Mystery Ranch Gallatin Peak 40 Ski Touring Pack?

[Poser]

I'm in the market for a new backcountry ski touring pack as I hate all 3 ski specific packs that I own: Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32, BCA Float 42 and a Scott airbag. They don't fit me that well, they lack capacity and don't carry weight well at all. I tried to make the SG Avail work as well, but the A frame carry loops aren't wide enough for my splitboard in ski mode, no helmet attachment and lack of dedicated pocket for avy gear is questionable from a safety standpoint.

Looking at this MR Gallatin Peak 40. https://www.mysteryranch.com/gallat...TaJl1wMWdcQhAS8VUa44F0p6uPVFqhagTngm4EldBmD4c

Anyone have experience with this pack? There are some mixed reviews on it, but having positive angle load lifters and a pack designed to actually transfer weight to the hips is a huge plus that this entire market lacks.

I ride a hardboot splitboard setup so need to be able to attach my binding plates to the pack while skinning. This pack has a lid which would seem to work well for securing the bindings. Capacity seems right.

​

 

[TradArcher]

I use Jones packs and find they carry weight well for me.

For splitboarding that is.

 

[grainhog]

I used the original saddle peak for a season, then sold it and wrote a review on their website, which I can't find now. This was like 2018. It was a great pack, and at 25 L, I could do almost anything with it that I didn't need to spend the night on. They integrated most of my suggestions into the next generation (better alligator clips, helmet carry, bumped up the volume slightly, dedicated ice axe attachment), but somehow it was just more cheesy and heavy and contrived, so I sold that one and never bought another MR pack.

That was the last dedicated ski pack I bought, other than the 22L BD Cirque vest i wear. For dawn patrol up to half days, I wear the Cirque, and beyond that I use a bare- bones 40L HMG pack that I rigged my own cross carry and ice axe attachments to. I attach my helmet with a single piece of shock cord (that I thread through vent holes in the helmet and attach on a daisy loop on the other side with a tiny carabiner).

In my opinion basically all dedicated ski packs are contrived and over-engineered and heavy and otherwise inadequate in some way. I think my modified hmg pack solves most problems, except that dyneema ultimately doesn't hold up to cross carry forever, and there are no dedicated avy tool compartments.

Also, I'm never buying any pack ever again that doesn't have vest-style storage in the front and elasticized stuff pockets like all the ultralight backpacking packs have now (looking at you, stone glacier).

 

[TradArcher]

I used the original saddle peak for a season, then sold it and wrote a review on their website, which I can't find now. This was like 2018. It was a great pack, and at 25 L, I could do almost anything with it that I didn't need to spend the night on. They integrated most of my suggestions into the next generation (better alligator clips, helmet carry, bumped up the volume slightly, dedicated ice axe attachment), but somehow it was just more cheesy and heavy and contrived, so I sold that one and never bought another MR pack.

That was the last dedicated ski pack I bought, other than the 22L BD Cirque vest i wear. For dawn patrol up to half days, I wear the Cirque, and beyond the I use a bare- bones HMG pack that I rigged my own cross carry and ice axe attachments to. I attach my helmet with a single piece of shock cord (that I thread through vent holes in the helmet and attach on a daisy loop on the other side with a tiny carabiner).

In my opinion basically all dedicated ski packs are contrived and over-engineered and heavy and otherwise inadequate in some way. I think my modified hmg pack solves most problems, except that dyneema ultimately doesn't hold up to cross carry forever, and there are no dedicated avy tool compartments.

Also, I'm never buying any pack ever again that doesn't have vest-style storage in the front and elasticized stuff pockets like all the ultralight backpacking packs have now (looking at you, stone glacier).

You just reminded me of the Whatvest I have for front country splitboard laps, not really for longer tours though. Yeah vests are comfy to ride in for sure.

 

[grainhog]

You just reminded me of the Whatvest I have for front country splitboard laps, not really for longer tours though. Yeah vests are comfy to ride in for sure.

Huh, crazy, never seen those before, pretty cool.

 

[Poser]

Glad to see some responses on this. I ended up getting this MR pack on a Black Friday deal and I really like it. It carries weight close to the body and transfers weight through the hips very well. 40L capacity is perfect for me and I even upgraded to a larger shovel (Mammut Alugator Pro Light/Hoe) since I have more room to work with.

Downsides:
-No ability run a bladder hose through the shoulder strap. I have a winter bladder and hose, but even the insulated hose will freeze if not inside of a pack strap. When touring, I need water readily available. I ended up putting a SG bottle holster on this MR pack and have been using a steel double wall bottle and that's been working pretty well -doesn't freeze up on me, water is always readily available and I can take big gulps with a wide mouth bottle.

-Does not integrate well with a radio + mic. If I place the radio i my pack, the mic wire doesn't snake super well to mount on the chest harness, particularly when I open the pack from the back panel.

Our snowpack in the Southwest is currently horrically dangerous with a significant faceted layer. I probably won't get out again for at least 2 weeks, but I have gotten out in the backcountry about 10x so far this season.

 

[Poser]

I use Jones packs and find they carry weight well for me.

For splitboarding that is.

I looked at them, but the lack of adjustable torso never works out for me. Its difficult to imagine that they would fit any differently than the BD packs. I do own 2 Jones boards though and love them. I've been riding the Freecarver 9000 a fair amount at the resort (weekdays only, though as that sidecut radius is not what you want when it comes to dodging Texans on the weekends). A lot of folks are really hyping the Butterfly splitboard as potentially the best splitboard ever designed. Of course, $1700....

 

[Poser]

You just reminded me of the Whatvest I have for front country splitboard laps, not really for longer tours though. Yeah vests are comfy to ride in for sure.

I look at vests and can't see how they couldn't be stupid hot on the uphill. I'm sure they are great for heli drops, though.

 

[Poser]

I used the original saddle peak for a season, then sold it and wrote a review on their website, which I can't find now. This was like 2018. It was a great pack, and at 25 L, I could do almost anything with it that I didn't need to spend the night on. They integrated most of my suggestions into the next generation (better alligator clips, helmet carry, bumped up the volume slightly, dedicated ice axe attachment), but somehow it was just more cheesy and heavy and contrived, so I sold that one and never bought another MR pack.

That was the last dedicated ski pack I bought, other than the 22L BD Cirque vest i wear. For dawn patrol up to half days, I wear the Cirque, and beyond that I use a bare- bones 40L HMG pack that I rigged my own cross carry and ice axe attachments to. I attach my helmet with a single piece of shock cord (that I thread through vent holes in the helmet and attach on a daisy loop on the other side with a tiny carabiner).

In my opinion basically all dedicated ski packs are contrived and over-engineered and heavy and otherwise inadequate in some way. I think my modified hmg pack solves most problems, except that dyneema ultimately doesn't hold up to cross carry forever, and there are no dedicated avy tool compartments.

Also, I'm never buying any pack ever again that doesn't have vest-style storage in the front and elasticized stuff pockets like all the ultralight backpacking packs have now (looking at you, stone glacier).

The lack of a dedicated avy gear pocket is a bit concerning. If the SHTF and you're not thinking clearly, I could see that being a potential organizational issue. Even the Cody Townsend series HMG packs lack that feature which is surprising.

 

[Poser]

We need to organize a Rockslide split fest some each Spring. I'm down i the San Juans and have a couple of bigger lines I want to do this season.