Thanks ppine for bringing this thread forward from the past. I must have missed it all these years.

Upstate NY has a long heritage of lightweight canoeing for many of the same reason ppine posted before... many portages, etc... There is a long history of hunters/trappers/traders using canoes for transport throughout the Adirondack region. Probably the most famous of whom is George Washington Sears aka Nessmuk. He wrote in the late 1800's,

"Go light; the lighter the better, so that you have the simplest material for health, comfort and enjoyment."

Nessmuk's full load "never exceeded 26 pounds". This included 2-days rations, and his CANOE!. All in the days before nylon, and other hi-tech fabrics. The secret was something we all here mention to others when they are looking to lighten their load. Take only what is needed and nothing more.

http://www.zianet.com/jgray/nessmuk/woodcraft/title_page.html
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