One caution is necessary in selecting this type of packing apparatus. The shoulder straps must lead from a common center near the front and top of the pack and they may then attach as usual to each lower corner. The advantage in this single point suspension is this—if the straps hug close to the neck of the packer there is not the down drag or tire which would be the case were the straps nearer the points of the shoulders.
The pack harness is good for transporting an outfit provided one does not have to open the pack on the trail much—a procedure taking up too much time. In making up such a pack the blanket and shelter are made into a compact elongated bundle. The loose articles of camp duffle, mess kit, food bags, and extras are shoved into a specially made sack of light waterproof stuff of say twelve by thirty-six inch dimensions and with a tight-fitting top. The two bundles are placed side by side and the pack straps secured about them. The pack harness with the tump line combination is the best style to use if one prefers not to use one of the pack sacks.
The pack basket of wicker can be at once eliminated as it is too clumsy and bulky for our purpose and further it is not waterproof. It however fits very nicely into lithographs of supposedly ideal camp scenes. Being nonexpandable it limits the bulk of outfit. It is nevertheless popular with a certain class of New England outdoor men.
THE BELMORE BROWNE PACK STRAP
An ingenious packing apparatus has been perfected by Belmore Browne of the Parker-Browne Mt. McKinley Expedition of 1910. It consists of a padded canvas yoke which fits over the breast and shoulders of the wearer and the yoke ends connect by small stout ropes to the pack much the same as with a regulation tump line. The size of the pack regulates the length of the lash rope.
This pack strap is made very simply after
