3 favourite things to bring or not

[jfederl]

Much has been written about packing lists, equiptment etc... I am always interested in what other trekker's wish they had brought with them or left behind-besides the basic stuff.

If you care to comment on the 3 items you wished that you had brought or 3 that you could do without, I would be interested in hearing from you.

[Sharon]

I take maple syrup, starbucks coffee with a coffee press and nice clean clothes left in Thamel for the end of the trek!

[Cosmo]

I always travel with breakfast tea bags and UHT skim milk... pathetic I know but I really love that morning kick start that feels like home.

[yakshaver]

Much has been written about packing lists, equiptment etc... I am always interested in what other trekker's wish they had brought with them or left behind-besides the basic stuff.

If you care to comment on the 3 items you wished that you had brought or 3 that you could do without, I would be interested in hearing from you.

Hm, that's a hard one! Not for the first two items: my favourite blow-up doll Sally (that's why I always employ a porter...), and my yakshaving kit, but for the last one.
Will have to ponder of this. It might be that the third one will be an amulet warding off trekkers who are "on a spiritual journey" and bent on "converting" everyone else to join some Vipashna meditation in some obscure place near Thamel. Very unsexy. (I always enjoy my daily tantric meditations in Sally's company a lot more, by comparison. So I try to stir the "zealots" towards the subject of methodical - tantric, that is - stuff. Win some, lose some.). Then again I will think about the last one a bit more. As well as the top three things I would not take.

[Sharon]

No ipods or musical devices. This is about no technology and playing tiger and goats with twigs and pebbles.

[jfederl]

I take maple syrup, starbucks coffee with a coffee press and nice clean clothes left in Thamel for the end of the trek!

thanks sharon..good ideas. i am a coffee lover but originall ydecided that this was a luxury i would have to go without due to weight concerns. Howver. french roast in the am does sound good. Never thought about the clean clothes- thanks for the tip.

[jfederl]

Hm, that's a hard one! Not for the first two items: my favourite blow-up doll Sally (that's why I always employ a porter...), and my yakshaving kit, but for the last one.
Will have to ponder of this. It might be that the third one will be an amulet warding off trekkers who are "on a spiritual journey" and bent on "converting" everyone else to join some Vipashna meditation in some obscure place near Thamel. Very unsexy. (I always enjoy my daily tantric meditations in Sally's company a lot more, by comparison. So I try to stir the "zealots" towards the subject of methodical - tantric, that is - stuff. Win some, lose some.). Then again I will think about the last one a bit more. As well as the top three things I would not take.

very funny! too those on a spiritual journey- more power to you but leave me out of it. May i recommend "Spiritual Journey for Dummies" They can save on the airfare to Nepal. As for the blowup doll, at 52 not sure if I will have the breath to blow her up at 3000 meters!

[jfederl]

No ipods or musical devices. This is about no technology and playing tiger and goats with twigs and pebbles.

yes ipods,cell phones and other technology have their place-just not sure if that includes the mountains.

[jfederl]

I always travel with breakfast tea bags and UHT skim milk... pathetic I know but I really love that morning kick start that feels like home.

yes, a cup of your own tea is quite civilized indeed. Excuse my ignorance but is UHT "dried milk"??

[yakshaver]

very funny! As for the blowup doll, at 52 not sure if I will have the breath to blow her up at 3000 meters!
Agree. But it is worth employing an extra porter just for that. Be careful with that hypertension though...

[Sharon]

Starbucks and bodum make very nice insulated french presses. When going expedition style I bring the large pot and insulated mugs which I leave with the sherpas. The love those insulated mugs! If I am teahouse trekking Starbucks makes a mug that has a french press that I take. Good hot chocolate from home is also a treat. There is also nothing better than pretty underwear and clean clothes after a hot shower back in Thamel to make you feel great. After I started doing that I have read books where a couple of female climbers also talk about that as well.

[Spaceman347]

Gotta agree with you there Sharon, I always take some pretty underwear for after the trek ;)

[critter2722]

Hell with the pretty underwear, I'll take a pretty young lady waiting for me in Thamel after a long trek. As for the three things, a good pair of boots, a warm sleeping bag and a great book. Sorry that I'm not exciting but that's all I really need.

critter

[Cosmo]

It may start a hornets nest but I really really appreciate a trekking pole ...

[yakshaver]

It may start a hornets nest but I really really appreciate a trekking pole ...

:) :) LOL

[jfederl]

Thanks again everyone for your replies. All good stuff! I will have to forgo the "pretty panties" although I do appreciate clean clothing after days/weeks in the same ole same ole.

I am trekking independantly so will have to carry everything on my own. As a result, luxuries such as a french press coffee mug ( as much as I love a good cup of Joe!) will have to be left behind.

I have a friend who trekked to Gokyo Ri and used a cut off broomstick he picked up along the trail as an excellent trekking pole. Just goes to show that you needn't spend a fortune on equiptment. I am of the mind that "less is better"

I am surprised that no one mentioned Snicker's or some other sweets. Besides the obvious nutritional value (lol) they certainly generate good karma when you offer one up to a fellow famished trekker.

keeps those ideas coming... I am still looking for that one indispensible item that I have overlooked....

[priebesj]

Even better than the Snickers bar is the Snickers or Mars roll. It's a Snickers bar wrapped in pastry and fried. Crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside. Messy, but delicious and probably no nutritional value at all.

Now my mouth is watering.

steve

[Oli]

Mars/Snickers Rolls are only available on some parts of the Annapurna Trail. The Shepras of the Khumbu are missing a trick here!