Necessary gear in Tibet

Arnie, Tibet's high regions, very high indeed, well over 5000m in many regions, get very cold at night and in poor weather. If you head out to Mt K soon, it is late summer, so warmish days in the high UV, but much cooler nights, not much above freezing could be expected.

Some trekking advice: do yourself a favour, join the 21st century and buy some polypropylene thermal underwear, on sale for cheap everywhere. Extremely light; I walk in 'em, rain, hail or shine. Turf the grandad-era woollens. Ditto for trousers, try light nylon pants; and a windproof shell. Take a good thermal beanie/balaclava, sunnies and suncream. And a hat that will not blow off in the everpresent strong winds.

Tent is a great idea, IMO; if you do not have one, you will have to mooch in gompas or large tents around the kora and at EBC, or stay at Dzarong Phu in the GH there. Same with a stove, you can cadge food most anywhere, but you gain much by having independence...and a light gas stove costs, what, $40?

15 kgs is pretty light for a travel pack. My suggestion for walking in these high places is to arrange a porter; people do this at Darchen for Mt K, cost is mimimal and you inject some bucks back into the local economy - any weight beyond a camera and shellwear/snacks is a lot to haul up steep high passes - and they don't come much higher than the 5630m Drolma La at Mt K...so leave most of your travel stuff at Darchen in the GH lockup and get a porter to carry the rest, hopefully less than 10 kgs - they are strong, but little guys..a final note: the river next to our tent [in late June 2006] froze, and it was as cold as i have experienced on a serious walk, estimate around -20C...I took a series of photos of the dawn sunlit north face of Mt K in sharp wind and then spent 30 minutes trying to get warm in my s/bag...good luck to you with weather conditions.

If you walk off any distance in the direction of Chomolangma from EBC, you had better know what you are doing...seek advice on this 'excursion' first. I am assuming you know enough about acclimatisation and the exertion of breathing air with half the oxygen one gets at sea level.

Hi Arne

Phillip's info is prettty spot on. You can get by without stove and tent but you are then forced to stay in sketchy local monasteries or tent style teahouses. You have way more peace and quiet and independence wiith your own tent and stove.

Forget heavy wool pants and find yourself some synthetic thermals or even some light weight down or synthetic pants (they roll up super small and keep you toasty warm in cold teahouses or your tent. I would also never travel out west without a good down jacket. Also make sure you have a good 4 season sleeping bag. All this can be found for cheap in Kathmandu. Even with all this stuff you should be able to get your pack down below 15kgs. You don't need to bring food as long as you are happy on a diet of noodles! They can be bought in all inhabitated places in West Tibet.

Last time I did the Kailash kora we found some super friendly porters so we only carried lightweight day packs. Watch out of porters though!......they are not all honest and friendly out there!!

West Tibet is a magical place.......enjoy!!

CJ

Do the porters carry their own supply? I have a very small 1 person tent and a small stove, just big enough to cook for 1 person.

My porters carried their own tsampa. They also ate the instant noodles on sale at the tea houses. If you bring snacks, it'd be nice to share with them.

Friends...
Thank you for this imput. I have a 1-man tent and stove which I will take. I'll leave the wool pants in Kathmandu. I made dehydrated fruit and jerky back home which I brought along and think I'll take with me. An experienced backpacker, I have a down parka and sleeping bag. Also thermarest sleeping pad. I think I'll be fine. Nice to know about the porters and storage in Darchen. I suspected such options were available. Looking forward to this, something I've wanted to do ever since I saw a postcard of Mt. Kailash in Kathmandu over twenty years ago. Now all I have to do is get to Lhasa!
...Arnold