New pack : Alpine Dump Skimo pack

Alpine Dump Ski Pack

This is a design I have had in the back of my mind for over a year. I finally took the time to build a prototype just to see if it would work. I think it's 85% ok.

The first time you do anything creative is difficult, because you’re not just grappling with trying to get the desired outcome from the building blocks you’ve got, but also the entire mechanical process of things. There are experiments that yield results that move you for reasons you don’t quite understand, and unfortunately cannot repeat; and others that fail completely.

Ming Thein

this is a first round sample of the Alpine Dump Ski Pack. obviously it can be set up for more than just skiing but i'll get to set up in a bit. For a long time i have been getting requests for a ski pack with a opening back panel, like other ski mo brands offer. These designs have never made sense to me for several reasons: the lack of a functional back pad, the lack of load control, a zipper on your pack in hot weather. I can see why people like it the full access but on the harness side of a pack didn't work for me.

We have had the discussion a couple of times that creative people should take a month off from creating for others/money every year and focus on things they wanted to create. I can't easily take a month off to do that, but I am taking time now to tryout new ideas.

I build a lot of pack with the side access zipper, many with the dedicated ski carriers. I had always thought a zippered opening pack panel would work better than a single zip for access in an emergency. I wanted to not only make avalanche tools readily accessible, but everything else in the pack, yet not take away from proper carrying ability. I am not the first to have a design like this. Lowe alpine used to have a smaller hatch opening on their Specialist packs series, but was too small to be useful and it had way to much velcro.

What's Different:

the hatch is two full length #10 YKK utrek water resistant zippers. there is a G hook at the top, and dual compression straps, to take strain off the zippers when closed and packed full. over the opening is foam stiffened velcroed flap with a pull tab. on the back side of this panel ,inside the pack, is a sleeve for your shovel handle and probe. there is a sewn in sling for your shovel blade so it can be immediately deployed when you tear open the hatch.The lid is sewn on in the back. it can be stuffed into the pack for more helmet clearance. it's not big.

The Set Up:

volume 40-50L. this sample , which I built to personally use, is built in Ultra 400/200. it has dual ice tool carriers, short tool attachments daisies with Voile Nano straps( available for any pack. just tell me), sewn on ski carrier slots for Voile straps. I'd put more on but only had one black in stock. 2'' webbing waist belt, fully 44"x11" bivy pad. flat pocket on the underside of the lid. full snow skirt.

for a dedicated skimo pack I'd leave off the ice tool carriers, ad a single axe loop, line the lid underside pocket with fleece for your goggles.I'd add loops for external helmet carrier if wanted.

It can easily come with a removable padded hip belt if prefered. i prefer 2" seat belt web for winter specific packs. diagonal carry is an option of course. the only issue is the pack length. to fit a probe it needs to be a certain length, so shorter torsos , less than 15", may have issues with a ski helmet. it can be made in a smaller volume, down to 35L, the trade off is the hatch will be narrower.

cost is similar to other packs i build but I need to build one or two more to get faster. this took 3 days to sort out and make patterns., corrections, and figure out how it would work and go together.

below are the photos with all the details.

On a sadder note my friend Bill Amos announced he is shutting down NWalpine. we have a handful of NWalpine/Alpine luddites Black spider hoodies left.

JC

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