a while ago someone posted an illustration of a kayak yoke attached to what appeared to be a backpack frame.

You could do something similar. Envision this: a backpacker with an external frame backpack. Poles extend from the left and right sides of the frame for a distance of about 18 inches. These poles connect to sockets on the cockpit of the kayak. The kayaker puts on the backpack frame, lifts an end of the kayak from the ground and walks to the center of the boat, pushing the end of the boat up into the air at a steeper angle as he procedes. When the boat is nearly vertical the kayaer is under the cockpit. he lets the boat down only a few inches, catching the cockpit on those extension poles on his pack. The point where the poles connect to the cockpit should be very near the balancing point of the kayak, so that the end of the boat which is on the ground can be easily raised. With the boat balanced almost perfectly little effort is needed to keep it at an angle that allows the kayaer to see where he is going. After the portage, one end of the boat is tilted to the ground, the boat is lifted slightly to remove it from the backpack, and the kayaker walks to the end, lowering the boat as he moves.

If there is a short rope attacked to the end of the kayak, the paddler can don two packs -- one on the back pack frame, and one carried on the front, alowing the paddler to remain erect under a balanced load. Using the rope, the end of the kayak can be lifted high enough that the kayaker can grip it, without having to bend over -- which would be difficult with two packs on. As long as the weight is balanced the paddler can carry a substantial load. the use of a pack frame allows the weight of the boat and some of the gear to be carried on the hips,back and shoulders, rather than cutting into just the shoulders.

PGJ