Backcountry Access Stash bc ($145) and Companion Shovel/Probe ($105):
The heli-assisted require cargo-carrying capabilities for their daily provisions and essential emergency doodads, and for this the Stash bc (that's backcountry) has your needs covered. It's light, rides low on the back, and won't interfere with balance while you're carving it up. But what gives the bc its real winter chops is an insulated hydration hose zippered into the left shoulder strap, which retains a tad of body heat. In test after test, this thing just wouldn't frost up, meaning you've got 100 ounces of liquefied hydration instead of sucking slush. As capacity goes—and you'll want it—the bc serves up a voluminous 2,400 cubic inches, enough to easily stash and grab items without organizing gear like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. A-frame ski and (yes, yes) diagonal ski mounts let you configure skis so they don't womp your legs during hikes. Another good design move is the removable plastic/foam framesheet that provides flexy pack support and doubles as a nice sitting pad on cold, wet snow. You've also got the needed external shovel pocket, in which the Companion Shovel/Probe will ride. This integrated system has a six-foot sectioned avalanche probe that folds and stows inside the handle. The shovel comes in either fixed length or extendable, with a top-quality 5000-series aluminum blade and oval ferrule. The slightly longer shaft makes for deeper individual scoops—a good thing when time is of the essence. Contact 800-670-8735, www.backcountryaccess.com.
