Thanks for all the replies everyone! It really makes it worthwhile putting this stuff up to know others get into it 🙂
d45yth – I didn’t know there were so many bikepacking forums! I’ll have to sign up there…
kennyp – The packraft weighs approx 2.7 kilos, the paddle about 800 grams, and the PFD about 500 (plus knife, PLB and emergency kit another 500 I guess), so thats about 4.5 kilos all in at a rough guess. I found it doesn’t make much difference on flat or gentle incline, but as things get steeper, I really notice the extra weight, especially once you add in the camping stuff, food, camera, radio, etc etc. So with say an extra 10 kilos, that is a consideration for sure on hills. Walking it felt fine TBH, and the weight was distributed in 4 places – handlebars, framebag, rear rack, and rucksack, so it was very balanced.
13thfloormonk – I have to say, I was not planning on rock climbing either. As I went down the glen, I was thinking to myself “this is crazy”. I don’t think I could have gone back the way without a herculean effort, and that slab would have really been hard to climb up!