Hi there,
Until now, the few treks that I have done have always taken place in tropical countries.
I'm currently researching for a trip to Nepal, from approx. October 10 to November 10, 2005.
I'm thinking of a 10- to 15-day trek -- but I don't know which one or where yet, advice on that aspect is also welcome. Is was thinking of a tea-house trek somewhere near the Annapurnas. It will be my firt trip to Nepal.
I don't have a sleeping bag. Should I buy one and if yes, what temperatures are to be expected at night during that time of year ? What kind of sleeping bag would be most appropriate ?
Clothes : I have a Lafuma gore-tex jacket with polartec inside and good "all weather" walking shoes ; would these be enough ?
What else should I bring ? Special socks, trousers ? Or would regular, lightweight, quick-drying trousers be enough ?
Lots of questions, I know ... thanks to anyone who'll take the time to answer a novice trekker ;-)
Cheers
(cross-posted on Indian sub-continent branch)
If your in decent shape you could do the Annapurna circuit. Depends on how fast you walk. Some will spend 3 weeks or more doing it
others will do it in 10 (like me - but I've done it 3 times).
You definitely don't need a guide. In October there'll be loads of trekkers on this route. A good warm sleeping bag is essential as you'll
be spending nights above 3000m and 1 above 4000.
If you want to take it easy and not rush I would recomend flying from Jomson and skipping the last portion of the trek. I would though
go to Marpha, a bit further down from Jomson (day trip back and forth) and have some Apple Pie. From Marpha to Tatopani isn't all that
interesting anyway. Just my opinion, others will have other views on that.
Bring as little as possible. The less load to carry the more you'll enjoy the magnificent scenery.
Check out yetizone.com for more info
Work on the principles of layers so that you can put on extra clothing, as you get cooler and take them off when you get warm.
A good base layer with wicking properties is almost essential to keeping your core body temperature regulated without the garment becoming a soggy mess. It dries quick and helps retain heat where necessary. Cotton t shirts don’t do this and you will cool rapidly after a good walk. Ar altitude and in cold weather this is very dangerous. There are loads of maufactureres out there; Berghaus, Lowe, Patagonia, Rohan are just some of the many makes available.
For ideas on what you might need, have a look through some of the guide books such as the TT guide to trekking in the Himalayas, or search through the internet for trekking companies, they usually give you a list of clothing that you might need.
As for sleeping bags, you can hire them in Kathmandu. But you can also get them from camping shops etc at home. I would recommend something that will keep you warm to about minus ten Celsius Lodges sometimes provide blankets and you could always put that over your bag if you wanted extra warmth. When it’s hot you could use the sleeping bag as a sort of quilt by leaving the zip undone.
The Circuit really needs about twenty days to allow for acclimatisation and to have a few rest days thrown in. The Sanctuary complete with Poon Hill will take about ten or eleven days. As its your first trip to Nepal, you don’t know how you will cope with altitude and conditions so take the time to enjoy the trip by giving yourself time!
Have a great trip and enjoy Nepal - its a great place.
Dave
My images from treks in Nepal and Sikkim
For me the essential is the best boots I can get. I can be cold, hungry, miserable etc but if my feet are fine then I am a fairly happy man at the end of the day. I have a penchant for taking 3 pairs of technical walking socks and changing them every day. Lets face it, your on a trek- your feet are the most important thing ( and well yes your head etc...) I would search for a great pair of boots and spend the next few months breaking them in and making sure you love them. It may sound trivial but everything else is for rent around there.
if your going to Kath you can pick up clothes for next to nothing so you really don't need to make an effort to take lots. a good thing to do though is start walking back home and be in good shape for the trek, it just makes it a more enjoyable time for you. Research the Net for ideas on what to take and if you have any questions feel free to contact me......I live in Canada, been to Nepal and love the outdoors!
You will love Nepal - Namaste _ !!
Have to agree with all other respondants. The circuit is doable, but with strikes and slowness of public transport it might be a bit of a push for you. I did a 7 day walk in Langtang then the Annapurna circuit in March last year and took 15 days from Besisahar to Pokhara. Langtang might be a better option for you - still fantastic scenery and challenging hills, or the Sanctuary (Annapurna base camp).
We walked to Jomson then flew back from there. The flight was a real highlight - right through the Annapurna range. On the way up we had the recommended rest day in Manang (lots to do there, you could easily have more) and then took three days to get to to Thorong La base camp (most people only take 2). They were short days walking but we took the afternoons to walk higher for acclimatisation and then back to sleep lower. We had no trouble with acclimatisation; the trick is to take the whole day walking to your destination to give your body time to adjust, rather than rush it. It's also cold once you stop walking so no advantage getting to your destination quickly when all there is to do is sit around and get cold. Make sure you attend the free info session at the clinic in Manang - it's very interesting and informative.
As for clothing, go for the best quality you can afford (like wool) rather than quantity, and wear layers. I had a really excellent polarfleece (Gondwana brand) with wind resistant lining and hardly ever got my gortex jacket out - even at night. If you don't have a very good sleeping bag you can hire or buy a better one in KTM or get a polarfleece sleepingbag liner. the teahouse will also fill your waterbottle with hot water which is cosy to sleep with - in the morning it's cooled and is drinking water for the day (like you do when camping) .
if you want the name of a guide for the circuit I can recommend someone who lives in Besi sahar - we payed him 500NR a day and payed our own accom/food.
Wheverever you go you'll have a great time - Nepal is brilliant, i'm going back to do everest region in a month.
Happy travels
Thank you so much for your help !
I think my boots are OK (gore tex walking boots) but I definitely need to buy thermal underwear and socks.
Since I'll only have 4 weeks there, it is maybe better that I stick to a shorter trek this time. Indeed I don't know how I'll cope with altitude.
Happy travels to you all
Hi Regine,
I did the high part of the Annapurna Circuit some years ago. From Besisahar (800 meters) over the Thorung pass (5400) down to Jomsom, where i took a plane down to Jomsom. This trek took me 12 days. Very beautiful. I did it with a guide and a porter. Feels safe, the guide can tell you about the culture and like this you contribute to the local economy.
If you are not sure you can cope with the altitude, you could try the Jomsom trek, for instance from Pokhara to the pilgrimage town of Muktinath (3700 meters would then be your highest point). Or do the Annapurna Sanctuary trek (up to 4000 or so).
You may sent me a private message, i live in your country.
Thermal underwear is essential if you are going into the cold regions. That is all you need to sleep in if you have a decent sleeping bag - which you can hire in Kathmandu. Most people wear as much as they can to be in their sleeping bag which is a big mistake. Whole idea of a "down" sleeping bag is your body heat warms it up inside your sleeping bag and if you wear heaps of clothes to bed then your body heat cannot get out to the sleeping bag. Just recently I watched a guy sleep just in his sleeping bag with minimal clothes on out in the open at 5950 metres. He says he does this all the time at high altitude providing it is not blowing a gale.You can also hire a "down" jacket instead of bringing one from home.
Altitude can be a problem if you do not takcle it correctly. You need to know what you are doing or else you could get altitude sickness. It would be better to hire a guide or if you can link up with some experienced people then you may be ok. Walk high and sleep low is the way to go - although there is more to it than that.
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