Quote Originally Posted by TwoSpirits View Post
Didn't lose me -- I look forward to your trip reports. I enjoy seeing and hearing about the many different places you hike, the challenges you encounter, and the different people you meet. Ultra-lighters zooming thru the AT are a dime a dozen. I love this stuff.
Thanks for the positive input.

Quote Originally Posted by LoneStranger View Post
Sometimes UL means Ultra Loader

I really would love to watch you put that thing on. I have tossed up packs north of 70lbs, but it takes real skill to toss 100lbs up there and not tear off an arm.
No arms involved in my on-pack procedure---I just sit down, put on the shoulder straps and tighten then shift the load up on a half-way squat and Step 3 is lifting the load from half-squat to full stand. The standing part is where the weight really registers as in---Can my thighs and legs actually lift it?? I asked Chadd the SEAL about putting on a 300 lb load and he always did it from a sitting position---and often helped up by a friendly hand from a buddy.

And what's really odd is once the pack is on my back I don't have any problem moving forwards even on steep climbs. And of course during the course of a trip the pack gets much lighter.

Quote Originally Posted by TwoSpirits View Post
In the movie "Wild" there is a classic scene where she struggles to put on and stand up with her massive Beast of a pack. I laughed so hard because yeah, that was me once (with 50lbs.) I wouldn't take my pack off for breaks during the day because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get up again! I can't even imagine 100lbs.
As with anything, you get used to strapping on a heavy pack and letting your core muscles do most of the work. Sitting down and taking off such a heavy pack can be sketchy---but what a relief. Negotiating bad blowdowns can really suck with a ginormous pack---as the pack wants to twist left or right and take you with it.