Our recent backpack in the Wind Rivers was a terrific laboratory for lightweight equipment, much of which applies to backcountry skiing as well as hiking.
 |
|
On the trail to Shadow Lake, Wind River Mountains. Bollinger Peak and Wolf’s Head to right. Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone pack on back!
|
Consider packs. You get your load down to reasonable heft by trimming nearly everything, then weigh your pack and find out it’s the third heaviest thing you have (next to food and sleeping bag). Does it need to be that way? Not if Granite Gear (GG) can help it. Louie and I both used the GG Nimbus Ozone, a sack that only weighs 3 pounds, yet provides plenty of volume and a truly comfortable suspension system.
I’ve looked far and wide and have simply not found anything on the market that comes close to these Granite Gear packs. Sure, the less durable silnyl fabric requires thought about how you place your gear in the pack, and the lack of zippered pockets is a bit disconcerting at first. But what’s a pack for, first and foremost? It’s to mule your junk from camp to camp as easily as possible. This one does the job, and saves up to 2 pounds over many packs of comparable comfort and size. We’re inspired by this gear — excited to try some multi-day winter backcountry skiing trips with loads that resemble our day-pack weight.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
