AdventureStudies Gear List

Back to AdventureStudies May/June 2002:Taj Mahal/Dharamsala/Ladakh

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Trekking is like backpacking and requires the same type of clothing and equipment. Please remember, however, that even though porters will help you carry your gear, unnecessary items should be left behind. Also, be aware that airlines have specific baggage allowances (generally about 70 pounds).

Recommended Clothing and Equipment

• 1 or 2 Duffel Bags These may be made of nylon or canvas and should be large enough to accommodate everything you are taking to Nepal. (Leave some room for souvenir
• Sleeping Bag Down or synthetic filled. A three season bag is required. We will supply tents.
• Foam Pad A closed-cell foam or thermo-rest style pad is adequate.
• Day Pack or Large Fanny Pack A day pack (1000-1500 cu. in.) With comfortable straps is ample to carry sweater, wind jacket/raingear, camera, water bottles, and a small amount of personal gear.
• Boots These should be light-weight with cleated or vibram soles. There are many suitable boots on the market. Do take great care before the trip to make sure the fit is snug and will not cause blisters. Do not wait until the trek to break in a new pair of boots.
• Moleskin or equivalent Just in case those boots don't fit quite as well as you thought they did once you start trekking 10 miles a day.
• Gaiters For trekking in the snow and wet ground.
• Running or Tennis Shoes or Teva-style sandals Ideal for daytime trekking at lower elevations or to change into at night.
• 3-4 Pairs of Wool Socks Bring pairs of different weights for maximum comfort and warmth. Recommended are the loop-stitch variety.
• Shirts Bring a few short-sleeved t-shirts, a long-sleeved woolen shirt and a couple of turtlenecks (a wick-away fabric, such as polypropylene is best). If you bring a few, these always make great presents for your guides or are useful for trading with local merchants for Nepalese or Tibetan goods.
• Long Underwear Bring both tops and bottoms. Wool, silk, or polypro is recommended.
• Sweater and/or Pile Jacket For layering.
• Rain/Wind Jacket with Hood and Pants Bring quality gear made of breathable/waterproof material to keep you dry. Nepal has a variety of weather conditions at this time of year depending upon locale and altitude ranging from tropical rainforest/monsoon to arctic/blizzard
• Down or Synthetic Filled Parka Keep in mind that we will be trekking as high as 18,000 feet.
• Wool Hat or Balaclava
• Sun visor or Hat Protect yourself from the sun. Also good as gifts or barter.
• Trousers Cotton pants or track-suit pants are fine at lower elevations. Be sure to bring wool or polar fleece trousers for higher elevations. Also keep in mind that most countries are not as liberal as the U.S. about men and women showing their legs in public. You will often be treated better if you look a bit more formal.
• Shorts For hiking and trekking. A note for women: During the day, away from villages shorts are fine, but a skirt below the knee is necessary when passing through villages. Loose fitting long pants are fine also. Again, Asian countries and traditional cultures are much more modest and conservative about skin exposure. Men: consider that passing through villages bare-chested is considered extremely rude.
• Wool Mittens or Gloves or Ski Gloves
• Towel and Toilet Kit Shaving supplies, tampax and other toiletries are not in common supply in the regions we will be traveling, so bring an ample supply.
• Sunglasses and Eyewear Absolutely essential! If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, it's a good idea to bring an extra pair. A non-electrical cleaning system must be used for contact lenses. Even if you do not wear corrective lenses, bring an extra pair of u-v protective sunglasses in case you break or lose a pair. Again, these kinds of things make great gifts or barter for Nepalese and Tibetan people.
• Sunscreen Buy it here or buy it Kathmandu, but bring a couple of SPF ratings. For higher elevations consider using zinc oxide to avoid sunburn.
• Plastic Water Bottles Bring two 1-liter size bottles.
• Flashlight or Headlamp Extra batteries and bulbs, too!
• Heavy Duty Plastic Garbage Bags Line your duffels and camera bags to keep everything dry.
• Sewing Repair Kit
• Pocket Knife
• Umbrella Light, collapsible for rain and shade
• Writing Materials, Journal The courses require that you write an academic style journal. If you would like to write a personal journal, bring an extra one. I you have an accumulation of extra pens or partially used notebooks bring them to give to school-kids along the route. They are highly prized by people in these regions and make great gifts and will win you lots of friends.
• Books Of course there is required reading for the courses, but you may want to pick up an inexpensive paperback for recreational reading along the way. There are several good bookstores in Kathmandu.
• Camera and Film A good automatic camera with zoom and panoramic features will work great. Bring lots of film. The scenery is spectacular and the culture fascinating. Film is expensive in Nepal, more so in Tibet. If your camera has a battery operated shutter, bring spare batteries.
• Binoculars Optional, but handy.
• Money Belt Useful for keeping passport and money safe.
• Collapsible Walking Stick/Ski Pole Optional, but can be useful on steep grades.
  
  

  This list is intended as a guideline. If you forget something, you can purchase nearly everything you will need in Kathmandu -- for a price. Also, you may have individual items that you enjoy or that make your trekking experience more comfortable. But, again, be space and weight conscious.