get it mounted? Thanks for your input.
scare

[FemoralArchery]

What is the correct way to put on a pack frame, for hauling out 50lb loads? I have an external frame pack, and I'm not sure what is the best way to get it mounted? Thanks for your input.
scare

Buy it dinner first.

In all seriousness, for me at least, 50 # I can just pick it up and put it on. Sometimes its handy to have a partner. Or if the hillside is steep enough, you can sit down and stand up into the pack.

[elkmtngear]

Sometimes with a big load, I get down on my knees, put my arms in the straps, and pull it into my back as I lean forward. Once it's on my back, I'm able to stand and buckle and adjust it.

Trekking pole can help you stand, and putting it on a downed log certainly helps as well.

[RockChucker30]

50 lbs isn't really a problem. You can face the pack, grab the shoulder straps, and pick it up onto your knee, then get a shoulder into the strap and go from there.

With 100 lbs I prefer to get into it on the ground and then get to a standing position.

[cnelk]

scare
Since you posed the question about 'how' to put on a heavy pack, can it be assumed you havent done the next part and 'hiked' with a heavy pack?

Its nothing to be casual about. It is serious stuff.
Just one mis-step and things go bad for you fast.

Your steps are shorter than normal.
Your hips and back are barking at you.

To your initial question...
Have a hiking staff first! lean it against a nearby tree
Be sure your boot laces are tied tied [ You dont want to take your pack off to bend over to re-tie a boot lace and you want your boots tight]
Stand the pack up and lean it on a tree
Kneel down, right shoulder to pack
I put my right arm in first, turn a bit, then left arm.
Buckle any straps you can before you stand up - you can always adjust once when standing
Turn on your knees and face the tree, grab the tree and carefully stand up, grabbing the tree as you go up.
Adjust the pack, tighten straps buckles to feel as comfortable as you can [dont worry, it wont be comfortable long]

Get your hiking staff and take the first steps carefully

I would recommend buying some cheap bags of dog food and practicing

or

get a buddy and split the load

[sreekers]

50 lbs isn't really a problem. You can face the pack, grab the shoulder straps, and pick it up onto your knee, then get a shoulder into the strap and go from there.

With 100 lbs I prefer to get into it on the ground and then get to a standing position.

I can do the knee thing up to 100. Beyond that i need a partner to use that method.

[RockChucker30]

I can do the knee thing with 100 but I don't like to. I see guys try to manhandle heavy loads like its nothing and laugh a little......sooner or later they'll hurt something and wish they hadn't.

It's a lot easier to set the pack on the ground and get into the shoulder straps than get to all fours then stand up. And much less chance of hurting your back.

[Vanish]

Hey thanks guys! This is a thread I didn't think I would benefit from, but I nearly killed myself putting 100+ pounds on my back last year. I just did it the "normal heavy load" way, as said above: Pull pack onto one knee, rotate body into shoulder straps. I'll have to try the "on the ground" method.

Also, as said above, 50 pounds shouldn't be too hard. Its around 80 where things get ... interesting.

[pointysticks]

when i was young and dumb..i would take a 50 lb pack and grab it by the center handle. then simply lift it straight up over my head, add my other hand to the handle and simply lower it onto my shoulders.. probably one of the explanation as to why my shoulders are permanently injured.

now it is a mixture of yoga move blended with twister. not graceful at all.

100lbs..i step into it low on the ground..and get help up.

[Vanish]

Here's how I put on a mid-weight backpack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... Vl8Y#t=42s

[eltaco]

I try to use the terrain to my advantage. If you can get the pack above you, slide your shoulders under, it helps trying to stand up.... or just use your buddy or a tree

[cmeier117]

I saw one guy try and put on a 70 lb pack once by turning it around and flipping it over his head. When the pack got over his head and started to swing against his back it knocked him clean on his face!! I couldn't stop laughing and told him to do the knee thing or sit down on the ground and get into it then roll over on all 4's and stand up. Haha the look on his face was priceless!!!

[ElkNut1]

LOL!!! Cameron, I'm still laughing over that one!

ElkNut1

[Harmy]

I have a different technique that I developed when I was rock climbing with huge loads. The lift and pin method.

Two years ago I had my elk partner fall over on a steep face with his pack on containing gear with a hind and front quarter. It was quite funny looking at a human sized beetle not able to get his legs under him... At this point he was completely worked from hunting all day and from carrying this ridiculous load for a while. He could no longer stand up with the heavy pack on and had to remove it to get back up. He eventually got it back on but struggled significantly. I think he spent more energy getting the pack back on than he did carrying it the next 1/4 mile. I had the same load. It was 100 ish lbs. I could not put it on at ground level and stand up on that hill side either. As a climber I developed a different method to cheat. I find putting a super heavy pack on while it is on the ground and standing to be very difficult and hard on the knees when on steep hill sides. I do something a bit different. I drag the pack near a big tree or other object. Pick it up with both hands, legs, and any other body parts using both shoulder straps, raising it to about the right height and smashing the back of the pack against the tree or other object, effectively pinning it at the right height. While pinning the pack against the tree with my knee and hip I simultaneously rotate my upper body into the shoulder straps. Then I can shrug it up and get it into position on my shoulders. Then I fasten the hip belt and continue my suffering. Trees, rocks, your buddy, whatever all work for this method.

I had a similar lifting situation about 20 years ago while climbing to what was mentioned above. At the time I was strong, or so I thought. I just yanked the pack up onto my shoulders and ended up face down in the river. That was one lesson learned only one time...