Getting that 100lb pack from the ground onto your back

[dirtshooter]

Like the title states, how are you guys getting the super heavy 100lb loads from the ground onto your back? The heaviest I've had was in the 80s and that I could lift onto my knee and swing my arm into it wildly and have it on my back in one motion but it probably wasn't the best way to do it and that was getting to my limits and I am looking for a better and probably safer way of transferring all that weight.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Get the pack above you. Buckle waist belt. Use poles to lean forward and stand up. Don’t sit down unless you’re on a hill.

 

[Undomesticated]

Work smarter, not harder. Use the terrain to your advantage, assemble your pack on a stump, steep hill etc.

 

[dirtshooter]

Get the pack above you. Buckle waist belt. Use poles to lean forward and stand up. Don’t sit down unless you’re on a hill.

I get that but am I supposed to power clean this backpack up? I know with a buddy it would be no problem to load it.

 

[dirtshooter]

Work smarter, not harder. Use the terrain to your advantage, assemble your pack on a stump, steep hill etc.

You know as simple as that sounds I did not think of it haha but you're right a stump waist high would do it.

 

[horpensky]

Interesting you bring this up, as this video literally came across my feed the other day. Is this what you do? Seems like a good strategy.

 

[dirtshooter]

Interesting you bring this up, as this video literally came across my feed the other day. Is this what you do? Seems like a good strategy.

Pretty close, same end result

Just hit my limit trying to load cape and horns recently

 

[LongWayAround]

I set the pack up on the ground.

Loosen the belt.

Sit into the shoulder straps.

Roll to my knees, if necessary.

Stand up. Shrug the traps up. Cinch the belt.

This one wasn't too bad, just as an example.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I ran into a situation this fall where I couldn't get the pack on. Got it onto my back twice using the normal technique, but both times it had too much momentum for me to remain standing. With no favorable terrain or logs around, I had no choice but to take some load off. I think the issue with this load was that it stuck too far out from my back, moreso than the weight. But it was also a huge load, the head, neck and cape were 30# and the meat yield off this buck was 90#. All meat was bone in, so conservatively in this photo you're looking at 130# with all my gear.


An elk hind quarter + backstraps is a denser load that rides tighter to my back. That type of load was no issue putting on solo, though i did have some favorable logs to help me out, i wasn't starting from the ground.

 

[Skerhunter]

^ this! Get the pack and strap in while laying on your back with your feet down hill. Roll over onto all fours and then get a leg under you and stand up (if you can’t stand up using poles). Make sure the load is strapped tight so it doesn’t shift around.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

^ this! Get the pack and strap in while laying on your back with your feet down hill. Roll over onto all fours and then get a leg under you and stand up (if you can’t stand up using poles). Make sure the load is strapped tight so it doesn’t shift around.

You would have been very amused watching me wiggle on my back like a stuck turtle trying to flip that whitetail load pictured above. It did not work.

 

[horpensky]

Pretty close, same end result

Just hit my limit trying to load cape and horns recently

I hear ya. I'm not the biggest guy. Need to call some of us other Albertans to come and help!

 

[dirtshooter]

You would have been very amused watching me wiggle on my back like a stuck turtle trying to flip that whitetail load pictured above. It did not work.

Hahaha I had the back on and it was like I was in a choke hold. Trying to wiggle my way out of it

That's a nice whitetail BTW

I'm going to have to buy another 55lb bag of salt and add it to my other bag and practice with 110lbs.... I don't want to be limited out in ability.

 

[rideold]

The start on your back method works for me. Really heavy loads I roll to my stomach instead of hands and knees and then work up from there.

 

[dirtshooter]

I hear ya. I'm not the biggest guy. Need to call some of us other Albertans to come and help!

That's right, only problem was I didn't set out to shoot something real big it just sort of happened and then the clock started ticking haha

 

[Jason Snyder]

I get that but am I supposed to power clean this backpack up? I know with a buddy it would be no problem to load it.

Sorry. I didn’t articulate that well. Get the pack above you on a hillside, stump, etc. the higher up the better.

You are basically sliding in underneath it.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Hahaha I had the back on and it was like I was in a choke hold. Trying to wiggle my way out of it

That's a nice whitetail BTW

I'm going to have to buy another 55lb bag of salt and add it to my other bag and practice with 110lbs.... I don't want to be limited out in ability.

Thanks, he was bigger than i had any reason to expect setting. A very pleasant surprise

 

[dirtshooter]

Sorry. I didn’t articulate that well. Get the pack above you on a hillside, stump, etc. the higher up the better.

You are basically sliding in underneath it.

That's making sense. In the heat of the moment I didn't really think about using the terrain. There was definitely enough hills and stumps to facilitate this haha next time I'll be more prepared.

I kept hearing all about these 100+lb loads and I'm like wtf am I doing wrong here

 

[Jason Snyder]

I kept hearing all about these 100+lb loads and I'm like wtf am I doing wrong here

I did a killer trip out of the Rubies once. Boned out mule deer buck, head, antlers, camp, hunting gear. 12ish miles. Set my pack down once on the last big descent but it was on a small flat. Darned near couldn’t get the pack back on. I had to drag it down hill to a steeper spot.

 

[98XJRC]

I've set my pack against a tree and then will sit down into the straps. Loosely fastening the hip belt and then work my way into a standing position then it's same as always. Making sure your not making quick jerky movements is critical so that your not allowing the weight to swing. Starting out flat and working up I can imagine could be a comical experience.