need help on rigging shovel for carrying

Any advice/pictures on rigging a shovel to carry on one's back when going ultra light? Over the years I have seen folks with webbing and bunjees systems that looked pretty slick but now I can't remember how they did it.
Thanks!

If you've got holes in your shovel blade already, this kind of setup works pretty well:



I've seen plenty of shovels rigged with "semi-permanent" cord or webbing tied through the holes, so you can carry it easily and still use it without untying the cord.  Doesn't seem to get in the way for digging too much.  Add in a couple of voile straps to secure your probe to the handle and you're good to go...

If you like to sew, or can spend money, Mystery Ranch makes a nice minimal shovel and ski harness that you could copy or buy. It's called the "Broomstick" under their "skiing and snowboarding" category.

www.mysteryranch.com/recreation/skiing-s...acks/broomstick-pack

I've improvised one several times with a triple runner and a carabiner. Girth or clove hitch to the handle then put the ends through the holes in the blades and clip it off. Works great.

If I were using it regularly, I would probably make something out of some 4 or 5mm cord since a runner would become unsafe for climbing after continuous abrasion over the edge of the shovel blade. If I know I'm headed somewhere with light in mind, I just use a really small, lightweight pack as I think it is far more versatile.

I've seen the shovel rig done with accessory cord from each shovel hole up to the handle.

This gent (video @ 2:37, 3:20) makes it work.

If using a pack, the REI Flash 18's claimed weight is 80% that of the Broomstick, and it costs less than half as much. Made in China, not Montana. My older BCA Traverse shovel just fits the 18, width-wise, but there's room for skins/water/jacket too. Diagonal carries skis in a pinch with a couple straps. Sack with straps. Got the idea from Dane .

For more capacity at nigh-equal weight, Silas uses one of these packs .

Thanks to all for the info. Looks like I was on the right track. I'm headed out on a traverse. Will be carrying a big heavy pack, needing to rig up the shovel for the times that we will drop the packs for a nice little 800-1500 ft run, returning quickly to the pack for the rest of the day. Probe is in the handle, skins in the jacket. Back to the pack in less than an hour.