AdventureStudies Health and Medical Information
Back to Innovative Month May/June 2002: Taj Mahal/Dharamsala/Ladakh
Trekking is physically demanding like backpacking and requires the same type of clothing and equipment. Having the right gear will be the first step toward maintaining your physical and mental health during our travels. Please visit the gearlist for a list of the gear that will keep you warm, dry, and happy.
Medical facilities are virtual non-existent in the remote areas of Nepal and India. Certification from your doctor that you are in good health will be required before leaving for Nepal.
Please read the following statement very carefully. Our innovative months include some very strenuous treks, at hight altitude (often above 14,000 and as high as 18,000 feet above sea level), and are best enjoyed by experienced hikers. Therefore it is essential that you are in good general health and that we have ben advised of any medical problems in advance. Once you are confirmed on the trek, we cannot refund payments if your physician refuses to sign a release. (This will be enclosed in the formal application packet.) We reserve the right to disqualify any member of the group at any time if considered medically necessary, or to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Refunds will not be given under these circumstances.
Although we will have people trained in wilderness first-aid on the trip staff, we will not have a doctor. Therefore, any expertise or responsibility you may require regarding what medications or inoculations you or your physician should decide necessary for traveling in the regions we will be going to are left entirely to you and your doctor's discretion. I have included in this packet a suggested first-aid kit that should be carried by each trek member. Undoubtedly you will want to supplement it with the advice of your physician.
The better your physical condition, the more enjoyable your trekking experience will be. It is not necessary to train rigorously, but it would be helpful to do as much mountain walking as you can prior to the trip. It is important to break in your hiking boots and shoes before you arrive in Kathmandu to avoid foot blistering.
Trekkers occasionally suffer from coughs, colds, and stomach upsets in the hills. Most of these ailments can be avoided with some common sense and careful hygiene.
Our Sherpa staff will boil the water used for preparing hot drinks. They will also boil water each evening so you can fill your bottles and allow to cool before carrying it on your next day's trek. You should bring iodine tablets or a small bottle of iodine crystals to purify any of the water you drink along the trail. Iodine-based preparations kill amebic cysts, while most other purification systems do not. The portable water filters are nice, but most do not remove viral organisms.
It is difficult to obtain good drink mix powders or electrolytic replacement drinks in Kathmandu (which are also good for masking the flavor of iodine tablets and crystals). It is advisable to bring some with you (in a plastic container).
Suggested Medical Kit (A Major Kit will be carried on the trip for group use)
Although we carry a large amount of trauma gear with us on the trip, we also recommend that you bring your own personal kit. This list is intended as a general guideline and should not be considered a comprehensive list. Consult your physician for medical prescriptions and advice. Of course, you will have your own favorites as well.