Last year was my first year for elk hunting in the mountains. I started in late spring, hiked at least once a week. Started out with about 25 lbs, and worked up to about 55-60. I feel I did pretty good in the mountains. The only thing I can really say kicked my butt in the mountains, was blow down. That was something completely new to me, and never really heard about it. We packed in 6 miles, set up camp, and hunted from their. We did not have success, so can’t say how I would have been packing out an elk.