Done this a lot recently. Check with your specific airline, but generally there is 50 lb per bag limit. Extra charge for overwheight or the second bag. I usually pack my pack for the hike, then put it and any loose gear in an oversize duffel bag, up to 49 pounds. YOu can transport just about anything you will be hiking with, except fuel and matches. Pack your bottles empty and buy gas and matches at the destination. If you have nowhere to stow gear at the other end, you will have to cache the duffel and any extras somewhere. There are no lockers in most airports or bus terminals any more, so you will have to be creative about that.
If you have a base of some kind in your destination city, and you have somewhere to stash extra gear, here is a little tip that works for me. If you happen to be carrying extra gear, or a change of clothes, or a few pounds of essentials over the 50 lb limit in a smaller backpack, and if it happens to be a hair oversize for carry-on, and if you are boarding near the end of the line, gee, you just might not be able to actually carry it on and be asked to check it at the gate. Free.
