 Poster: A snowHead
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So what's the group think on backpacks being worn on lifts?
Having worn my Avi pack frequently I have never really given it much thought other than the occasional annoyance when a liftie suggested I wear it on my front.
However, on a super busy day in Flaine I sat up the top of Grand Vans lift waiting for someone and the lift stopped 4 times due to backpacks getting caught, interfering etc. In just the 10mins I was there. Now given the Grand Van lift queue was 20+mins and in one incident alone the lift stopped for 2mins until numpty and pack were untangled from the chair I started to rethink my ambivalence to backpacks on chairlifts.
What is the answer?
It can't be zero tolerance otherwise no avi packs etc.
Perhaps better enforcement of frontal wearing from uninterested French lifties, but what's the chance?
So that leaves - suck it up, lift queues are mainly from over crowding but made worse by backpack wearing muppets.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ours are not airbags and compress pretty well so I don't really think about it unless it's full of barbeque food. Haven't had any lifty comments in years.
Wearing backpacks in confined areas however is deeply irritating.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Been wearing a small backpack for the last 16 years worth of ski trips and never had an issue. Same with anyone I’ve been skiing with in our group. I think we are all diligent enough to make sure any straps aren’t loose and are well tucked up.
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I have a touring pack which goes everywhere on the hill - lift days too - and has water for family, spare gloves for whoever needs them, spare neckies for replacing lost ones, money, car keys, low light goggles, phone and back protector. It comes off for every lift, sits on my lap and goes back on when landed. It has a locking screw gate crab on the outside for stuff. Why locking? Guess what happened when I just used a spring-gate….
However my partner has a small backpack and has massive arguments with lifties about whether she should take it off, or not. These almost result in pass confiscations and fistfights.
I have given trying to change this dreadful behaviour and join the pisteurs’ side these days … or disown her… ‘see you at the top!….’
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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My HeliPro has quite long straps but I have made sure that they are not loose and have never had a problem in many years.
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I was skiing with someone who had on quite a compact bag which had a strap that got caught as the safety bar went back, she had to stay sitting on the lift. The straps weren't overly long, but long enough to get trapped. It was a bit of a wake up and since then I try to take my bag off so that if it does get caught I can easily let go.
That said, with an airbag on I tend to leave the bag on as consider the crotch strap to be too much of a liability if I've got the bag in my hand. It does mean that I'm more likely to get beaned by someone being a bit keen with the bar though. Mind you, if I'm at the end of a day/on a pistey day then the crotch will be stowed and I've no problem putting it on my front as long as there's room (the Moutiers lift at VT is a perfect example of a lift which doesn't allow for fattos with a bag...or anyone with legs of a normal length)
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I have no issue, but then again my 7-liter MTB pack has relatively short was it straps and there isn't really much hanging off it.
I think the problem is when people have packs with all the straps yet don't fasten them or tuck/roll the ends in with an elastic band (or cut and seal with a lighter), that's when the buckles seem to get caught up.
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Always ski with a rucksack.Just take it off on a chairlift, it aint difficult.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| harvey13 wrote: |
| Always ski with a rucksack.Just take it off on a chairlift, it aint difficult. |
Exact
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@valais2, or not.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Always ski with a rucksack.Just take it off on a chairlift, it aint difficult.
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Yep, clearly you are not creating a problem then.
But we all know there are muppets who ski and do stupid things, some of these muppets also wear backpacks and inevibaly get them caught on lifts.
Probably an unsolvable problem, I was just highlighting, from anecdotal evidence, that when we all complain about lift queues, this is one reason why they are just that little bit longer.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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If I had a fattish pack, perhaps because of picking up a few things in the shop, I just took it off on the problematical lifts (I knew which ones they were, sometimes the same ones which smacked you on the calf muscle if you didn't stand slightly ahead of your companions) and sat it on my lap. Never seemed too challenging..... The only problem I've encountered was when three yoofs were on a chair lift in front of us, their four parents. Our lift was stopped shortly before the top - which was so steep we could see nothing. Turned out that one yoof, skiing without a jacket as it was hot, got the strap of his pants hooked up in the lift and had been left dangling "with a savage wedgie" when his two companions got off and laughed. He took a scissors to the pants that evening.
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I have almost always skied with a backpack. I never take it off on chairlifts. It has never been a problem – just tie up all the loose straps. If it's an airbag and you're not arming it, loop up the crotch strap so it doesn't get caught.
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You know it makes sense.
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There was quite a to-do in the Portes du Soleil maybe ten or twelve years ago when a young English boy, around 14, on a school trip, died after his backpack straps got caught somehow, the chair swung round after his companions had disembarked, and he was hanging from the chair. I think it was on the Chatel side of things. All deeply unpleasant and very sad, and after that there were signs up at all the chairlifts asking for backpacks to be removed and carried in front, and then like all these things, the requirement seemed to die out. It did make me very conscious of making sure nothing is around to get trapped.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We always wear slim backpacks with avi kit etc, and always nowadays keep them on our backs. Only time that has been an issue is in Chatel after the incident @Pamski mentioned. When on our backs hipbelts and chest straps are secured and there are no loose straps to catch. If they are swung to the front there are dangling straps - JanetS had to extricate herself from her sac pretty sharpish when one caught in this position, if carrying the sac there are even more loose straps to catch, so while it might not be dangerous, delays on the lift are even more likely. So, I am, after 20 years carrying sacs on lifts that the safest, most efficient way is on your back, properly done up, with no dangling straps.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@dozofoz, I must confess it's been a long time since I saw anyone get caught on a lift. Mind you, you need to be reasonably close to the top.
People falling over however ...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I never have any problem with rucksacks, I make my OH wear it!
However, about 30 years ago we skied with a mate who had a Berghaus Blitz sac - it was quite a big, sturdy bumbag, with a top panel that unzipped and revealed a lightweight nylon rucksack extension. He was wearing it in rucksack mode, and didn't have the belt fastened. Belt got stuck in the chair lift, and there was a distinct ripping noise as my mate and the rucksack part got off the lift, and the bumbag stayed on it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Whats the issue with taking it off and carrying it on your lap? Never understand why people are allowed to keep them on. It's just asking for trouble. If your not steady enough on your skis to carry poles in one hand and backpack in the other, then you've probably no business carrying a back pack at all, and definitely not an avi pack 
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@Pamski, i recall that - very sad - but signs suggesting you take your pack off have been in some lift queues since at least 1988 ...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@RobinS,
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If they are swung to the front there are dangling straps
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Exactly this. I have no dangling straps at the back and such straps as I do have are trimmed down to the shortest possible length. Also, as I don't ski off-piste any more, I only use a small pack. Never take it off on chair lifts.
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@thecramps, is that supposed to be advice? Thanks, not needed or asked for 
As folk are pointing out, everyone on here are good, diligent snowheads who wear packs of various types with no problems on lifts. OK good.
Original point being - lifts get stopped and delays caused by packs worn by non diligent snowheads. Probably nothing can be done about it. But next time you are grumbling about a lift that keeps stopping, ever considered why?
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@dozofoz, No, it was a question. What's the issue with taking your pack off? It's all fine for small people, but when your a bigger person, and the person sat next to you is trying to sit at an awkward angle because he hasn't taken his pack off, it can make for a long and uncomfortable ride for everyone. So my question stands, what's the problem taking it off? I take mine off, and have no issues whatsoever gathering straps into my hand.
Your not by any chance a primary school teacher are you?
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@thecramps, my 'issue' is that I know I'm not causing a hazard or discomfort for anyone, though admittedly I am small. And I'm not a primary school teacher, though the relevance of that question eludes me. If I were, I might feel entitled to point out that you invariably confuse the words 'your' and 'you're'. But I'm not, so I won't. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@thecramps, does your bag have a crotch strap?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@kitenski, No, I am from Lancashire.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| thecramps wrote: |
| .... and the person sat next to you is trying to sit at an awkward angle because he hasn't taken his pack off.... |
I've seen that a few times - God knows what people are taking in their packs to make them totally skewiffy on the chairlift, most likely not shovels and survival gear. Mind you, I swowboard so always sit as a wonky angle
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@Specialman, I'd wrather sit next to a boarder from Yorkshire than anyone who thinks their backpack is my problem. I have twice seen people dangling by a strap tightening buckle caught in the slot there is on some lifts between the seat back and seat base. Very funny.
I also take my pack off in cable cars. Nothing worse than those ignorant types constantly barging into folk like Charles Hawtry in Carry on camping or a student on a train.
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You know it makes sense.
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@thecramps, I never said there was a problem with taking off the pack. In fact I agree that is best approach but you once again miss the point entirely (on purpose or not reading a post?).
I was not asking what should I do, oh please wise snowheads explain what I am doing wrong. No, I was musing that our valuable skiing minutes can be wasted by others NOT taking off their packs or being diligent.
Ps, not a Primary Teacher but have full respect for them as they would have to deal with the spawn of insufferable knowitalls.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Specialman wrote: |
| thecramps wrote: |
| .... and the person sat next to you is trying to sit at an awkward angle because he hasn't taken his pack off.... |
I've seen that a few times - God knows what people are taking in their packs to make them totally skewiffy on the chairlift, most likely not shovels and survival gear. Mind you, I swowboard so always sit as a wonky angle |
That's me! I always sit in the corner on the chair though! I have 8 and 10 yr and pack loads in - we are often using buses and the like, so being able to put stuff in the bag en route is very helpful (gloves, goggles, clothing that would make you sweat if you had it on...) plus food, chocolate, drink, spare snoods etc etc. We also take walkie talkies for us in case kids get lost or are in danger of taking a wrong turn (8 and 10).
In a gondola, it's the same case of sitting in the corner and trying no to annoy people.
Straps is the most important point. I've had loose straps caught in the slots between seats and I'm very careful now to have nothing loose and do a pre exit wiggle to make sure i'm not caught on a chair!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I tend to leave mine on, but I bought myself a Wolffepack Summit backpack a (fair) few years back for family ski trips when I needed to have more stuff with me. These guys came up with a system of pulleys and wires that allowed the wearer to release the backpack so it can swing round and clip onto there straps on your front for just such an occasion as a chairlift.
They look to have ceased trading unfortunately, so it was longer ago than I care to remember that I bought it, but there are some examples on eBay (and probably Vinted).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Wolffepack&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2332490.m570.l1313
This one, while not a Summit, has the same system and the listing helpfully includes photos describing how it works: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197627514445
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Maybe it would be handy if Colter and Tim could come out of retirement and do us a video about carrying backpacks.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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No one puts BB in the corner….
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