A great read if you haven't, old school.

From OF MEN AND MOUNTAINS.

William O Douglas

"We took great pride in these packs. We did not know about ruck
sacks or pack baskets, so we never used them. Once I tried the pack
board with the forehead strap ? and once the Nelson pack. But I
found the horseshoe roll more to my liking. Each would take one-
half of a canvas pup tent which would serve as the outside cover
of the roll. Inside would be the blankets (two in each pack) and the
food. And we designed a method for carrying food that suited our
needs. We took the inside white cotton bag of a sugar sack, washed
it, and then had Mother, by stitching it lengthwise, make three bags
out of one. We d fill these long, narrow, white bags with our food
supplies. The sacks, when filled, would roll neatly up with the
blankets. Each end of the roll would be tied with rope, later to be
used for pitching the pup tent. Then the roll could be slipped over
the head onto the shoulder.

We could not pack fresh meat, not only because of its weight but
because it wouldn t keep. Canned goods, ham, and bacon were too
heavy to carry. We would, however, take along some bacon-rind for
grease. We d substitute a vial of saccharin for sugar and thus save
several pounds. Into one white sack we would put powdered milk;
into another, beans. We d fill one with flour already mixed with salt
and baking powder and ready for hot cakes or bread. In another we
would put oatmeal, cream of wheat, or corn meal. One sack would
be filled with dried fruit prunes or apples. Another would contain
packages of coffee, salt, and pepper. Usually we would take along
some powdered eggs.

On the outside of our packs would be tied a frying pan, coffee
pot, and kettle. One of us usually would strap on a revolver; the



INDIAN FLAT 25 MILES 69

other would carry a hatchet. Each would have a fishing rod and
matches. Thus equipped, each pack would weigh between 30 and
60 pounds, depending on the length of the trip planned.

We also took along a haversack which we alternated in carrying.
In it were our plates, knives, forks, spoons, lunch, and other items
we wished to keep readily available. It hung by a shoulder strap on
the hip opposite from the horseshoe pack. The one who carried it
was indeed well loaded. "