India autumn trek gear discussion

The crux of knowing what take is knowing what to expect.
Please discuss with us anything you are not sure about.
This list is for our incredible autumn India treks - see Our treks.

The Autumn & Winter

'It is colder this year...' even our hardy staff felt the chill on our autumn 2007 treks - thus we have this special list for Joel's October/December India treks.

Dress standards

Cultural sensitivity is the hallmark of considerate travelers. Dress standards vary considerably around India—eye-popping halter tops and loincloth-clad saddhus to the Victorian ankle standard—but foreigners are judged differently. For trekking, dressing conservatively with covered shoulders and long pants earns the most respect, while skimpy tops and tight leggings invite unwarranted attention. Longer shorts, 3/4 pants are fine when hot. Skirts are not required for women.

Pre-trek

Delhi is at its most pleasant from late October onwards; although the days can be warm, long pants and shirt suffice, and a light top for the evenings.

The hill towns and stations we start from are mild in the day, getting chillier as evening comes on; a light fleece jacket, and in Shimla, Mussoorie, Gangtok and Darjeeling a down jacket. You may want to bring a shirt and tie for the Christmas Sikkim trek; the Windamere is fancy (oops, for the boys - girls bring that little black dress).

While trekking

Trekking in Uttarkhand (the new name for Uttaranchal) and Sikkim in autumn and winter can be cold, especially towards days end.

During the day all trekkers should carry a warm layer (fleece vest/jacket is ideal), a windproof/waterproof layer (Windstopper fleece or the soft shells are good) and for river crossings, a walking pole, sandals with ankle straps, or old trainers.

For walking the best upper layers are the wicking t-shirts that many companies make. They come in a wide variety, long sleeve, zip top, short sleeve. The long sleeves and collar versions are great to keep off the sun and are comfortable over a wide variety of conditions.

For trousers, all the outdoor companies make a wide range of travel and trekking pants, most of them amazing for the thought that has gone into their design. The ones featuring zip off lower legs to make shorts are handy. A good sun hat is vital, either wide brim or with a neck protector, or ordinary hat and light neck scarf.

Wind pants and gaiters are essential for trekking at this time, from the Goecha la in Sikkim to Nanda Devi east base camp.

In the evenings in India we have no lodges to retire to, instead our mess tent is cozy and well lighted; when it gets colder camping higher, we put a heater in to really keep warm.

A down jacket is ESSENTIAL for all these treks - you can get by without one, but every single trekker who turns up without one ends up borrowing one of Joel's spares - if you live in a hot clime and do not want to invest in one, we can rent you one at $2 a day. It is an 'essential luxury' as one of our trekkers called it.

A fleece hat, good warm fleece gloves are essential; I (Joel) carry a wind stopper hat and big primaloft mitts for those early starts; on the Goecha la day in Sikkim we move at 3.30am...its cold!

Who carries what

You carry a day pack with your camera, jacket, water, purifier, sometimes sandal and snacks. The horses, or Yaks, or porters carry everything else. A duffel is easiest to pack and unpack in the tents. They are readily and cheaply available in Delhi, Manali , if you want to buy one there and store the backpack or roller-duffel until the end of the trek.

Expedition-style treks - what you are planning for

Basically you should plan with 4 specific climates/functions in mind:

+ fine weather trekking in the warm middle hills

+ difficult and cold conditions when pass crossing/high country trekking

+ river crossings - on certain treks

+ very cold high country evenings

Obviously, much of your gear will fulfill multiple roles.

India gear discussion

Sleeping bag

You need a good sleeping bag for these treks; bag manufacturers are less then truthful about their bags - you need what they call in the UK a four season bag, and in the USA a -10 Fahrenheit / -23 Centigrade, and bags that have a colder rating are good as well. A -20F/-28C bag is a good, all round trekking bag.

On Nanda Devi, Kinnaur and Sikkim the water in your bottles can freeze at night, it CAN get that cold. In 2006 we had a mild autumn, in 2007 the Gods struck back and I was cold in a 0F bag. Remember there is 'survival' and 'comfort', and you want comfort. For an example of a sleeping bag, Joel uses a Sierra designs Echo bag on all the winter treks. This is overkill, but good sleep is essential; on our winter treks in 2007, almost every trekker had a 'below freezing' bag and almost every trekker had at least one/two nights or more of little sleep because of cold.

Sleeping bag liner

Cotton, silk or fleece. Saves washing your sleeping bag and adds warmth.

Inflatable sleeping pad

Thermarest or similar padding is great treks as the ground is hard, and pads add warmth. We provide a sponge foam mattress for everyone, but if you have your own Thermarest, bring it along.

Daypack

This should be comfortable and a good waist band that transfers some of the weight to the hips is most important. It needs to be big enough to take a jacket, fleece, water, camera and odds and ends. Erring a bit on the larger side is better, bags cinch down.

Boots

You need four season trekking (not mountaineering) boots to be happy. You can get by with lightweight boots but you can depend on there being snow, and once wet light boots will not dry.

For a happy trek you need comfortable feet. Good boots have: good ankle support, plenty of toe room for long descents, a stiff sole to lessen twisting torsion, and are light because with every step you lift your boot up. Look at the inner lining - leather is good and Cambrelle is even better, a material that eats smelly feet bacteria. Boots must be lightly worn in before trekking and this should include some steep hills to show up trouble spots. The longer the trek, the better the boots you need.

Socks

In the low country your feet will be warm or even hot while walking so quality cotton mix sports socks are best. Three to four pairs are enough. Thick trekking socks are better for higher up and cold evenings, four pairs. Mostly modern trekking boots fit snugly so wearing two pairs of socks at the same time is impractical.

Sandals/camp shoes

Good sandals such as Tevas are a necessity for river crossings (unless you like wet boots), and a luxury for your feet at the end of the day. Running shoes double as an extra pair of day shoes, or for the evenings at camp. Flip-flops, available for cheap in India, are good for washing in the river, and dry faster then Tevas, which tend to stay wet and cold after a wash.

Camp booties

Boots are not allowed in our dining tent, and these down or primaloft filled booties are heavenly.

Fleece jacket/Vest

Most trekkers consider fleece essential, but alternatives are a thick thermal top or a light down jacket. Layering is essential as the weather can be changeable. A fleece vest or jacket is easy to carry in your daypack, and layers well over a T-shirt and long-sleeved mid-weight shirt.

Down jacket/vest

 Essential for the cold evenings. If you don't already have a jacket, inquire about renting one. A down jacket is the best option, although a vest can also be brought along.

Wind/Rain jacket

Waterproof and breathable. Plastic ponchos or non-breathable raincoats are not suitable. Gore-tex (or similar) jackets are recommended for treks over passes or climbing trips. Lighter jackets should be a second jacket, easy to throw in the daypack for warmer days.

Thermal shirts/underwear

Good thermals, both tops and bottoms, are one of the secrets to cold weather trekking comfort. Expedition-weight thermals are the most versatile and can be worn as your high altitude trekking top or under pants on extremely cold days. Zip-up tops are great for changeable weather.

Nightwear thermals

Silk-weight is lightest and warm, mid-weight is perfect. Great for warm nights in the sleeping bag!

Fleece or insulated pants

Essential; great for the chilly evenings in the dining tent, or after unpacking camp.

Day-wear shirt

T-shirts are popular but a cotton shirt or mixed yarn travel shirt is more versatile. The collar protects the back of your neck and the sleeves can be rolled up or down. Take two so you can swap damp for dry.

Trekking pants

You will live in these. Light material, loose and dark-coloured is best. Bring a couple of pairs of pants and a pair of shorts. Again, shorts should be longer (knee-length, or just above) to avoid attracting attention (and humoring) from the villagers.

Wind pants

Essential. It is not necessary to have Gore-tex. Similar, non-waterproof is quite OK. Good soft shell pants, medium weight will also do.

Underwear

They're light, so bring enough.

Warm hat

Nice for the evenings, hats essential for cold trekking days. Joel brings at least 5 wool/fleece hats, you might get away with fewer!

Trekking poles

Definitely useful, especially on steep, rough terrain, but if you are not used to using them you can survive without.

Sunglasses

Bring a good pair with UV protection, and an extra pair is good just in case.

Mittens/gloves

A good pair of wind-proof gloves are essential and makes packing up camp on cold mornings much more bearable!

Water Bottle

You need the capacity to carry 3 liters; Nalgene are the very best for durability, and ease of use and filling; camelbacks freeze, and Siggs and similar are hard to fill.

Pee bottle

Very useful on cold nights!

Torch / Flashlight

Petzl Tikka's and other similar torches with LED bulbs are absolutely essential. You should have one in your daypack every day. Headlamps are ideal for reading in the tent and also essential for night toilet trips.

 Toiletries/odds & ends

Essentials for the month only. There are a surprising number of campsites where we can wash up, and warm washing bowl are provided in the mornings and in the evenings. We provide toilet paper, but you might bring tissues or soft rolls for the nose.

Towel

Bring only a small one trekking, or a camp towel. In the hotels in Delhi and Manali provide towels.

Sunscreen/lip balm with SPF

The sun is strong at altitude, especially after snow. Bring at least sunscreen and lip balm with SPF 15, better still SPF 30+. And bring more than you think you will use!

Moisturizer

A small tube for sensitive or well cared for skins. The air is dry and the sun harsh. Local apricot oil is also available in Manali & Leh, and great for hydrating the skin.

Sun hat

A light baseball cap or similar is ideal. A wide-brim sun hat is also good.

Bandana/scarf

Bandanas are perfect for keeping the harsh sun off the back of the neck; a fleece neck gaiter is also very handy.

First aid kit

We carry one with aspirin, Paracetamol, ibuprofen, decongestants, lozenges, various antibiotics for Nepalese varieties of diarrhoea and chests infections, Diamox (an acclimatizing aid drug), antiseptic, antihistamine cream, rehydration, bandages and band-aids, tough blister tape (but not moleskin) and the book Medicine for Mountaineering. We also carry an oxygen saturation meter to see how you are acclimatizing.

You should bring any personal medicines that you need.

Water Purification/filters

We boil water for drinking in the evenings, which you can bring into your sleeping bag with you and then drink in the morning, but water purification is essential during the day as we advise drinking at least 3 liters of water daily! The handiest system seems to be the Steripen. We carry purifying tablets with us, but it's best to have your own system as well, iodine tablets such as Potable Aqua, Polar Pur or Couglans. Plain vitamin C tablets take away the iodine taste.  Water filters are also good to have along, if you have already, but they are not essential.

Camera

If you have still not gone digital, bring lots of film. For you digital folk, we carry a solar AC/DC charging system but note there is not so much sun in winter - and it is for camera batteries - sorry no ipods or hair dryers!

Books

Bring a few of your favorites; we have a 'library' that we bring with us and keep in the dining tent as well. You can borrow books (please take care of them) and leave your old ones for other trekkers. We carry a compact Himalayan library, trek related.

Money belt

Most people find wearing one while trekking is a hassle, and keep it buried in their daypack (safer than in your gear or duffel bag).

Snow gaiters

Essential.

Crampons and ice axe

Not needed on our treks. For additional climbing discuss with us.

Evening Camp wear

Evenings are one of the best times of the day, when we retire to our expedition style dome tent - we cover the ground with  rugs, and lounge in camp chairs around a propane stove or candles. Dinner is casual but gourmet, served on low boxes.

Around camp, you can wear camp shoes, sandals with socks, or leather boots. You will need

+ a down jacket, light or heavy, and/or a down vest

+ fleece pants or sweatpants

+ fleece jacket

+ silk or mid-weight thermals

+ wool or fleece hat

+ thick socks

+ down booties

We have light blankets to throw around the dining tent for the evenings, but if you have a favorite fleece blanket, bring it along

Snacks and nutrition

You will feel your best with plenty of good food and by keeping hydrated. We provide good, nutritious food (plenty of it!) and the water. However, you will inevitably want snacks, energy bars, electrolytes (or lemonade-mix, etc) and similar snacks (or snacks for the tent if you're a late-night snacker likeJoel). Chocolate, chocolate bars, dried fruit bars and dried fruit are readily available in Delhi, but Clif bars, Power bars and the like are not.

What is available in India

Some very low quality gear is around in the hill towns, but unlike Nepal, outdoor gear is not really available.

Renting equipment

We sometimes have down sleeping bags and down jackets or vests to rent. Inquire with Joel before leaving.

Gear list

What you DON'T need

You don't need a mosquito net; we stay in good hotels where there are no mosquitoes and there is very little chance that you will ever get bitten. Although India is a malarial area we recommend that you DON'T take malaria prophylaxis because Leh, Manali and the trekking regions are NOT malarial areas. We can discuss this further if necessary.

What we provide

Our camping trips are full-service, with tents, sleeping pads, our expedition dining and cook tent, all supplies and food, ponies, porters or yaks and a fantastic staff and guides provided. You just need to bring your personal gear, a good spirit, and a sense of humour.

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