+1 to cursing, sweating, and scratching up the stays. But obviously, where there's a will (or an unwillingness to walk) there's a way. It seems to me I've used a technique that involves getting one end of the axle more or less placed, then gripping the frame stays in the fingers of both hands (one on the chain stay, one on the seat stay, duh) and then pressing on the hub with my thumbs and maneuvering the axle into location that way.
If we're just talking about a flat tire, remember that you don't need to take the wheel off the frame to patch it. Removing the wheel from my Fothergill is such a PITA, and putting it back in is worse, that I always patch flats this way if at all possible.
I've had little luck patching in the field. Probably because my eyes have trouble finding the patch, let alone the hole. It took me ten years to admit I needed reading glasses. I have another few before I'll admit I need to pack them in spare tire kit.
