Fascinated by a review that I saw on the Osprey Switch 36, I was forced to dig into my pile of winter tools and dust off the Osprey prototype I used all last year. Yup, I'm an Osprey junkie. I recall carrying a whole bunch of backcountry stuff in this tester so I jammed in my usual array of backcountry ski gear to see if last season was just a dream or if all that fluff really happened. Sitting here next to my glowing box of gigabytes is my Switch 36. In it is a full 3 liter reservoir of H20 with elbow valve nicely accommodated in the insulated shoulder harness. My full size Voile shovel & handle, 100mm skins, BCA probe and knee pads (yes, I'm a knee bender) are securely held in the "wet" portion of the pack. The dry portion of this pack contains my full compliment of "if the shit hits the fan" gear including: Gore-Tex jacket and full side zip pants, down parka, light gloves, heavy gloves, wool hat and neck gaiter. My goggles are neatly tucked underneath my helmet which is held snugly in place by the top pocket’s stretch material. That’s typically the most I might have with me on a cold day climbing up. On descent, much of that stuff including helmet and goggles are put to better use. When helmet less, the top pocket accommodates my skins for the ride down. It’s true that I can only carry skis on this pack because I’m snowboard challenged. Having said that, my 181cm skis carry comfortably either “A” framed or for quick ascents, diagonally. My friend, Rich took my pack to India to ski some peaks last spring and loved it up to 18,000 feet. Neither of us had problems with calf bang. Maybe snowboards are different in this regard. My experience with the pack’s carry is that it needs no load control straps. Put it on with any load and it hugs my back like a terrorized baby Koala. By the way, that granola bar…it fits in the hip belt’s spacious “420” pockets (whatever that means!) Yup, I’m an Osprey junkie…I can’t imagine why not.

I was checking out these gaiters to purchase a pair for my wife when I saw a review slamming the best gaiters I've ever owned. These puppies are bombproof and easy to use with frozen digits. My size large Exp. Crocs are too big for my size 10 leather hikers but fit my plastic mountaineering boots better than anything. I can't help wondering what the sizing issue might have been with our mountaineering buddy from Pittsburg/Boston. Here in the Rockies, these things get used pretty hard and these things fit and take a pounding with both crampons and skis.

When this pack is fully stuffed as it appears on the website or in a store it appears to hang way too far off the back to be comfortable. In truth, when it is loaded as intended, with most of the weight close to the back in the main compartment and with only snow safety gear in the "marsupial" daypack, it rides spectacularly.
The ability to organize this pack for extended hut tours or just a day of yo-yo-ing in the powder makes it wonderfully versatile.
On a 2 night, 3 day hut tour in the spring of '04 it did all of the above with aplomb. As vice president of the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance in Colorado, an advocacy organization for non-motorized backcountry travelers, I have the opportunity to spend a fair bit of time skiing the backcountry. I’ve not found a pack that does more or is as easy to organize for longer backcountry excursions than the Switch 55 + 5. Upon inspection of my pack at one of the huts last year, one of my fellow BSA board members ordered one for herself upon her return to “civilization.”
Don’t let its looks deceive you. There is a reason that this pack has won numerous awards from backcountry ski magazines and web reviewers.

My 8 year old daughter and I took our Airboards to Berthoud Pass in Colorado's high country at the end of last year's season. We climbed and boarded for about 3 hours. Hiking up has never been her strong suit prior to Airboarding. She has been asking ever since when there would be enough snow to go back for more. Think snow!