Sled vs. pack quandry........

I share our moderator's concerns--sometimes a sled is impractical in the NE wilderness--trees too tight and twisy and windy with double fall lines--the ultimate sled challenge--we did the AT in Baxter on winter next to the East Branch of the Penobscot..........with a continous double fall line....brutal.......
That is why your design GV is so interesting--it's a pack, no it's a sled--brilliant....

I have to say that for (and now I realize that I have made a piece of gear way before my new silk liner--see make your own gear section for some self praise <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) minimal amounts of money I have made a fabulous sled that works well, is indestructable and is easy to make--the kid's sled and I use rope to go around the edges (all three) and then attach to the pulling system with carabiners..........takes care of the wear and tear at the major source of failure for my friends' setups........

One does need something to act as a spacer; to keep the sled off your skis and on the downhill to keep it from running you over........you could use rope and then cut pieces of PVC pipe--so it breaks down and is carriable when you use the sled as a pack........

my original sled is a two person........I will go to a one person sled and use it as a clamshell so that it can be carried and break up my PVC......

carbon fiber poles will bend I think.......I used a friend's mountainsmith already made up costs a fortune sled (he's a radiologist) and the poles were aluminum--aircraft grade--no lighter than PVC and rope..........