Packing for Mt. Everest

So, when preparing for a 3 week holiday, the most logical thing to do would be to plan what to pack in advance! Well, if you are like me, I wait until the last minute. This trip was no different! Thank goodness one of the members from the group, who is much more organized and efficient when it comes to preparing for a trip, shared his list with the whole group. But before I share that list, I thought I would share my own list of what I WISH I had brought. This might peak your interest as to what to actually bring after seeing my list! 

1. MORE CHOCOLATE!  

This should have been a given, but what I brought was not nearly enough to what my body needed for energy and to satisfy my chocolate cravings! 

2. Deep heat for those sore muscles. 

Thank goodness I fell asleep so fast at night. I was too tired sometimes to even notice how sore my body was! I also think I learned how to "sleep walk". After trekking for hours, your body goes into auto drive and you forget or don't focus on the soreness any more. Instead you focus on putting one foot in front of the other. 

3. Real shampoo! 

For those rare occasions when we had running water, (if it was hot that was a huge bonus) you don't want to waste it on bad products! What was I thinking of bringing the camping eco soap that enables you to wash your body, clothes and dirty dishes! The only thing that should be combined with shampoo is a shampoo/conditioner product!

4. Hand cream or baby oil. (even Olive Oil would have been nice!) 

You don't realize how much hand sanitizers dry out your skin. My cuticles were ripped after the second day of trekking and I had 10 more days to go on the mountain! They were so bad upon my return that I HAD to book an appointment the very next morning for both a manicure and pedicure! By the way, you read correctly, I HAD TO book these appointments. It was not an option. 

5. Q-tips. 

Ah, Q-tips. Such an innocent little piece of luxury that goes a long way after a couple of days of just walking in a dusty, polluted, and sandy city like Katmandu and New Dehli. I won't share with you what colour the Q-tip was after a few quick swipes of my ear! 

6. Acupuncture ball

Okay, this is not a top priority, but after a few days of what was notoriously called "Nepalese flat" (flat being used very relatively) terrain, my feet were longing for one of these! I might have even made money off my group by having them pay me for just 5 minutes of using it! Next time. :)

7. Ace bandages

In my profession, one would think I would have brought this important item. But in the excitement of preparing for the trip, I mistakenly took out my bandages from my medicine kit. On the trek, I improvised and used moleskin strips that I was able to wrap around my right ankle. Unfortunately I ran out the last day of our trek which was only 8 hours long through Nepalese flat, rolling and steep mountains!  I ended up using surgical tape which ended up causing a raw ankle! 

Last but not least, 

8. A small tape recorder

It`s one thing to have a video camera, but I would have loved to tape my thoughts and my emotions as I trekked through the Himalayan mountains. Every day was a different challenge and every day I saw something more spectacular then the day before. I also would have loved to capture my first thought when my eyes fell upon the majesty of Mt. Everest and when I first rounded the bend on the trail to see base camp from a distance! Moments like those are priceless. 

So there you have it. My ``what I wish I brought`` list.

The list below, is what I used to help pack just two days before leaving. Better late than never! 

Miscellaneous:

1) Passport with photocopy

2) Extra photos for potential passport/visa photos should I need them. Especially if I lose my passport! 

1) Insurance card

1) Airplane tickets with photocopy

1) Moneybelt

Bank debit card (call bank to let them know where I am travelling. 

One credit card (check to make sure the card is accepted worldwide and call the company to inform them of my trip

$700 US cash ($500 for trek food, $200 for India food) in a moneybelt

Day backpack

Backpack liner 

Sherpa nylon bag for my stuff

1) Camera plus extra SD card plus extra battery

1) 240V/120V transformer plus international plug

1) Pair of binoculars 

2) 500 mL water bottles (for purifying water, mixing Gatorade)

1) Hydration pack with siphon hose (AKA camelback)

1) -20C sleeping bag

1) Compression bag for storing sleeping bag

1) Compression bag for bulky clothing

1) Sleeping bag liner

1) Large quick dry towel

1) Small quick dry towel

1) Washcloth

10 feet of duct tape

4) large heavy duty bags

4) Large ziplock bags

1) LED headlamp with extra batteries

1) pair of extra shoe laces

Hand warmers

Toe warmers

1) small bowl

2) pairs of ear plugs

Journal and pen(s)

The book that never gets read

Updated music on my IPHONE! 

1) Pair of headphones for my IPHONE

Clothing:

1) Pair of boots

1) Pair of gaitors

1) Pair of very light weight running shoes

1) Pair of flip-flops (for showering in and then leaving behind!)

4) Pairs inner socks (thin, smooth)

3) Pairs heavy socks (merina wool) 

1) Pair long underwear

1) Pair of nylon pants

3) Dry wick base layers

2) Fleece long sleeve shirts

5) Pairs of hiking underwear

1) Down jacket

1) Rain parka

1) Fleece jacket

1) Pair insulated mitts

1) Thin poly under gloves

1) Balaclava

1) Turtle fur (a fleece turtle neck liner)

1) Sun hat

2) Bandanas

1) Pair of Sun glasses

Food:

25 energy bars

Electrolytes 

2 kg trail mix (my own mix of dates, walnuts, figs, raisins, sunflower seeds) 

30 Instant oatmeal packs with flax seed

Dark chocolate

Peppermint patties

Large zip lock bag of hemp seed

For flight out: Sandwich, nuts, chocolate

Medications / first aid:

Altitude sickness prevention

Antibiotics

Malaria prevention

Advil

Sudafed decongestant

DEET (mosquito repellent)

100 SPF sunscreen

Local antibiotic

Chap-stick with SPF

Foot lub stick to reduce friction AKA Bodyglide

Blister band-aids

Moleskin (thin)

Surgical tape

Bandaids

Scissors / small pocket knife

Antiseptic cream

2) Bottles of water purification tablets (50)

Toiletries:

2 rolls of TP in zip-lock bags

Toothbrush/toothpaste

Razor

Eco – soap

Dental floss

Deodorant

Ear plugs

Wet wipes

Anti-bacterial hand wash

Sewing kit with safety pins

Maxi pads (good not just for that time of the month! It helps absorb some of the sweat)

Ponytail holder 

Supplements

Multivitamin

Vitamin B

Calcium with Magnesium

Glucosamine with Chondroitin

Iron 

I hope these lists can be of use for some of your own adventures. I`d love to hear from you if you do use them! I love to share adventure stories!