Refining what I carry on my back has been a backcountry quest.  Finding multi purpose items like the ever functional ski strap to a yellow wax that can be used on skis and skins is an obsession of mine. I have whiled away hours on the skin track debating the contents of my pack (ski crampons, no hard shell except on wet storm days) and the reasons for my selections.

My every day ski pack is a Dueter Freeride 28L.  I ski in a soft shell jacket, soft shell pants, spring weight gloves with or without wool glove liners that are at the ready in my pant pocket and my transceiver is worn snug against my body.  My pack is always loaded in the same order allowing quick and efficient access, in any conditions, to what I may need. Starting in the waist belt pockets are suckers and lip balm, 2 things I use often to combat a dry throat from cold air and a lot of talking. The fleece lined top pocket holds my cell phone, in airplane mode or off, non-prescription sunglasses, bandana, a bar or quick snack, inclinometer and my small Pieps beacon checker.  If I am skiing in a new area, my topo map and compass are also in this pocket. The bottom of the main compartment of my pack begins with ski crampons protecting my goggles which are stored in a neck gaiter, heavy gloves, rolled up Arc’Teryx Atom LT hoody, my favorite Sierra Avalanche Center sun visor on the right side of the hoody, SAC beanie on the left side of the hoody, 1 or 2 Nalgenes of warm water (helps to melt snow added after drinking), thermos of tea with honey, cookies and lunch on top.

The gear compartment starts with my shovel and probe.  In the void made by the blade of my shovel is my snow study kit, ruler and my McGyver bag.  Mr. McGyver has a multi use tool, headlamp, ski scraper, 2 ski straps, 2 zip ties, small amount of duct tape, bivy sack, soft yellow wax, hand warmers (which were very helpful during a self rescue), extra Dynafit skin attachment and waterproof matches.  First aid is in another bag in a dedicated zippered pocket and has sunscreen, gauze bandages (good as fire tinder), first aid tape, bandaids, blister pads, alcohol wipes, Clotfast, aspirin, Aleve, Benadryl and Vicodin. I’m happy I haven’t had to use the Clotfast and happy I was carrying Vicodin the day my ankle broke on the tippy top of Rose Knob Peak.  The final zippered interior pocket contains a tiny NEMO wallet with cash and my driver’s license, 3 good luck coins and my car keys secured to a clip. The cash is important if you end up someplace different than your starting location and you need a Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA, lucky coins because you can never have too much good luck and secured keys after that deep day in 2011 when my partner lost her car key during a transition, we think.

The next time you mindlessly pick up your ski pack, make a quick mental inventory of the contents and review the value of the each and every item.  Ask your partners what they are carrying. Be open to the discussion, it’s all fun and our choices are based on personal experience, like me choosing to carry ski crampons over a hard shell.  Not sorry to say my great friend DCF, MD is wrong.