When I bought my Steep and Deep 40, in a small shop in the outskirts of Munich the day before going on my first ski tour, my little friend had no idea what Adventures lay ahead. Snugly holding onto my back he witnessed walking in the Alps in snow and rain, crossing ridges in sunshine, he endured as a makeshift seat and was rewarded the best views on the way up the mountains, and the scariest views on the way back down. Almost daily he looked after my shopping, before setting off to view the wonders of New Zealand, being spoiled for 10 weeks of cycling around. You can only imagine the stories he had to tell all the other rucksacks he met! Of steep rainforests in the mist and volcano crossings in the snow! From Penguins in the South to secluded camping along the rugged coast. And eight years on, he's still braving the world. Had few scary moments too! A few slips and spills, but nothing that won't brush of with a little tlc in the wash. And like a true adventurer he's got the looks to prove what he achieved, sun-kissed skin and the odd scar - but it only adds to his charm. And next week? We're off to exploring the Atlas Mountains.
Deuter Made a difference BecauseI'd like to buy a new rucksack, but my old one is just still in too good shape to justify a new one!

So it was our first day in the Stubaital, Austria, and we walked up a side valley to the Karalm… It was a good sunny day and we had everything we needed in my trusty backpack – food, first aid kit, waterproofs, water. Though I found that my backpack was not so trusty… In the sun, warming nicely, I reckon that I perspired more into the back of the pack than we had brought along to drink… At a stop for lunch, I found that the map inside the pack had actually become soaked through the back of the pack and had become unusable. More water in the pack than intended! The rest of the walk was really uncomfortable because of that wet pack against my back – more a yucksack than a rucksack! And the fact that since wearing my also-thought-trusty walking shoes the last time, my feet had apparently changed size, and were steadily raising blisters… OK, we completed the walk without any real problem (although later on my big toenail separated and fell off through the blistering!), BUT on returning to the village, I went shopping – for shoes and a new pack… And discovered Deuter, and in particular the AC ventilated back, and came out of the shop with a nice new AC Lite 20, which became my inseparable companion for walking since. Now I need a slightly larger one for times when we need to carry a bit more clothing…
Deuter Made a difference BecauseI now carry comfortably, whatever the weather!

After getting lost on all the roads leading to the grand paradiso we found the right one and parked outside the hotel. Hiking to the mountain hut in clear midnight skies we found the trail of someone ski touring. Two pole pricks and slide marks. The person could not have been too far ahead of us but on arrival at the mountain hut there was no one there. Our atempt on the gp was cut short when we had to ab off the ridge in bad weather where we were snowed in the hut. The phone wrang and an italian voice wanted to know if we had seen his brother who was on ski's and had left the same day we had. ours was the last mountain hut he had called and there was no sign of him! On return to the car park the next day the owener of the hotel shrugged his shoulders exclaiming "it is the way of the alps!"
Deuter Made a difference Becausethat night i was super toastie in my deuter sleeping bag thinking of those who were not so fortunate (the photo is after the storm cleared)