Clothing and Gear for Spring Trekking

[MikeGarre]

Hey everyone, my friends and I are getting very excited about our Nepal Trek... and the time is quickly closing in on us. We'll be arriving in Nepal on May 25th or so and plan on doing the Annapurna Circuit. I understand that it will be wet at lower altitudes but hopefully it won't be too bad. From what I have heard it's mostly evening or late afternoon showers in the early wet season. Anyways, my question is, what would be the recommend gear for this type of late season trek?

Should we expect warm weather along with rain? Are Down jackets a necessity for the high pass? And if we are planning on doing a "Tea House" style trek do we need Sleeping bags or just sleep liners? If we decide to do a side trek off th beaten path, will it be possible to rent a sleeping bag and tent for a day? What about a portable stove?

If anyone knows of a link that already covers this gear for the wet season... I'd appreciate it. If not, any advice you are willing to give is greatly appreciated. We've got all the gear, we just don't want to haul more things around on our backs that we don't need to.

Thanks again for the help!

An excited trekker...
Mike Garre

[yakshaver]

It will be pretty hot and sticky just before the rains start... Then still hot until about 2500 metres, about Chame.

Unfortunately you still need to take cold weather gear, as the nights Ledar and/or Thorung La Base Camp, or High Camp, will be cold (I had about 5degrees at nigth at High Camp at night and early morning in July last year...). These are hight altitude moutains, so I would not adivese gearing down, just becase it is hot lower... Just make sure you take a couple of lighter shirts with and definitely a goret-tex jacket. The layering system should cover you for both very hot and very cold.

[Oli]

This time I have with me a very small & lightweight umbrella that I am finding very useful. It is better than carrying a raincoat in my "around town" bag. It is as good for shade on a hot sunny afternoon as it is for keeping me dry during the occasional downpours of rain. And allows your body to breathe when its hot and raining. I don't think it'd fare well in a proper Welsh storm (windy and horizontal rain) as its very light & flimsy, maybe don't bother if yoou ounly have a big brolly, but if you have a suitably small one then I think its rather handy.