What do you carry in day packs? Backcountry XCd

[Woodserson]

Can you be more helpful in regards to these clear liquids? I’ve seen unrecognizable bottles in beautiful NH landscapes, but I am a simple Midwesterner.

As fellow friend skiers refer to it: Woodserson's Secret Alpine Mix

[lowangle al]

Up until recently I haven't imbibed since the wine and cheese days of the 70s. I have seen the error of my ways. Someday I'll tell you about Mt. Jagermeister.

[Genoah77]

I would agree with voilenerd.

I would add that your fire equipment should contain redundancies, especially if you're going alone in a remote location. Have matches, a lighter, vaseline cotton balls, firesteel, fatwood shavings, and small fatwood kindling, etc. in case some of it gets wet. Lining your pack with a garbage bag also helps keep your gear dry. I also like to bring a bit of tinfoil for a fire base. Keep most of it in your pack and maybe a lighter/firesteel in your pocket in case you lose your backpack in a creek crossing, for example.

I have an Osprey Escapist 25. Meant for biking, but it works really well for skiing.

I second the SOL emergency bivvy, but I have never used a mylar blanket. They tear quite easily.

extra socks
extra gloves
compass (know how to use it beforehand)
map app with downloaded maps (CalTopo is great)
physical map as a backup, especially if you don't know the area
insulated water bottle (40 below brand). I keep mine in my extra sock in very cold conditions.
metal food grade water bottle (which I can use to boil tea so that I stay fancy in an emergency)
please don't forget the leather thong. The most essential, imo

A good source for this topic: https://sectionhiker.com/

[lowangle al]

One thing that I added to my pack this season for emergencies is a giant Hershey chocolate bar. I had to use it last week when my wife said she felt a little "shakey." Thinking she probably needed something to eat I broke it out and it seemed to do the trick. That was one piece of my emergency kit that I was happy to use.

[bwm8142]

I don't have a lot of experience with being out in the winter in the backcountry, but quite a bit of experience in the summer months with mountain biking and hiking.

Essential things to carry when you are a ways from home/cell service are:

- extra socks
- gloves
- firestarter (I carry lighters in a bag, newspaper, and a few of those solid fuel blocks)
- waterproof shell
- lots of candy and granola bars
- 1 liter of water for every 2-3 hours of activity (less if a source is available)
- Multitool/pocket knife
- basic first aid kit
- extra laces or paracord to be used as laces

if I am biking or something I usually take a little repair kit with me. I am new to skiing so I don't know what things are common trailside repairs but on a bike you always bring quick links, chain breaker, allen keys, etc

I think what you carry is super dependent on the trip you are taking. Heading out to the backyard where you can call your wife if you need picked up? Then maybe enjoy travelling light and forego some of the extreme survival gear. Heading out 3 hours from home and skiing several kilometres from the truck? Better double check you have everything you could need to possibly survive a night in the wilderness. As they say "hope for the best, but plan for the worst."

@Genoah77 and I went out for my first time a while ago and I was really grateful that he had extra mittens when I had an unfortunate encounter with some thin ice on a creek. Luckily it was not very cold out and we only had to ski a couple hours back, but it got me thinking about what would have happened if the situation was worse. We had discussed the Jack London story "To Build a Fire" earlier in the day too....we must've cursed ourselves

[Genoah77]

Yeah @bwm8142 , it was -20 that morning, so we were fortunate to have a chinook wind blow in. Didn't have extra socks that time either.

[Telerock]

Bic lighters do not Work in minus zero temps unless you keep them in an inner pocket. I carry a zippo.
And scrounge some birch bark, dry twigs, etc. on the way. I bring newspaper for fire starting.
The contractor sized garbage bag makes a good weatherproof windbreaker if you cut leg and arm holes.
KNIFE!
I bring an ace bandage for ankle/knee injuries. A hatchet and lightweight foldable saw. Zip ties. Bailing wire. Needle nose vice grips. A phillips #3 screwdriver with a short fat handle. Extra 3-pin mounting screws. An extra spring for the heel binding, compass, map, steel cup for boiling water (and coffee in a “sock”).
Also bacon in a paper bag and aluminum pan, if I am out for more than 6 hrs.
The chocolate is a grand idea. Maybe gorp or mixed nuts too?

[athabascae]

I don't believe that anyone mentioned bear spray yet. This is a new addition to my winter pack the last couple of years. Winter-active brown (grizzly) bears can be old, emaciated and among the most dangerous to people in the bush. Probably never use it and I don't worry about bears at all, but it's there if needed. Don't let it freeze.

[lowangle al]

I have seen grizzly tracks while skiing in Ak. but never felt the need to carry bear spray, although it's crossed my mind. On the other hand I rarely go out in Pa. without a gun. In less than 10 years I've been attacked by a dog three times(bit once) and a raccoon.(most likely rabid) Plus in Pa. I feel more likely to run into a problem with a two legged critter.

[JarvisVOID]

All of you talked about the equipment. But can someone recommend me a good and big backpack? All that I've found are pretty small.
I was recommended several options, but everything is not what I need. Most of them seem small and cramped to me. And they look very uncomfortable. Plus, I found some variants on backpacks.global, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone knows if these backpacks are good?
I hope you will be able to suggest something to me because I'm so tired of searching. I didn't think it would be that complicated. Thanks in advance!