Gear Tips & Packing List for Trips with Mountain Hut or Tent Accommodation
Especially on European trips it is very important to keep your hiking pack light, cause there´s no porter service like in Nepal. You must be able to carry basically all your belongings plus the provided climbing gears (crampons, harness, ice axe, approx. additional 2,5 kg) yourself, day to day.
In Nepal you carry only the stuffs you need for the day. The rest will be carried by porters. Still you should reduce the weight, since the porters will only carry a maximum of 15 kg of every client, including the sleeping bag weighing around 2 kg and the bag itself!
Luggage to be carried by porters in Nepal, Tanzania etc. should be packed in waterproof duffel bag or similar. On some trips this will be provided by our local partner, please contact us if in doubt.
Put your stuffs in plastic bags, in case your duffel has a leak.
We recommend you bringing a light second bag for stuffs unneeded on the trail like cloths for sightseeing in town or during the flight home. This bag can be stored at the starting point. Or bring a big suitcase as main piece, leave it at the starting point with unneeded stuffs and go up the mountains with backpack.
On trips with hotel accommodation in one town like our Garda Lake trip, it is of course up to you to bring some more as long as it doesn´t exceed the airline luggage allowance.
Consider the list below not as a rule but recommendation. Still remember it´s our daily business going to the mountains, so we know it very well.
Clothing
There´s usually no real laundry opportunity on the trail. Don´t worry, we all will sweat anyway, so nobody cares ;-)
• One pair of sturdy worn in trekking shoes. For trips with glacier hike like Monte Rosa the sole should be rather stiff for crampons. Choose the size properly that you can wear them with double socks if it´s very cold. Still they should fit your feet well to avoid blisters
• One pair of crocs or light trainers or outdoor sandals, to walk around in after you´re done with hiking for the day. In Monte Rosa the huts provide crocs, but don´t expect a perfect size for you and those sandals are worn by thousands of others – as you like
• Two pairs of trekking trousers, one for during the day and one light pair for the evenings
• One or two pairs of thermal underwear. Remember above 3000 m the temperature in the mountains of Europe or Nepal can be freezing depending upon the weather.
• Two trekking shirts short and long sleeve, nylon or polyester preferred cause they will dry faster than cotton ones
• Three to five pairs of underwear
• Three pairs of trekking socks, two medium, one warm
• One warm fleece sweater
• Sun protection / hat
• Warm Beanie
• Insulated Gloves
• One down jacket, for Nepal: can be rented or bought in Kathmandu. Proper insulation means safety. We don´t take those who are not properly equipped
• One wind and waterproof jacket
• One light rain pant
.
Gear
• Water bottle minimum 1 Liter
• Thermos flask 0,5 – 1 Liter, consider the weight you want or are able to carry
• Headlamp with new batteries, because low temperature will reduce battery level significantly
• Sunglasses, at high altitude the sun is much stronger than at sea level
• Sleeping bag for around -10° C comfort temperature. In Nepal it can be rented or bought in Kathmandu. Not necessary in Europe since blankets are provided by the huts
• Sleeping bag liner, preferably lightweight one like silk or microfiber, for more hygiene and obligatory in European mountain huts
• Trekking poles. Be kind to your knees, especially if you´re not mid 20 anymore or not exceptionally well trained. Of course, they help you to keep the balance too
• Comfortable lightweight rucksack preferably with frame or similar to keep it in shape. It should have a volume of 35-45 Liters in Monte Rosa Italy, around 30 Liters for other trips
Electronics
Avoid unnecessary heavy devices. Think twice before carrying big SLR camera unless it´s your main goal to get the highest picture quality. If you haven´t hiked the whole day with your equipment before, remember you must carry it yourself during the whole trip. Three or more additional kilos on your neck or shoulder mean a lot in two weeks. Some days are already quite exhausting without such extras. A pocket camera is immediately ready to shoot if you mount the case on the rucksack shoulder strap. In extreme cold conditions store the spare batteries close to your body to keep them warm and ready to use.
And remember: there´s not always enough charging possibility and in Nepal usually a fee for charging smartphones and cameras.
Porter Service for Photographer
For those need to bring their heavy photographic equipment: please ask us for optional porter service available except in Europe. There will be lots of possibilities, but please note that we still have to stick to the group schedule during the day. For shots of milky way, time lapse in the night etc. there´s hardly any limit.
First Aid
• We provide complete first aid kit including high altitude one. Still it´s useful to have your own: Blister plasters, Ibuprofen, Imodium, „Antimo“. Should you take specific medicines regularly, please consult your physician before the trip.
Hygiene and Skin Care
• Toilet paper (in Nepal only)
• Small bottle of shampoo
• Microfiber towel
• Wet Wipes (especially for Nepal)
• Small piece or bottle of soap or shower gel
• Small tube of toothpaste and toothbrush
• Sunscreen with minimum SPF 20
Other
⦁ Chocolate as a reward in the evening ;-)
⦁ Cough sweets etc.
Documents.
• Passport plus 1-2 copies of the pages with photo and visa
• Passport photo
• Cash, credit card
• Travel insurance
• Booking confirmations
