Once on the trail - few quesitons

[boleslav]

We are leaving for Khumbu in 2 weeks and I have a list of questions what to do with, how to etc. once we hit the trail for those of you who have been there. thank you in advance.

We'll start the trek from Jiri and I wonder:

What type of food can we expect at the teahouses - is it rice and lentils all the time? three times a day? should we bring couple of freeze dry meals just to spice the diet up?

Water - we'll have water filter (capacity 150 gallons) and I am trying to figure out if we should bring an extra cartridge. It all depends on the water quality. What's the main source of water on the trek and what's the quality, is it clear water or silt?

Trash - what do you do with those covers of the power bar, etc. , do we carry it along or can we leave it at the trash can of let's say Namche?

Should we bring the gaiters for mid April to Mid May trek (Gokyo, Chola) ?

Should we bring a down jacket for the evenings?
what SPF should we bring 15 or 30?
what's the size of your backpack, if you carry all your stuff without porters?
Should we bring our own small pots (food container)
do we need to bring a pad under the sleeping bag
how about matches?

thank you!

[Sharon]

Lots of food out there from dahl bhat to pizza, spaghetti. Take the power bar wrappers out with you. I use pristine to treat the water, there are often yaks standing in the water supply.

No need for pots, or a thermarest. Down jackets will be appreciated in the evenings. SPF 30, lots of lip balm, lozenges, I have never needed matches.I use a 75 litre pack.

[daras]

Hi Boleslav
I had a backpack (75) and lowepro TLZ AW (for digital camera, lens and camcorder). As I remember it was 10kg+4kg.
There are no problem with water. There are a lot of botteled water in teahouses/lodges (50-100nrps). In Khumbu area you will find a teahouses/lodges every 1-2hours. We took a pils (iodine) but never used them.
We took a wet tissues (J&J) for baby - we clean our hands (and body!!!).
We didn't need pad or matches.
There was no problem for us - rice, dhal bat, momo, rice, dhal bat... etc. etc.... but after the trek - in Namche, we took a big dinner - meat of yak and red wine etc. On the trail we ate snickers/lions etc.

have a nice trek - daras

[Linwood]

I like your idea of taking a water filter. Drinking bottled water creates a lot of waste for which there are no adequate facilities for disposal or recycling, and drinking boiled water uses up fuel which contributes to deforestation. I think you'll be able to get clear water at the lodges.

There are waste bins along the trail, but more trash is outside them than in them, especially on a windy day, so packing trash out is a good idea, too.

Look for snicker momos at Tengboche!

Have fun,
Linwood

[boleslav]

thanks for the answers everyone. I prefer to carry own filter as it would be way too many plastic bottles for 2 people and 4 weeks. However should the filter break down, what do you suggest as good small back up - what do you use?

[Lars]

However should the filter break down, what do you suggest
as good small back up - what do you use?
Puritabs. No weight and no space.
The water is always clear and fresh. Just a day or so before you fill up your
bottle with it it was ice and snow higher up. I have never had to fill up with
muddy or foul smelling water.

In all villages there are water taps where you can fill up. The taps get the
water from long plastic hoses that have their intake in the river a bit higher
upstream.

The locals drink the water straight as it is. We are a bit more sensitive and had
better purify it. But you should not think of the water as dirty, it isn't.

I think my pack too is 75 ltrs. Plus I have a smaller "day pack" on my chest
where I have camera and water bottle etc. It is nice to have a small pack
for valuables that I always have with me, to the dining room etc. And also
when going on small excursions over a few hours.
Plus I like the balancing of the weight, stops me from leaning forward.

[Oli]

I also use a filter for my main water supply. I have a pump what allows me to remove and clean the ceramic filter. Sometimes the water is not quite as clean as it looks and its good to be able to wipe/scrub the filter, and it makes it easier to pump again. Field serviceable is a good idea. And I carry a few iodine tabs just in case, probably puirtabs or pristine are at least as good - but I've never had to resort to backups.

[boleslav]

will get few tablets then, thank you

Now question for Sharon- what did you wear, I have read that skirt is more traditional, but the though of it brings mixed feelings, gives you more protection from sight if one needs to pee, but is seems to be constricting. Was told short are a no-no for woman,
Any suggestions?

[Lars]

Was told short are a no-no for woman,

Nepali women don't wear shorts, but people along the common trekking routes
are used to westerners wearing all sorts of outlandish outfits.

The girl I trekked with in the Annapurnas a few months ago often wore shorts,
sometimes on top of long johns and other times bare legged. She has nice legs
and maybe drew a glance or two, but there was never any feelings of being
inappropriately dressed.

http://w1.844.telia.com/~u84408784/Trek/M_in_shorts.jpg

[thesilvertops]

And very nice they are too! Which reminds me that when we used to do organised treks (with Exodus) I always used to win the best legs competition. I put it down to a combination of hiking, cycling and skiing, my favourite sports.

[Sharon]

I wore a skort sometimes that was knee length. Other wise I wore a light weight trekking pant that I rolled up to my knees if it got really warm.

[boleslav]

Silvertops-did you win because the legs were shaved :) or was Yetti on the selection committee?

[thesilvertops]

No and Maybe!

[yakshaver]

Nepali women don't wear shorts, but people along the common trekking routes
are used to westerners wearing all sorts of outlandish outfits.

The girl I trekked with in the Annapurnas a few months ago often wore shorts,
sometimes on top of long johns and other times bare legged. She has nice legs
and maybe drew a glance or two, but there was never any feelings of being
inappropriately dressed.

http://w1.844.telia.com/~u84408784/Trek/M_in_shorts.jpg

Ok, so this must be the... real girl...

[Suginami]

This could easily be me. Any shots from the front?:confused:

[yakshaver]

This could easily be me. Any shots from the front?:confused:

I was going to say, it looks a lot like Sugi from the back... But are you really Lars' "real girl"? That is the question. Appart from the suffering in the mind the slings and arrows of outrageos fortune, and all that jazz.

[Lars]

This could easily be me. Any shots from the front?:confused:
Sure. To protect the innocent I have digitally remastered it a bit.

http://web.telia.com/~u84408784/Trek/Knut.jpg

[yakshaver]

Sure. To protect the innocent I have digitally remastered it a bit.

http://web.telia.com/~u84408784/Trek/Knut.jpg


Oh my Dog!!!!

[Sharon]

looks like a lab doodle, Very cute!