Weather and Clothing for Apr/May trek

[pablo]

Hi Everyone,

I am off to Nepal for my first trek next week (26th April - End of May) up to Gokyo and EBC. It seems easy to find weather info on Kathmandu but I was looking to find out what the temperatures are like higher up at this time of the year. I have a truckload of gear and I am trying to narrow it down so any assistance would be great.


Sorry if this question has already been posted but I cannot find it with a search.

Cheers

[Ultralight Hiker]

Hey Pablo,
You'll be there the same time as me. Everyone on this forum is very helpful, but you can browse the FAQ's and see the gear and kit lists others have posted.

Here's the link.
http://trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4050

Steve

[Spaceman347]

It will certainly be "warming up" by May but you will still need to be prepared for some cool nights.

I personally would take a good quality down sleeping bag with 500gm fill or possibly 700gm fill if you feel the cold. I was at 4000m (Dole) a couple of weeks ago (end of March) with a 500gm bag (Macpac Sanctuary 500) and found it to be fine, it might have been a fraction cool up at Gokyo but things will be warmer by the time you get there. Most, if not all, lodges have some extra blankets available

I would take a light down jacket and some warm fleece pants for sitting around at night, the daytime temps will be warm at lower altitude (Namche. Khumjung, Tengboche etc) and you will require a good shade hat and plenty of sunscreen. I rolled by long pants up to my knees a couple of weeks ago as it was a bit warm going up the hills and found that I got some mild sunburn on the back of my legs.

Be prepared for pretty warrm temps in KTM and lower down in the Khumbu (shorts and a t-shirt type weather up to at least Namche, possible a bit further) but the night time temps will drop off up at Gokyo & EBC. I wouldn't expect anything rediculously cold at that time of year.

[pablo]

Thanks guys. Very useful information. I reckon I can cut about half the crap I was thinking of taking now!

Cheers
Craig :D

[yakshaver]

Thanks guys. Very useful information. I reckon I can cut about half the crap I was thinking of taking now!

Cheers
Craig :D


Very good idea, Pablo.
As the old travel aphorism says: Once you've packed the minimum quantity of stuff to take with you, unpack it again and half it... What remains is the correct quantity to take with you. And once you've calculated the maximum amount of money you need for the trip, double it. That will be the correct amount to take with you.

If you stick to these two rules you can't go much wrong.

[julia]

A ultra light wind top, you cant go without one of those, it was the one thing I wore all the time. Make sure you take sweets or losenges of some sort to suck, the dry air and heavy breathing really gets to your throat.

If you find you need something and dont have with you, Namche sells most things.

When you are in KTM make sure you have you sun lotion with you, for some unknown reason i forgot to take it with me round KTM, left it in the hotel room, and I burnt touring round the sights! You probably know all that, just the mum coming out in me!

Have a good time :)