Chad McMurray
2-10-99
Patrick,
Here are my Alaska photos of the Long Hunter in action. It performed flawlessly throughout the entire season!
The Dall Ram, (37") was killed in August near Horsefeld in the Wrangell St. Elias Park in Alaska.
The L.P. tank was about one-third full when this picture was taken. I was packing it up to the airstrip to be flown out and refilled (3/4 mi. from camp). They weigh about 85 lbs. empty and this one had 45 or so lbs. of L.P. left in it. I had pushed one of these tanks in a wheelbarrow and was not happy about it. So the next one I strapped on my pack frame, laced it up tight and even with the unwieldy nature of this tank, the frame kept the load centered and me right on my way even through Horsefeld Creek. No Problem!
Over the summer I used the pack to travel from Tn. to Alaska by train, truck, bus, ferry and airplane without incident. I used the pack, whole carried by myself and strapped to pack horses with my gear and carried all manner of gear, equipment, groceries, horsefeed, Dall Sheep, fuel tanks and other assorted stuff without any problem. I used the whole pack getting to camp and then took it apart and used the pack frame, top pack and gunbearer to accompany the guide and hunter. The gunbearer is wonderful. Carrying out a heavy load, walking in, often following grizzly tracks in the creek bottom with low visibility and a pack soaked in Dall Ram blood and scent from the day before, made me very happy that I had my rifle with me and could get it to my shoulder so quickly and could carry it in the gunbearer so unobstructively.
I also carried my pack elk hunting in N. Mexico though the guide and I packed out my bull on mules and horses. It performed well in the Gila and in that dry climate the Platypus was super.
By the way, thank you for responding to my order so quickly last year, you had the pack to me in about half of your asked for 6 weeks and just in time for my Alaska departure.
Thanks again, if there is anything I can do, don't hesitate to call.
Chad McMurray