Help with packing

[Unregistered]

Hello Everyone:

This site has been so helpful in the past, so I could not resist asking two more questions:

1. Can anyone give me a list of necessary items for a 14 day EBC trek?
(ie...toliet paper, sunscreen, etc...) Is it helpful to have hiking/walking canes?

2. Can anyone give me a list of medicines to request from my doctor for
the same trek?

Thanks in advanced for your help!

[nepaltrekguide]

Hello there,
Namaste & Welcome!!

I am well known government licensed trekking and touring guide in Nepal. My name is Prem K. khatri from (Gorkha) Manaslu region. From 1996, I began working in the tourism field, as a porter. During that time I used to carry a basket filled with camping & trekking equipment. After two years of this work and get training from government, I felt ready to become a guide.

You can e-mailme for more details.

Regards
Prem.
nepaltrekguide@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/walkingnepal/mypage.html

[Linwood]

Someone else can probably do better with the general packing list than I, but I can tell you three meds that will be in my pack next time (Langtang, March 2005):

First, these pink pills that my trekking partner had last time... I think they are some version of pepto-bismol in chewable form. I got a stomach bug in Kathmandu the evening before we were due to depart for Lukla and these pink pills enabled me to go ahead with the flight and the trek. Its a little scary to head for the hills (no docs, no hospitals, etc...) when you're already feeling lousy, but in this case, it worked out OK. Totally a judgement call.

Second, 125 mg Diamox. I've read lots about altitude sickness and didn't have it in the Khumbu, although we only went as far as Tengboche, but still, I'd like to have the Diamox on hand just in case. My crazy American doc prescribed these time-release 500 mg Diamox, but I think that is a massive over-dose, so I got some 125 mg at the Health Post in Namche (which is another story). We gave them away a day later to a British woman who was going higher than we were.

Third, some form of ibuprofen or other analgesic.

I found having a walking stick helpful. Since my luggage (including some nice trekking poles I received as a gift... and my lovely toilet paper and my beloved snowy, clean knickers!) did not arrive in Kathmandu before we left for Lukla, I bought a nice wooden walking stick in Lukla and used it the whole trek. No doubt I contributed to deforestation by buying a wooden walking stick (for about 1 USD), for which I repent, but I still have it and hope to use it again in March.

A funny aside... my trekking partner also bought a walking stick in Lukla. He put it down somewhere along the way on one of our rest stops. A couple of hours later, one of the porters who passed us was using his walking stick! My friend said, after the porter had passed, "hey, he had my walking stick!". At least it got good use!

Have a great trek!

Linwood

[Ian]

If you want to guarantee to get the runs then as soon as you arrive in Kathmandu rush around trying out all different types of meals and drinks. You will be knackered from the flight, your body will suddenly be hit by different climate and surroundings, so you just need some exotic food and hey presto where’s the loo and the gamble of which end to point which way. Or boringly, stick to western food and drinks, in moderation, from “good” hotels or restaurants, until you get on the trek. It’s when you get back to Kathmandu, after completing the trek or climbing the mountain, that you can go wild.

You can avoid the runs but you will get a cold. So take lots of Lemsip or similar. Doesn’t work magic but at least it tastes OK, it makes sure you get lots of liquid and some paracetamol and hopefully knocks it on the head in a few days before it goes to your chest. Cotton handkerchiefs, better than tissues since you can wash them.

Ian

[Linwood]

In addition to the excellent advice from Ian above, I would add with my 20/20 hindsight that it is wise to be very attentive to food temperatures. I found soup to be a good bet all along the way. Always hot and steaming, usually with noodles and vegetables in it. Garlic soup is wonderful and I've read it is helpful with acclimatization as well. But I'd risk all manner of foodborn illness for another piece of yak cheese pizza!

Hmmm... this message board has labeled me a "trek advisor". I am not a trek advisor. Yakshaver, if you're there, can this label be removed? Thanks.

[Sharon]

I bought the drugs in Kat. Cheaper and hopefully you won't need them anyways. From home... toilet paper, imodium, some kind of exlax type product, sunscreen, lip balm with sunscreen, trekking poles, nalgene water containers, biodegradable wash everything from hair to face to clothes shampoo, tevas for after hiking, good hiking boots, down vest, good fleece and good gortex shell for layering, trekking pants that zip off or a skort and trekking pants, variety of wicking tshirts (short and long sleeve) , tneck and few power bars for whan you need that push and there are no tea houses around. journal, fleece pants, windproof fleece gloves, warm sleeping bag, sun hat and fleece or wool hat, day pack around 30 liters and duffle for porter to carry bulk of stuff. I'm sure others can add or subtract for that matter...

[Oli]

Kit selection is a fairly personal choice. Sharon's list is a fairly good start but of course unless you are very careful there is bound to be something that you wish you'd brought along & something else that you didn't need to use. My advice would be to pack light, especially if you are carrying your own rucksack but if you are using porters don't make them carry too much.

[Oli]

Hmmm... this message board has labeled me a "trek advisor". I am not a trek advisor. Yakshaver, if you're there, can this label be removed? Thanks.

This is because you have posted more than (about) 10 times. Keep it up and you'll soon be an "Expert Trekker" :cool: This is probably something we'd need Webmaster to fiddle with, just ignore it.

[Sharon]

I pack considerably more than the list I posted. My duffle weighs in at about 22 kilos. The porters are always happy to carry it and call it light. I like to be prepared in the event of weather disaster, so that I can take care of myself and help others. As we all know help will not be quick in the event of avalanche, earth quake etc so I carry enough to be comfortable in weather extremes. I have my Pristine for water treatment which I forgot to put in my list.

[Ian]

There are lots of diaries on the web of people that have done EBC as well as more challenging treks and a lot of these include an equipment list. Some even have weights against each item. Also quite a few of the trekking companies web sites include equipment lists.

The big things tend to be obvious, it is the little things that count.

Lots of strong plastic bags – ideal ones are thick clear plastic rubble bags – plus re-useable plastic cable ties. It makes sure stuff is waterproof in your kit bag, if clothes get wet separates them from the dry stuff. Ditto smelly / dirty.

Small emergency bag with spare batteries, roll of film, pair of socks, handkerchief, throat lozenges, so you don’t have to worry about getting to the main point of trek / climb and finding you have run out of batteries / film etc.

Sharon is right about the weight. But it doesn’t help that my trekking boots are 2.5Kg, my plastic mountaineering ones 3.5Kg, 5 season sleeping bag and waterproof compress sack 2.5Kg etc so my Kit bag hits 20 to 25Kg for a four to five week trek. I console myself that my daughters can fill a suitcase with 20Kg each for a weekend away at friends.

[webmaster]

There's information at http://trekinfo.com/about/aboutf.html

There's a link to clothing & equipment and another link to medical supplies.

It asn't been updated in a while, but it's still relevant. If anyone wants to update the lists, send a message to webmaster.