| Gear & Clothing |
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Whilst on an organised trek, it is best to pack all items for your trip in one nylon zipped bag (total weight not more than 12.5 kg.) which the porters will carry and one day pack which you will carry during the trek and have with you on the bus or jeep.
LUGGAGE
Large nylon zipped bag with lock. It is not recommended to put your clothing etc. in a back pack as the straps might get damaged while being transferred from bus to jeeps, jeeps to camp sites and during loading and unloading by porters each day.
Day Pack large enough for camera gear, cap, sun glasses, water bottle, jacket and other items you may like to use whilst on the trek.
Extra carry on for storing city clothes in Skardu
Money Belt a small money belt worn around the neck or waist is recommended for keeping safe your passport, travel documents and money.
EQUIPMENT
Sleeping Bag As you will be sleeping for four nights at Concordia at 4,700 metres or at Snow Lake and Hispar Pass at 5151 metres above sea level, your bag should be rated for 0 degrees F or 18 degrees C. Ratings are relative since the amount of insulation needed for a particular person to stay comfortable depends on their metabolism rate. A down bag will be warmer for its weight and pack smaller, but does not retain its insulative properties when wet. A water proof breathable shell or a bivy bag will keep the bag dry. A synthetic bag keeps you warm even when wet and is a less expensive alternative, but will weigh more for a given amount of warmth.
Trekking Boots The single most important item on this list. Never take brand new boots on a trek, make sure they are well broken in before departure. Good trekking boots are hard to get in Pakistan. If you are buying a new pair from abroad, look for medium weight boots of fabric or a fabric/leather combination. They should provide adequate ankle support. A vibrum or other deep lug will protect you from rocks and add support. Always use thick socks when trying shoes so that you get the correct size. You may also wish to get new grouted shoes that provide protection against water and are good while walking in rain or through snow. Make sure you can fit crampons on your shoes, as it is vital for crossing different passes.
Camp Shoes Jogging shoes or sneakers to slip in at the end of the day. Tiva sandals are ideal for this trek, as you can use them while crossing streams and also at the camp site for strolls.
Crampons You may need crampons on certain treks, sometimes only for one day. It helps in having a better grip on hard snow to have crampons fitted to your boots. Look for easy to fix ones. From our regular trek list, you would need to bring crampons for Gondoghoro La, Biafo and Hispar and Wartum Peak treks.
Thermal Socks The socks you wear are a critical element. A cotton/wool combination is useful while on the glacier, and for warmer conditions cotton socks are best. For those who are sensitive to wool, synthetic/cotton socks are recommended.
Liner Socks A thin, wickable material. Polypropylene, Capilene, Thermax and Drylete all work very well. Silk does not work nearly as effectively as any one of the above.
Polyester Fleece/ Pile Jacket Stays warm even when wet
Polyester Fleece Pants Good for afternoon strolls. Same as above
Rain Gear A rain suit is essential and doubles as a wind breaker, fitting over jackets and pants.
Thermal Underwear Is a good idea.
Hat Make sure the hat covers your ears properly.
Mitten or Gloves Useful at higher elevations and during windy conditions, when temperatures drop quickly.
Brimmed Sun Hat Very important
Bathing Suit
Toiletries Bring all your toiletries and remember to add sunscreen, chap stick/lip balm and laundry soap.
CLOTHING
Clothes for the trek should be durable, comfortable and easy to wash and dry. In good weather you will spend much of your time in a T shirt and outdoor trousers. You will need warmer clothes for evening in the camps. Temperatures fall rapidly as soon as the sun goes down.
Men can wear shorts once we are through the populated areas, ie from the third day of the trek. Women are advised to wear loose long shirts and baggy trousers the traditional Pakistani dress, as these are comfortable during warm conditions and also appreciated and respected by the locals people.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Sun glasses
Towel
Wash cloth
Bandanna/scarf for covering your mouth whilst riding in a jeep
Water bottle, with durable screw top
Spare laces for boots
Belt
Sun screen
Head lamp with flash light and extra batteries and bulb
Insect repellent
Swiss Army knife or similar
Nylon cord for a clothes line
Personal medical kit
Pocket size sewing kit
Lighter or matches for general use
OPTIONAL ITEMS
Thermarest we provide close cell mattresses but you may want to supplement for additional comfort.
Stuff sacks of various sizes for storing your used clothes
Toilet paper or travel pack tissues
Book
Note book and pen
Snacks
Binoculars
Camera, film, extra batteries, cleaning supplies and lenses
Cards/Frisbee etc.
Water purification tablets
The mountain guide will carry a basic first aid kit to be used in case of emergencies. You are, however requested to please consider carrying your own personal medication as suggested by your own doctor.
Equipment & Its Availability
Since this book is designed for beginners and novices so an introduction of the required stuff is also being included. Mostly the items required for trekking and camping are not available in Pakistan and the availability is only possible in the bazaars of Gilgit and Skardu where some second-hand items may be found. However availability of these items is not confirmed so it is a big problem to design a trekking program without the required material. The alternative option is to import these items from abroad, which is expensive and selection of an item without personal checking is quite difficult. However, few companies have started to manufacture some items of camping gear, which can be purchased from Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
An introduction of these items is as follows:
Rucksack
A backpack is also called as rucksack or haversack. A good quality bag does not put the weight on the shoulders. The weight should be divided into the bag in such a manner that the lower torso remains in ease and comfort. So whatever the brand of a bag or price is, the basic quality of the bag should be its balance and durability, which should be kept in mind while purchasing it. Few quality bags have adjustment in their frames to be used according to the height of the carrying person (Liter is the unit used for the measurement of size and volume of rucksacks).
There are three types of rucksacks in common use:
with internal frame
with external frame
without frame
Internal Frame Packs
Usually there are two flat bars inside the back of the bag, which keep the balance of the bag and divide the weight to be carried easily. The waist belt supports the weight and the shoulder straps do not exert the shoulders.
External Frame Packs
This type of bags is not very popular. They are usually large in size and good for trekking in low altitude areas.
Sleeping Bags
There are several kinds and shapes of sleeping bags. The basic quality of a sleeping bag is its resistance against the cold. Quality manufacturers mention about the temperatures against which the bags are suitable, and this depends upon the filling material of the bag. Usually they are filled with cotton, hollow fiber, polyester, synthetic fiber or goose downs, with a covering of normal silky or any water resistant material.
Apart from its filling, shape of the bag may also be different. Some common shapes are:
Rectangular Shape
According to its name it is usually rectangular in shape and could be utilized as a quilt or blanket. Three sides of the bag have zips for opening and closing. It could be termed as an indoor sleeping bag. This kind of bags is used in low altitude areas and is known as "one season bags". These are good for family trips by cars, boating programs or hunting expeditions.
Mummy Shape
Its shape is narrow on the bottom and wide on upper side with a cap for head and after inserting the body inside it looks like a mummy. It is used on high altitudes and could be useful for two seasons to four seasons.
Wide Body Barrel Shape
This is the most comfortable shape of a sleeping bag with relatively wider space, especially on the bottom side.
Mattress
Foam Pads
There are several kinds of mattresses. The lighter ones are foam pads usually one quarter inch thick. Another type of quality pads have a thick layer of upper surface but these are a little heavier. The most popular pads are closed cell foam pads in which neither air nor water moves through the individually sealed cells. Some trekkers prefer to use an open cell foam pad, which provide not only insulation but also cushioning as well, but this type may not resist against soaking.
Therm-a-Rest
This type has vacuum besides the filled portion, which becomes automatically filled on use and deflates on folding. In this type a foam pad of open cell is covered with an airtight skin of waterproof nylon, which is extremely durable and leak resistant. This type is a little heavier but more comfortable to use and at the moment has no competition.
Air Mattress
Previously these were very common but due to their heavier weight and required energy for inflation plus the risk of getting punctured, these are now obsolete.
Shoes
There is a great range of shoes available in foreign markets, while no quality trekking shoes are being manufactured in Pakistan. For easier tracks we can use common sports shoes but for glacier tracks good quality waterproof shoes are required.
The best trekking shoes are considered to be made of water proof material.
Gaiters
Gaiters are made by a waterproof piece of garment and fitted on the shoes. A gaiter blocks the mouth opening of shoes and usually covers the leg up to shin. This coverage restricts water and snow to harm the feet inside the shoe.
Tents
Tents have been developed into various shapes since their invention. Apart from shape there are tents of different capacity as well. Tents to accommodate a single person to a group of six or may be more as per its size are easily available.
A quality tent must be sturdy enough to withstand against high winds and snow dumped during night. Keeping above in view an aerodynamic shape helps out with the wind and steep sidewalls aid in clearing snow off the tent. Freestanding tents work well and so do the tunnel shape tents, which require only a few stakes to erect.
A shaped, dome shaped and star-view shaped are some famous designs of common tents. However for trekking purpose dome shaped tents are best to resist against high winds and are also good to keep the temperature tolerable. The most important factor is their free standing design. Though there are few designs which can not stand without guy ropes or pegs however usually we can erect them without any support.
Stoves
Stoves also have different shapes and different fuels to be burnt e.g. liquid gas, petrol and kerosene etc. Few popular types of stoves are mentioned below:
Gas Stoves
The best are gas stoves as they are light in weight and good in performance. They have several brands; GAZ - C - 206 is one famous brand, which could be purchased from Quetta or Gilgit. Similarly EPIGAS is also a very famous brand in gas stoves.
Petrol Stoves
Optimus 8 R is a good stove as far as its size and performance is concerned.
Kerosene Stoves
Optimus 00 are widely used stoves. Pumping the stove makes the pressure, transforming kerosene into burning gas. For some models, spirit or alcohol is also required to ignite the stove. Considering our local conditions and easy availability of kerosene oil even in far-flung areas, these stoves are the most popular among trekkers.
Technical Equipment
Ice Axe
In a climber's kit this is the basic & most important tool for climbing vertically on the ice walls. It is also used for the cutting of steps on hard ice, for digging ice or ground. It could be used as a stick while walking or as a brake while falling down a slope or to make an anchor etc.
Crampons
It consists of metal spikes and is fitted under the sole of shoes. It is used to climb up and down on ice walls and to walk on hard ice slopes. Crampons are available in different designs and in adjustable sizes.
Climbing Rope
As the name suggests it is used for climbing. Moreover, it is necessary to walk on glaciers & to cross crevasses. Harness & Karabiners are also required with rope.
Harness, Karabiner, Jumar & Figure of Eight
Although the above-mentioned items are not required for low altitude trekking but a brief introduction of these items may be of interest for the trekkers.
Harness, basically a waist belt, is a specialized item of climbing equipment made of wide nylon tape which is used to attach the rope to the climber and distributes the load in a fall.
There are different types of harnesses in market. " Sit or seat harness " is fastened around the waist. Some designs also include a thigh grip and some cover shoulders as well.
Karabiner or D-ring is a metal link with a spring-loaded gate in one side. It has numerous uses in climbing, the main one being as a connection between anchor and the rope.
Jumar is a mechanical device used to ascend a fixed rope. This device restricts one-way movement on the rope i.e. only for ascending and holds the weight and locks on rope to slide down.
Figure of Eight is a device for descending. Its shape is like the figure of 8, through which the rope passes in such a manner that one can stop sliding on the rope, if required and this action does not put weight of the load on the person holding or controlling the rope. There is a useful knot of the same name, which can be employed for a variety of purposes.
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