Mountainsmith Ghost is back

Nope. Looks totally blue, shiny too. Sorry. :)

"Sorry. :)"

I was afraid you'd say that. :((

Nah, the only reason your pack looks greyish and faded is simply due to good, active use! :)

Mine is definitely gray but then again I live in the dim environs of Oregon with weather by Mordor. But we are all seeing less light or so they say.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/health/aging-of-eyes-is-blamed-in-circadian-rhythm-disturbances.html?src=me&ref=general

Granite Gear has the Crown in a panel loading version due out in a couple of months. Will add a bit of weight to the 2lbs, 2oz but should be a good replacement for the real Ghost.

That's good news. Any details? John

"Nah, the only reason your pack looks greyish and faded is simply due to good, active use!"

It was definitely a workhorse. I used that pack for 7-8 years and really put it thru the wringer up here in The Cascades, not to mention yeoman duty down in the Sierra. Best pack I ever owned, although I am developing a similar fondness for my OHM of late.

Here John:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=58596&skip_to_post=498844

The New Granite Gear panel loader Conrad Chin refered to is the "
Aji 50". Granite Gear has a video featuring this pack. Google Granite Gear Aji 50.
This pack looks like a viable replacement fo the Ghost.

"The New Granite Gear panel loader Conrad Chin refered to is…"
Seriously dude? People get my name wrong all the time, but you're 0 for 2 right now :)

Here's the video of the Aji:
http://vimeo.com/35359622

The most amazing thing about the pack, IMO, is the varying degrees of access provided by the zipper configuration. You can really access all the contents of your pack, and from different sides. Skip to 2:00 in the video to get to the good stuff.

I love watching Cruickshank talk about his designs. It's so obvious that he loves what he does.

I can't say I'm crazy about the color scheme….

I actually really like the colors, including that of my GG Crown AC: orange, dark brown, tan. So much more original than the colors of so many other packs.

OTOH, it does look better in Konrad's video…

With the new Ghost being nothing more than an aberration of the original, I wonder if some of the talented sewers could "deconstruct" one of the originals and produce a functionally similar pack? I wonder what on the original was patented…

Ben, ship your beloved Ghost off to Chris Zimmer and have him *cough* copy *cough* I mean study it. ;)

Good idea, Travis. :)

I've gotta say, if the Aji would have been available at the same time as the Crown, I would have wanted it instead. It looks like a great all around multi use pack. Not to mention GG packs are just plain comfortable and a pleasure to use.

@Tom Kirchner
Yes – I still have mine and it's going pretty well. The thread in the laminated shell has loosened a little near the top and the 'waterproof' zips are no longer as resistant but this is hardly surprising following a decade of good use. I take good care of my gear but I have no complaints. I was considering the new model but concerned by the jump in weight so I looked around and found this discussion. I'm now outside the US so it's not so easy for me to gets hands on – thanks for the advice everyone. I'd still be interested in one of their lumbar packs.