What I packed for the Everest Base Camp trek in October
On 6th October 2012 I set off from Heathrow with my team of trekkers to Nepal embarking on a journey to Everest Base Camp. For some reason I have got into the habit of photographing all my kit before an expedition which has proved helpful for others who are planning similar trips and also gives me something to base my packing on the next time I return.
Here is the total list of things I took with me to Nepal for the Everest Base Camp trek and a few notes on the things I wish I had taken, and things I could have left at home. If you happen to come across this I hope it is useful for your own planning!
| Hiking boots 6 pairs of Bridgedale socks 1x compression/flight socks 2x pairs trek trousers 1x pair thermal running leggings 1x pair thermal base layer bottoms (worn as pyjamas) 1x thermal base layer top (worn as pyjamas) 1x short-sleeved shirt 1x t-shirt 4x long-sleeved base layer tops 1x fleece 1x down gilet 1x waterproof jacket 1x waterproof trousers 1x warm hat 1x Buff 1x pashmina 1x mittens 1x liner gloves 1x fingerless gloves 12 x underwear 2x sports bras |
Moisturiser Travel sized shampoo Travel shower gel Full size sunscreen Loofah Razor Antiperspirant deodorant Hairbrush Toothpaste and toothbrush Baby wipes Hand sanitizer Nail brush Toilet paper Travel towelDown sleeping bag Thermal sleeping bag liner Ear plugs and eye mask |
| Berocca Nuun tablets Sweets/dried fruit Biox Aqua drops (water purification) Sigg bottle 1l Camelbak 2l |
Mountain warehouse wet and dry bag 100l Small holdall for gear to leave in Kathmandu 35 litre Berghaus daypack 2x waterproof dry bags |
| Ziplock bags Nappy bags LED headtorch Notepad and pen Spare batteries E-tickets Cash and cards Passport & copy Sunglasses Adaptor Camera, spare batteries and battery charger Video camera and battery charger Mobile phone x2 and charger New Trent portable battery pack |
Prescription medication Diamox Insect repellent Paracetamol and Ibuprofen Plasters in all sizes Blister plasters Imodium Rehydration salts Antifungal foot cream Anti-histamine cream and tablets Tiger balm Lip balm with SPF protection Decongestant Throat lozenges Nail scissors and tweezers |
Things I wish I hadn’t brought:
-Biox Aqua drops – the bottles leaked and I lost all my water purification meaning I had to purchase bottled water which contributes to waste disposal issues in the area. I wish I had taken the tablet version of Biox Aqua.
– Base layer top – I brought four but I could have left one at home. However, it was actually quite nice to have something clean and dry to change into each night for the evenings in the teahouses, then being able to sleep in my thermals.
– So many snacks. You can buy almost EVERYTHING in Namche and virtually every teahouse sells snacks, fresh fruit, chocolate and drinks.
-Down jacket. I’m umming and ahhing about this one. I only used my down jacket twice; once for the first 30 minutes in the morning on the walk to Base Camp then again when we stopped at BC for photos and it had started to cool down.
I also used it on the night/early morning ascent of Kala Pattar – I overheated and fainted as a result.
If I returned to the EBC area I’d probably still bring my down jacket because I know it’s very warm and (it was too expensive not to get good use out of it) but I’d probably rely more on thinner layers including my Primaloft jacket (which I didn’t have at the time) with my waterproof over the top.
Things I wish I had brought:
– Vaseline – your face dries out in the dry high altitude environment, particularly around your nose and lips. You can buy this in Namche (which is what we did).
– Another lightweight Buff (you can buy these very cheaply in Namche) to ensure I always had one to cover my nose/mouth from the massive amount of dust. I would bring 2-3 or anything which can be used to protect your lungs from the dust.
– Dry cough medicine – I ended up with Khumbu cough and some soothing medicine would have been nice. I could have picked this up in Namche.
-More money than stuff! Along the trail you can buy tea, coffee, snacks, apple pie, clothing, medicine, gifts, maps, toiletries, water, hot showers, battery charging, internet access and lots more. I wish I had taken more cash to indulge in some of these luxuries and contribute to the local economy.
– Camp booties or slippers for inside the teahouse (or a clean pair of trainers). Apart from not wanting to trail dust and dirt around the teahouse, it’s always nicer to change your shoes in the free afternoon and evenings. For the acclimatisation afternoons wandering through the towns trainers would have been more comfortable.
Obviously packing for a trip is very personal to each individual so obviously this post is simply my personal opinion based on my single experience trekking in the Everest region in October 2012.
My husband has pointed out I may well be able to pack more gear than other people being small and slim, compared to him at 6’6 who struggled to keep within the weight limit for the Lukla flight.
Happy travels!