THE LIST OF ESSENTIALS
After 50+ hours of research (mostly because I ‘need’ to re-buy 95% of my kit for the first time in 25 years) …
You will have most of this in stock today, otherwise rent in Nepal (the Expedition booking form asks you to state what you want to reserve for rental).
The devil is in the details here - this is the ‘essentials + optionals’ list, plus the best rated gear available today - weight is critical. There’s some TBA - details yet to come.
PACKS
Duffel (70L) - for international flights + for porters to carry your stuff
Back pack (35L) - for the trek
Waterproof pack liner x2
City bag (10L) - to leave gear behind in the Kathmandu hotel
TRAVEL GEAR - TBA
TSA pack lock x2 - for porter duffel + city bag
Passport photo x2 - visa on arrival + SIM card
TBA
CITY GEAR
To leave behind in Kathmandu hotel:
Clothes for flights
Clothes for Kathmandu (2 days / 3 nights)
Clothes for Singapore (2 days / 1 night)
Laptop - might need to work from Nepal if borders close
OUTDOOR GEAR
HEAD
Sun hat
Wool hat
Headlamp
Sunglasses - Category 3-4
Neck buff - for dusty cool air
UPPER BODY
Base layer - 150 wool long x2
Mid layer - fleece top + down jacket
Outer layer - soft shell jacket (optional)
Outer layer - hard shell jacket
HANDS
Liner gloves
Alpine mitts
Hand warmers x3
LOWER BODY
Underwear - 150 wool x2
Base layer - 150 wool longs x2
Mid layer - fleece longs
Outer layer - soft shell - shorts + longs
Outer layer - hard shell - full side zip longs
FEET
Liner socks x2 - stop blisters
Vapour barrier socks - stop frost bite
Socks x5
Tramping boots - same size as street shoe size
Alpine boots - one size up from street shoe size, to stop frost bite - rent Kathmandu
Camp boots - daily post trek
Boot insoles
Gaiters
Toe warmers x3
WATER
Water bottle x 2L (or 1L x 2)
Pee bottle
CAMP
Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat (in addition to snow insulation mat supplied by guide)
Sleeping mat repair kit
ELECTRONICS - TBA
Phone
Camera
Charger cable for each device
Power outlet adaptor
Power bank
Spare batteries
TBA
TOILETRIES - TBA
Face mask x5
Hand sanitizer
Lip screen
Sun screen
Insect repellant
Toilet paper
Small towel
Liquid soap
Wet wipes
Moisturiser
Ear plugs - do you want to sleep at night?
Eye mask - ditto
Ziplock bags
MEDICAL - TBA
Personal first aid kit - TBA
Headache medication - Panadol
Bodyache medications - Nurofen
Cold medication - Sudafed
Diarrhea medication - Imodium
Bacterial (breathing & diarrhea) medication - Azithromycin antibiotics
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) medication - Diamox
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) medication - Nifedipine
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) medication - Dexamethasone
Covid tests
TBA
FOOD - TBA
Snacks
TBA
RACK / TOOLS
Helmet
Harness
Twist lock carabiner x2 - belay device + safety sling
Wire carabiner x 2
Figure 8 (ATC may not work Nepal-wide)
Safety sling - 60cm x 2
Crampons - 12 point
Ice axe - with waist lease
Ascender
Poles - 3-part with snow baskets
Knife
Multi-tool
The devil is in the details here - this is the ‘essentials + optionals’ list, plus the best rated gear available today - weight is critical. There’s some TBA - details yet to come.
Add your thoughts / edits / questions to the comments section.