Everest Circuit - Predeparture Notes

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Pre departure notes
Everest circuit
Everest circuit map

Everest Circuit pre-departure notes

Following is the clothing and equipment list for your trek, with essential and highly recommended items listed. Supplementary notes are made after this list which are specific to the SEASON in which you are trekking, and also the LOCATION or ALTITUDE.

A separate check-list is also made for your convenience and simplicity. There is considerable diversity in expected conditions and climate in Nepal from one region to another, so please note with importance the additional comments applicable to your trek at the time of year you will be travelling. Also note that mountaineering trips have an additional list of items that are essential.

Essential Items

Documentation

Passport with visa, money (incl. cash / travellers cheques, credit card/s), airline ticket/s, vouchers, itinerary, travel insurance, health book, pen, World Expeditions baggage labels, spare passport size photos for some unforeseen situation.

Clothing and Equipment

WALKING BOOTS Suitable boots are made of leather or leather/cordura, depending on the length and difficulty of your trek, and should have ankle support and a durable sole, preferably vibram for better grip in muddy or icy/snowy conditions. Boots should be generous fitting with ample room for toes, noting that thicker weight socks are also worn in the cold and that feet can swell a little when you have been trekking in the heat, and also when trekking at altitude. If you already own boots, be sure that they have enough life in them for a trek in harsh conditions and continuous wetting and drying. It is not uncommon for stitching or glue to deteriorate in old boots on trek, so be wary of this. Likewise fashion style trek boots are not suitable even for a short trek as they do not provide the support or durability of a proper walking boot.

LIGHTWEIGHT WALKING SHOES OR JOGGERS these will be back ups for your walk boots should they give blisters, and also for clean, dry footwear around camp.

GAITERS (optional) but reccomended for higher trips where snow or mud is likely. Front opening are best.

SOCKS good quality socks are equally important as good quality boots. You should have at least 3 or 4 pairs of good quality walking socks with insulative and wicking qualities. This can be a wool mix eg Wigwam brand, or socks containing insulating hollow core polyester. Eg Thorlo, Mountain Designs Alpin, Ultimax. Cheaper socks tend not to wick moisture away and therefore leave you with clammy and cold feet, especially after the sun has gone. Cotton therefore is not suitable. You should have at least one other pair of socks for camp or as bed socks. One or two pairs are recommended for travel and/or hot climate conditions.

SANDALS OR THONGS (Optional) Suitable for around camp and at lunchtimes, washing, and if you have to get up in the night. One should never walk around barefoot.

RAINJACKET WITH HOOD should come down over the hips and have a proper storm hood. Goretex is most preferable however alternate waterproof, breathable membranes such as Hydronaute, Repel, Milair etc would be satisfactory. Spray jackets or shower proof parkas are not satisfactory. Storms in the Himalaya can be severe and your rain jacket should be of ample cut, and good enough quality to withstand the potential adverse conditions. Old raincoats often are no longer waterproof; check whether water still beads off it and does not soak in.

OVERTROUSERS the quality you take will depend on the duration of your trek and the season in which you travel. As a minimum they need to be breathable and waterproof. For high altitude treks and mountaineering they will need to be superior durability (refer to specific section on mountaineering trips).

WARM JACKET for general wear in all cold conditions; for travelling, trekking during the day, and in the evening. This is aside from the down jacket we provide, which is too bulky to carry during the day, and only available to you on trek. We recommend a 300wt polartec jacket, or goretex fleece jacket known as windstopper or windblocker. Both are warm when wet, and hard wearing. Windstopper, whilst a little more expensive, is better performing as it can fully block cold glacial winds that often blow in the Himalaya. Swan Dri wool shirts are also suitable. If choosing a thick wool sweater, check it covers the neck fully, and your wrists and lower back.

INTERMEDIARY WARM LAYER this is very useful when trekking in a slightly cool climate. A 100wt fleece top or lightweight wool jumper is very useful and can be worn under your jacket or raincoat comfortably.

2 PRS OF LIGHTWEIGHT PANTS & 1 PR OF SHORTS FOR TREKKING Should be loose fitting and quick drying if possible eg polyamide or microfibre. Note that cotton often takes a long time to dry in the mountains. Jeans are not suitable for trekking.

4 or 5 T-SHIRTS for trekking and travelling. Cotton is satisfactory and inexpensive, however some of the synthetic, quickdrying, breathable equivalents eg coolmax, bipolar, powerdry, are very effective and hard wearing in a mountain environment. Shirts with a collar or a scarf, will protect your neck from the sun.

UNDERWEAR approx 3 or 4 sets.

A PAIR OF WARM TROUSERS for camp wear and on cold days trekking. Thick fleece (200 or 300wt) or wool is recommended or fleecy tracksuit pants, but these are not effective when wet.

WOOLLEN OR FLEECE HAT

THERMAL GLOVES Polypropylene, chlofibre or Thermax are invaluable and inexpensive.

GLOVES/MITTS A thicker pair, wool, thinsulate, ski gloves or similar are necessary for potentially cold conditions.

THERMAL UNDERWEAR top and long johns. Polypropylene is inexpensive and warm in all conditions and quick drying. Other good thermals which are a little more expensive and longer lasting, are made of wool, capilene or chlorofibre.

WATER BOTTLE at least 1 litre, we strongly recommend two 1 litre bottles as the minimum, to ensure maximum hydration. They should be of good quality to withstand being filled daily with boiling water and will always remain watertight. Polycarbonate or polythene are more suitable than aluminium. Hydration bladder type systems are satisfactory but the hoses often freeze in the cold and furthermore, cannot be filled by a hot kettle from our camp kitchen. At least one plastic bottle will need to be brought to fill a bladder system. Bicycle bidons of pop-top type, nearly always leak and are not recommended.

COTTON SCARF to protect against sun on the neck and dust on the trail.

DAYPACK Minimum of 35 litre capacity, with comfortable harness so that a majority of the weight rests on your hips rather than shoulders. A more durable fabric will be more waterproof. A larger pack is more preferable for convenience and its superior harness.

2-4 LARGE/EXTRA THICK PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS OR EQUIVALENT These should be used to line your World Expeditions kit-bag to ensure your gear stays absolutely dry.

PLASTIC BAGS OR STUFF SACKS very useful for sorting your gear and keeping things clean and dry, in your kitbag and daypack. Zip lock plastic bags are effective at waterproofing your valuables; maps, medicines, writing material etc.

TOILETRIES keep to a minium, bio-degradable or germicidal soap and shampoo, comb or brush, deodorant, vitamin E cream for sunburn or cracked skin. Shaving gear for men, a battery operated shaver is convenient. Note : toilet paper is provided on the trek.

TOWEL small size, lightweight. A quick drying travel towel is convenient when washing from the bowl of hot water each morning.

TORCH or HEADLAMP with spare batteries.

CAMERA and FILM see the section on photography. Bring filter lenses for bright light, lens cleaning tissue, spare batteries, and ample film.

PERSONAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES Refer to the medical section of these notes. Note that your guide will carry a comprehensive emergency medical kit.

SUNHAT or CAP one that wont blow off!

SUNGLASSES good quality with 100% U.V. filtering. Bring a spare pair if you have prescription lenses. Consider bringing a pair of SKI GOGGLES as well, they give excellent face protection against the harsh high altitude sun.

Strongly recommended items

SMALL SEWING KIT

MONEY BELT or PURSE two can be useful, one for your valuables left at the hotel, and one for your cash on trek.

SELF INFLATING SLEEPING MAT (with stuff sack and repair kit). World Expeditions provides you with an insulated sleeping mat but a self-inflating mattress is an added luxury that is well worth having. Half length is adequate if you are considering weight and bulk. There is a variety of good quality brands that are not excessively priced. An accompanying chair accessory for these mats is also highly reccommended. Check around before buying or you may be able to borrow one from a friend. NB: Inflatable beds (eg Lilo's) are not suitable.

TREKKING POLE/S one or a pair help reduce the strain on your legs; they are excellent for steep descents and loose/slippery terrain. Should be adjustable.

PENKNIFE or leatherman multitool, on a cord.

SMALL PADLOCKS for travellling and storing your luggage at hotels etc.

PEGLESS CLOTHES LINE or cord very useful for drying things out.

SPARE BOOT LACES and WAX for boots with brush.

PILLOW SLIP optional to stuff your down jacket into to make a soft pillow.

BINOCULARS (optional) - very useful

READING MATERIAL, CARDS/GAMES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENT JOURNAL etc. a trek provides time to relax and enjoy your wonderful natural surrounds in good company.

CHOCOLATE/DRIED FRUIT & NUTS / SWEETS etc. you may wish to bring something you are partial to, but note there is ample food and drink provided on trek.

DRINK POWDER eg isosport, gatorade, tang, refresh. Well worth having a supply for the trek and readily available in Kathmandu.

SLEEPING BAG optional - World Expeditions provide good quality sleeping bags, but if you are tall, and/or have your own high quality sleeping bag, you may prefer to bring it - same applies to your inner sheet. We supply a cotton flannel inner sheet, but you may wish to bring your own silk or cotton liner.

Please note that "Everest Circuit notes" are copyright of World Expeditions, and information contained in them it's current as per 2001. For an updated version of this document, please contact World Expeditions