Please read this pre-departure info very carefully and circulate to all
on the trip - it will help everyone immensely in readying for the trip.
If you wish to ease up on the challenge days, that is possible, do let
me know the profile of students that sign up, and we will calibrate
accordingly.
What to expect
Note: Please keep your personal items to a minimum (besides the
essentials) so that your sack is light and easy to carry. You would be
carrying your own sack with 2 night change only. We will carry sleeping
bags. A min 30 liter backpack is recommended.
Temperatures & climate : Temperatures on the trek will vary from 25-30
degrees maximum to a minimum of 4-8 degrees Celsius. Its best to be
prepared for lower temperatures due to wind chill or the weather turning
bad. The days are hot and the nights refreshingly cool.
What to carry: Keep it light - although what you carry with you is a very
personal decision. Some of our guests love to travel as light as possible
while others are only happy when they have countless bits of equipment for
every possible occurrence, most of which will never be used. The list you
have covers all essentials that you must carry.
Its important to carry things you need for the day easily accessible.
Things such as your camera, extra film rolls, water bottle, sweets,
rehydration
powders, waterproofs, toilet paper, a fleece or a jumper. It is also
advisable to carry a small flashlight in your daypack, just in case.
Good footwear for the trek and biking is very important - most trails in
the Indian Himalayas are pretty rough and steep so a good pair of shoes is
important. A worn in shoe
is the best one to bring but if you think of getting a new one then err on the
side of getting a lose one than a tight one. Socks, both for walking and a
pair of warm ones for keeping feet warm inside the tent at night, is a good
bet. For the river leg, please carry strap sandals.
Clothes: A good base layer which could be a thermal top (polypropylene),
with a T-shirt on top will keep you warm and dry. Mid layers provide
insulation so anything that is warm will do e.g. a medium thickness woolen
jumper or a mid-weight fleece top, along with another lightweight fleece top
will suffice. If you really feel the cold, substitute the thinner layer with a
down jacket. The outer layer is the final layer between you and the
elements and must be capable of keeping out the wind, rain and snow. Any
good waterproof, windproof jacket would do the job. Leg wear in the form of
thermal long johns are invaluable. Cotton trousers or long skirts (long skirts
for ladies also double as a `port-a-loo') worn over this layer can
keep you very comfortable. A good sun hat is very essential. Sunglasses
which offer 100% UV protection are necessary to combat strong daylight.
A good quality sleeping bag ensures a good nights sleep after a long day
outdoors. Do not compromise on your sleeping bag - err on the side of
carrying a warmer bag, than carrying a light one which may give you many
sleepless nights. A -5 celsius bag will suffice.
Carry any personal medication that you may need, and its an absolute
must to let us know well in advance should you be suffering from any
particular ailment.
How to carry: Its best to carry your belongings in a backpack. A bum /
waist bag is handy to have your camera, film rolls, flashlights (handy when
visiting monasteries / temples) and a guidebook, when you are sightseeing.
Pack similar things such as clothes, washing things, camping equipment
etc.
in separate stuff sacks or polythene bags so they are easier to pull out and
add to the waterproofing in your bag. Your rucksack should be a tough
one.
A 2 liter hydration pack is recommended as it is a great aid to
hydration besides a liter bottle with rehydration salts. 3 liters before 3
pm ensure you will noyt suffer from dehydration.
A day on the trail begins with breakfast at 7 am by which time; you are
expected to vacate your tent so packing can begin. Your help with setting
up
and packing up of tents. We aim to usually be on the trail /river by 8:30 am
and reach our camp for the day by 2-3pm, if not earlier. Long days on the
trail may mean an earlier start and a 8-10 hour day. Lunch is usually had on
the way, and you'd get into camp for a welcome cup of tea. You will sleep
inside tents. Karri mats are provided for you to sleep on and are placed
under your sleeping bag. Toilet tents are also available on the trips.
It will help for you all to carry some easy to access medicine on the trip, for
headaches, motion sickness, diarrhea, constipation, and some
re-hydration powders like Electral etc. It's also a good idea to have a roll of
toilet paper accessible should you need to go.
Our crew of guides will also be supplemented by a cooking crew, which
would prepare the days meals for 5 days that we are camping out. Menus
vary from Indian fare to Chinese, pasta, cold cuts, sandwiches, eggs etc..
You will be surprised by the variety. We provide you safe drinking water
throughout the expedition - we use only KATADYN EXPEDITION water
filtration system, which is used by most wilderness expeditions, including
those going to Mt. Everest.
CHECKLIST FOR ESSENTIAL PERSONAL ITEMS: For the raft, best
gear will be quick drying shorts / quick drying t-shirts / sandals /
thermals.
01. Warm Sleeping Bag - minus 5 recommended (Celsius) at the very least
02. Woollens/thermal underwear
03. Wind/rain proof jacket
04. Hiking shoes & GOOD strap sandals - something which will last the
trip.
05. Socks
06. Water Bottle / hydration pack 2-3 liters
07. Flash Light - important. Don't forget spare batteries.
08. Sun Shade/Hat with Brim.
09. Sunglasses -& don’t forget the eyeglass retainers!
10. Sunscreen/Sun block SPF 70 and above
11. Vaseline/Lip Salve
12. Insect Repellent
13. Personal Toiletries - towels/soap etc.
14. Karimat (optional)
15. Small daypack to carry camera, packed lunch, water bottle and
wind/rain jacket on a walk.
16. Long trousers / long shirts / Tshirts etc.
17. Swim suit for ladies - a bikini top and bottom is great for wearing under
the shorts/T shirt, or even a wetsuit
18. NO electronics, sand gets everywhere !
Note: Please keep your personal items to a minimum (besides the
essentials) so that your bag (No hard shells please) is light and easy to
carry.
Many thanks and do let me know if you need any other information.