Gear

You will need a variety of clothing for this trip.  You will need clothing for dinning in Paro and Thimphu, cold weather protection while trekking in the higher altitudes and lighter layers for trekking in the lower altitudes.

You may wish to download / print this gear list which contains all the gear required for this trip as listed on the remaining tabs of this page. You may find this helpful as a checklist while preparing for the trip.

Equipment for mountain travel should follow two simple concepts: lightweight and functional.  Items that you pack should be lightweight, dependable, and adaptable to a variety of conditions.  During the trek, cotton clothing should be avoided because it dries slowly and is a poor insulator when it gets wet.  Instead, choose wool or synthetic fabrics that “wick” moisture and sweat away from your skin to keep you much warmer.

If you tend to get cold easily, bring one extra medium layer, which would be great for additional warmth around camp.  Please remember that figuring out what to pack is a balance between taking just enough clothing to keep you warm and comfortable, yet not overburdening yourself or others with items you probably won’t use.

BUYING GEAR:

The brand of clothing/gear you choose is entirely up to you, and there are many options available.  A good place to start for a variety of options here in Atlanta is REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) www.rei.com and sale prices are often found at www.rei.com/outlet/. Patagonia (www.patagonia.com) has very high quality gear, and a strong environmental commitment.  Other companies include North Face (www.thenorthface.com) and Mountain Hardwear (www.mountainhardwear.com). If this trip is pursuing a passion that will extend for years into the future, making an investment in gear by Arch'teryx (http://www.arcteryx.com/) may be something to consider. This is often some of the best gear available. Outdoor Research (http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/index.html) also makes some excellent gear. NLA's founder is especially fond of their hand gear and gaiters. For certain items it is probably best to find an outdoor store in your area, so you can ensure a good fit before you purchase. A few reliable online gear companies are Backcountry.com (http://www.backcountry.com/) and Moosejaw.com (http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/)

Upper Body

Head / Ears / Eyes

• Shade hat or baseball cap - some people drape a bandana down the back of their head and then put a baseball cap on to hold it is place.  This can be a flexible alternative while keeping the sun off your ears and neck
• Warm wool or synthetic hat that cover your ears
• Sunglasses
• Extra eyeglasses / contacts
• Headlamp - Black Diamond and Petzl both make several good ones.  Make sure to bring extra lithium batteries so that they will last in the colder temperatures.  These are indispensable for getting around at night, reading, etc., so don't go cheap here
• Balaclava - The lightweight, thinner variety
• Some people like ear-muffs; These are optional, a good hat, balaclava, and hooded jacket should really be sufficient, but this is a personal choice for some people (Optional)
• A neck warmer is another piece of gear for extra warmth if you feel you will need it (Optional)

Hands

• 1 pair liner gloves thin wool or synthetic, useful alone on mild days or as a layer inside other gloves / mitts for additional warmth
• 1 pair warm gloves (heavier fleece or wool )
• 1 Pair shell gloves or mitts Gore-Tex is preferred for keeping hands dry
• Instant hand warmers are always nice in a pinch, but really shouldn't be necessary on the trek.  Bringing appropriate hand protection as recommended above, should be sufficient (Optional)

Core Body

• 2 cotton t-shirts
• 1 synthetic t-shirt
• 2 long sleeve polyester, or other synthetic lightweight, light colored shirts for sunny days.  V-neck zipper provides additional venting options which are good for changing temperatures
• 1 expedition weight long underwear top
• 1 soft shell jacket, water resistant, with insulation, underarm ventilation zippers.  Full front zipper is preferable for ventilation
• 1 hard shell with hood, waterproof, pay particular attention to venting options under / on the arms and inner chest pockets provide convenient access without taking off your pack, truly a great design option
• 1 medium to heavy weight expedition down parka w/hood
• 2 women sports bras Synthetic, no cotton
  

Lower Body

Legs

• 1-2 pairs nylon hiking shorts - Quick drying type, not cotton!
• 2 pair trekking pants, preferably that zip on/off at the knees so they double as shorts
• Underwear, stay away from cotton
• 1 pair lightweight long underwear - capilene or other synthetic
• 1 pair hard shell pants. Waterproof / breathable, Gore-Tex or equivalent is best.  Should zip from the top and bottom - this makes it easier to put on over boots without getting undressed should the weather change once you are underway for the day
• 1 pair cotton pants (loose jeans/khakis) for in town
• 1 full length loose skirt.   Women should plan to wear skirts or pants when walking around town
• All clothing should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture resistant plastic bags

Feet

• 2 pair of liner socks, synthetic or capilene
• 2 pair heavy weight socks to be worn over liner socks
• 1 pair light weight socks, a good option for the lower / warmer parts of the trail
• 1 pair light to medium weight hiking boots.  Ensure a good fit with layered socks
• 1 pair light trekking shoes or sneakers.  Good for around the camp/lodges/towns
• 1 pair hiking gaiters, good for keeping dust, mud and rocks out of your shoes / boots as well as keep your feet dry as necessary
  

General

Sleeping gear

• 1 down sleeping bag rated to -10 degrees F (warmer if you get cold while sleeping)
• 1 full length Thermarest pad (bring repair kit)
• 1 closed cell foam pad

Pack / Gear Bag

• 1 large day pack* (approximately 2,400 - 3,000 cubic inches) *Although we will be using porters, you will want to have everything needed for a full day in your pack. You will not be able to get things from the porters during the day.
• 1 large (6,500+cu.in.) duffle bag for your gear.
• 1 smaller duffle bag can also be useful for leaving some things in Paro while we are on the trek
• Small padlocks for duffel bag

Medicines and First Aid Kits

• Extra Strength Excedrin for altitude related headaches
• Ibuprofen for general aches and pains
• Immodium or Pepto bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea
• Diamox (commonly prescribed as Acetazolamide) 125 or 250mg tablets for altitude sickness.  Please discuss with us before starting to take this medicine
• 1 small personal sized first-aid kit with blister treatments such as mole skin, band aides, some waterproof tape, anti-infection ointments, etc.  Your guides will have more extensive medical gear, but you should have the basics for nicks and cuts

Miscellaneous, But Important

• Passport and extra passport photos
• Airline ticket(s)
• VISA letter
• Immunization Record
• Durable wallet / pouch for travel documents, money & passport
• Plug adapter
• 2 Water bottles 1 liter wide-mouth Nalgene and 1 insulator
• Lip balm. At least SPF 20, 2 sticks. A string taped to the stick is helpful, to hang around your neck and some are now being sold with a cord already attached.  Handy as it avoid you having to stop and look for it
• Sunscreen. SPF 40 is recommended and should be relatively new since it loses its' effectiveness over time
• Pocket knife or small Swiss Army type
• Water purification Iodine tablets or Polar-pure crystals
• Toiletry kit. Be sure to include toilet paper stored in a plastic bag, hand wipes, and liquid hand sanitizer, towel, etc.
• Biodegradable soap
• 2-3 Large durable plastic bags, for keeping miscellaneous gear dry inside you pack.  Also nice for separating clean from dirty laundry
• Nylon stuff sacks for food and gear storage
• Large ziplocs are also useful for separating things and keeping them dry
• Insect repellent with Deet
• 2 bandanas
• Wrist watch or other travel clock
• Ear plugs

Optional

• 1 pair adjustable trekking poles.  Although these are listed as optional these can be of great assistance to people who may think of themselves and generally clumsy or with bad knees, ankles, etc., especially when going downhill (Optional)
• Favorite snack foods, no more than 2 pounds (Optional)
• Paperback books, cards, mp3 player (there are a couple of stops where you could recharge.   Avoid players with moving hardware as it may not function, remember, keep these items light weight (Optional)
• Binoculars (Optional)
• 1 light weight point & shoot camera or 1 large SLR.  Digital cameras are ok, but you must keep the batteries warm when not in use (Optional)
• Hydration bladder with drinking tube and tube insulator (Optional)
• A pee bottle for men and pee funnel for woman, some swear by them to avoid that chilly late night trip (Optional)
• Pictures of your home and family (optional)