Got a good chuckle from the "how big a mountain" thing.

Personally, I tend to carry an 8 pound 338 with a McMillan stock and a hardy finish in the tall hills. Not sure I could bring myself to carry a big dollar piece up that kind of hill. Whel loaded with a backpack and camping gear I am probably not to graceful anymore ;>)

In terms of usefulness, I suspect that the 8 pound 9.3x74R double rifle would be equally useful where the ranges are under 200 yards. Would certainly not feel that rifle to be inappropriate for the intruders possible in a remote camp ... like bear.

mike