xsea

So when I went up to stevens a couple days ago I saw a lot of people with backpacks on groomed runs. (especially the green runs)
Is this a fashion trend or what?

poutanen

Yes, and I don't get it. A small minority of people actually have a need to take stuff on the hill, otherwise it's asinine...

reasons TO carry a backpack:
- you have a DSLR in there and plan to use it
- you are doing a warmup run or two before head to lift accessible B/C
- that's about all I can think of... anything else should be able to stay in your car or the lodge

xsea

What made it worse was the fact that they kept falling down.
I'd guess that the backpack kinda throws you off your balance.

Donutz

I tried carrying a backpack last year when I was taking transit a lot. After a while I started locking it up in the lodge lockers. Just too much of a PITA unless you've got stuff you need on an ongoing basis ($1 each time you open the locker)

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Mountain Days: 30

chronicsmoke

We just recently started carrying a bag.. Only for the lock, pipe or small BG, and 3 or 4packs of budweiser coldshots.

Sucks having to go back to the truck to blaze or pound a beer, this way we have them with us, accessible every chair.

Riding with the bag kinda sucks though, we switch every few runs.

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Days out 2012/13 Season:31

poutanen

Not to sound like an old fart, but you gotta get out to some hills where you won't want to drink or smoke until you're done riding for the day!

chronicsmoke

Haha I know what you're talking about, but it's a neccessity here on the East Coast

I'm dying to get out west. I have a few buddies that live in Calgary and ride quite a bit and they make sure to rub it in..

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Days out 2012/13 Season:31

brucew.

i've been riding with one this year unless i can get a really good parking spot. i dont like carrying stuff in my pockets so i use my backpack for water, cell phone, little bit of food, safety meeting materials, screwdriver. im sure i look like a gaper but it beats heading back to the lodge or the car all the time

corneilli

Here in Europe, a lot of people carry backpacks. When we are on the pist, we don't return to our hotel untill the pists are closed, so normally I have a lock, some food (sometimes I eat in a restaurant, sometimes just picknick), some water and an extra layer. I have like the smallest bagback to fit it all in and it doesn't throw me off balance.

Treegreen

This. If I'm up there with family and friends I typically keep it for water/layers/wallet/whatever, and don't wear one otherwise. Also, why would it mess up your balance? If that were true no one would every go into the back country. Sure there is some adjustment with a heavy pack on when you're carrying a probe/shovel/layers/whatever, but even that's not a huge deal and no one is just bumming around the resort with that kind to gear in tow.

Frankly, I don't get why people who wear them just tootling around stir up such a big fashion debate.