In reply to Dee:
I have used this pack for 1/2 day ski tours and it's great. I'd agree that it's very comfortable and stable, both for skiing and when I've used the pack walking. With only one main compartment, it can be difficult to access gear sometimes but I find that too many pockets can be just as time consuming. If I needed my shovel and probe quickly I'd just tip everything out, grab the shovel and get digging!
James(Facewest)