K2 NORTH RIDGE GEAR LIST

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WE’VE USED A LOT OF LISTS FOR PACKING OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE FOUND THE BEST WAY TO END UP WITH THE RIGHT GEAR WHEN YOU NEED IT IS TO LIST IT BY PHASE. ESPECIALLY WITH HIGH ALTITUDE CLIMBING, PEOPLE CAN GET BLINDED BY ALL THE COOL GEAR LIKE BOOTS & HARDWARE, THEN OVERLOOK THE MUNDANE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE A TRIP ENJOYABLE.

GO LIGHT – BUT NOT TOO LIGHT. GEAR NEEDS TO BE FIT FOR PURPOSE AND IF THAT MEANS AN EXTRA HUNDRED GRAMS ON BOOTS, JACKETS OR SLEEPING BAGS TO GET THE RIGHT FIT IT’S A NO-BRAINER. WHEN YOU HAVE A RESTING HEART RATE OF 39 LIKE STEVE HOUSE DID IN HIS PRIME, THEN YOU CAN START COPYING HIS GEAR.

WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GET STUCK REORGANIZING EVERYTHING IN-COUNTRY, WASTING TIME & POTENTIALLY LOSING THINGS. THE POINT OF THIS LIST IS TO PRE-ARRANGE YOUR EQUIPMENT SO IT IS ACCESSIBLE WHEN YOU NEED IT AND CAN BE TRANSPORTED EFFICIENTLY.

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TRAVEL & APPROACH

KEPT AS ONE, THIS STUFF IS YOUR DAILY NEEDS FROM HOTEL TO BASECAMP INCLUDING AROUND TOWNS ON THE WAY TO THE TRAILHEAD. AS WE TRAVEL THROUGH LESS TOURISTED AREAS IT PAYS TO KEEP THINGS LOW KEY, WHICH DOESN’T MEAN DRESSING LOCAL, BUT AVOIDING LOOKING LIKE A PACKAGE DEAL TOURIST. XINJIANG IS ISLAMIC, THOUGH NOWHERE AS STAUNCHLY AS PAKISTAN, BUT THE SIGHT OF HAIRY ARMS & LEGS WILL GET ATTENTION. WOMEN HAVE NO DRESS RESTRICTIONS.

NOTE; THIS IS NOT THE BALTORO, LET ALONG THE KHUMBU. THE APPROACH OVER THE ARGHIL PASS AND ALONG THE SHAKSGAM RIVER IS A LEVEL OF WILDERNESS FEW KNOW. IT’S 99% PROBABLE WE WILL BE THE ONLY PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY – THERE’S NO TEA HOUSES, NO MAINTAINED TRAILS, NO SIGN POSTS & NO RELAY OF PORTERS AND TREKKERS COMING PAST. THIS MEANS FOOTWEAR THAT ISN’T UP TO IT, RUNNING OUT OF SUN CREAM OR WATER, GETTING LOST OR TWISTING AN ANKLE HAVE BIGGER CONSEQUENCES, AND SO NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR.

THIS APPROACH ALSO HAS THE (IN)FAMOUS RIVER CROSSING(S) AND THOUGH THE ANIMALS AND HERDERS HAVE A HANDLE ON IT AND WE OVERSEE ALL GEAR IS CARRIED PROPERLY AND SAFELY IN BARRELS (DUFFELS CAN FILL WITH WATER AND DROWN AN ADULT CAMEL), IT PAYS TO HAVE YOUR GEAR IN A DRY BAG.

• APPROACH BOOTS, SUITABLE FOR GLACIER WALKING (NO TRAIL SHOES FROM THE TRAIL HEAD)
• CAMP SHOES (SNEAKERS OR SIMILAR FOR TIRED FEET AROUND CAMPS)
• TREKKING SOCKS X 4
• SHIRTS, LONG SLEEVE
• PANTS, LONG
• SUN SCARF
• SUN HAT
• SUNGLASSES

• DAY PACK, APPROX 40L
• DRY BAG, FOR THE RIVER CROSSING
• TREKKING POLE(S)
• WATERBOTTLES 2 X 1L
• HEADTORCH APPROX 250 LUMEN MUST HAVE RED LIGHT
• EMERGENCY BLANKET
• WHISTLE
• BINOCULARS 8X42 (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

• PERSONAL SUPPLIES, TOILETRIES, MEDICATIONS, CONTACT LENSES, PHONE ETC
• PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT, ADHESIVE BANDAGES, SWABS, BUTTERFLY SUTURES, COMPRESSION BANDANGE, SPORTS TAPE, PAIN KILLERS, ASSORTED GAUZES, STERILE GLOVES.
• PERSONAL SECURE SUPPLIES, PASSPORT, ID, COPIES, MONEY ETC. WEATHER PROOFED & CONCEALABLE

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BASECAMP

THIS STUFF IS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, THE BETTER YOU CAN RELAX IN CAMP THE BETTER THINGS GO ON THE PEAK. CLIMBERS USE THEIR OWN BASIC EATINGWARE, SO ARE FREE TO ADD TO IT WITH MOKA POTS & WINE GLASSES. SOME OF THIS WILL BE USED AT CAMPS ON THE WAY IN SO PACK IN IT’S OWN DUFFEL IDENTIFIABLE AS SUCH.

• BELAY PANTS, SYNTHETIC, FULL SIDE ZIPS
• BELAY JACKET, SYNTHETIC (OR USE 8000m JACKET)

• COFFEE CUP
• KNIFE, FORK, SPOON SET, UNBREAKABLE,
• BOWL, UNBREAKABLE
• PLATES X 2, UNBREAKABLE
• MESS BAG FOR KEEPING THE ABOVE
• WATERBOTTLES X 2 1L EA,
• THERMOS, 1L, CLIP LOOP
• 50cm X 50cm FOAM FOR USE AS SEAT CUSHION (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

• ELECTRONICS, CHARGERS, KINDLES, CAMERAS, BATTERYS, SOLAR (NO DRONES)
• TENT LIGHT
• ENTERTAINMENT, BOOKS, GAMES, MAPS, BINOCULARS ETC
• REPAIR KIT; SCISSORS, SPINNAKER TAPE, SEWING KIT, MULTI-TOOL, SHOE GOO
• CAMP SHOES, TRAIL SHOES OR SIMILAR
• WASHING POWDER

• SLEEP WEAR
• SLEEPING BAG, SEPARATE FROM HIGH CAMP BAG OPTIONAL, ZIP OPEN TO USE AS QUILT
• STUFF SACK TO USE AS PILLOW, STUFF WITH MOUNTAIN WEAR
• EMERGENCY BLANKET, USE OVER TENT TO REFLECT HEAT (REFLECTIVE SHADE CLOTH IS BEST)

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CLIMBING

THE NORTH RIDGE IS MIXED ALPINE CLIMBING ALL THE WAY SO GEAR REFLECTS THAT. THINGS NEED TO BE REFINED, SIMPLE & TECHNICAL – THIS IS NOT SINGLE AXE JUGGING WITH 10 POINT CRAMPONS AND YOU WON’T BE STAYING IN CAMPS WHERE YOU WANDER AROUND TO PUT YOUR HARNESS ON, IN FACT YOU WILL POSSIBLY SLEEP IN IT. ALL THAT HARDCORE GEAR IN THE CATALOGUES WAS DREAMT UP FOR THIS.

IT IS VITAL YOUR LARGE PACK IS BIG ENOUGH TO FIT YOUR SHARE OF THE TEAM GEAR LIKE TENTS & ROPES. GO BIGGER RATHER THAN SMALLER SO YOU CAN EASILY STUFF GEAR IN INSIDE A CRAMPED TENT. YOUR SUMMIT PACK NEEDS TO CARRY JUST SOME GLOVES, FOOD, WATER, CAMERA & SURVIVAL BAG SO SHOULD BE VERY LIGHT, VERY SIMPLE AND SIZED TO BE EASY TO USE.

UNUSED UNTIL BEYOND BASECAMP, IT CAN BE STORED IN A DUFFEL, OR BETTER STILL A HAULBAG READY FOR CARRYING UP THE GLACIER.

TIME BETWEEN ROTATIONS ON THE MOUNTAIN IS ENOUGH TO WASH CLIMBING CLOTHES, MAKING IT UNNECESSARY TO CARRY EXTRA LAYERS.

• SECOND HEAD TORCH, 250 LUMENS, MUST HAVE RED LIGHT
• HEADWEAR WARM, BEANIE ETC
• HEADWEAR SUN, VISOR OR CAP
• HEADWEAR HEAD SOCK, X 2
• HEADWEAR WINDPROOF MASK, BALACLAVA
• HEADWEAR FACEGLOVE SUN MASK
• EYEWEAR, SUNGLASSES REGULAR
• EYEWEAR, GLACIER
• GOGGLES, ORANGE LENS, KIDS SIZE

• GLOVES FULL CLIMBING (INC GAUNTLET), LIGHT CLIMBING, LINERS X 3
• MITTS, DOWN WITH RETENTION CORDS (MUST HAVE)

• BOOTS 8000m SPECIFIC DOUBLE BOOTS
• CUSTOM INNERS (RECOMMENDED)
• INSOLES IF REQUIRED
• SOCKS, PREFERABLY NEW SYNTHETIC IE PRIMALOFT X 2 PAIRS

• BASELAYER LEGS (ONE PIECE OPTIONAL) MEDIUM WEIGHT
• BASELAYER TOP, HOODED, CHEST POCKET
• SHELL JACKET, LIGHT BUT CLIMBING FEATURES
• SHELL PANTS, SOFTSHELL OR HARDSHELL
• MIDLAYER TOP, SYNTHETIC INSULATION, HOODED
• DOWN SUIT, ONE PIECE, TWO PIECE OR DOUBLE SUIT

• SURVIVAL BAG, 2P SIZE, CARRIED IN SUMMIT PACK

• HELMET, HARDSHELL (NO FULL FOAM)
• HARNESS, ALPINE, LOW PROFILE, STEP THROUGH
• CLIPPERS X 2, ATTACHED TO HARNESS
• 20m X 4mm CORD (RATED TO APPROX. 350kg), SMALL STUFF SACK OR CHALK BAG, ATTACHED TO HARNESS
• SMALL KNIFE, RETAINER LOOP, INSIDE CORD BAG
• BELAY DEVICE, ATC FOR 8mm ROPES
• RAPPEL DEVICE, FIGURE 8
• SCREW GATE KARABINERS X 5 (NO AUTO LOCKING EXCEPT DOUBLE GATES)
• WIRE GATE KARABINERS X 10
• ASCENDER, WITH LANYARD & OVAL BINER
• MICRO-ASCENDER, ATTACHED BY CORD TO OVAL BINER
• SAFETY LANYARD, ADJUSTABLE, WITH LOCKING BINER, ATTACHED TO HARNESS
• TOOL LEASHES, DOUBLE
• TOOLS, TECHNICAL MIXED ALPINE, WITH HAMMERS
• ICE AXE, SINGLE (OPTIONAL)
• CRAMPONS, VERTICAL POINTS FOR MIXED ALPINE
• CRAMPON REPLACEMENT PARTS, BAIL, STRAP, BAR & HEEL BAIL
• CRAMPONS, LIGHTWEIGHT STRAP ON OR MICRO-SPIKES FOR GLACIER TRAVEL

• CLIMBING PACK, LARGE APPROX 70L
• SUMMIT PACK, APPROX 20L

• TENT, ALPINE (OPTIONAL)
• SLEEPINGBAGS, FOR BC & HIGHCAMPS
• BIVY BAG, OPTIONAL
• SLEEPING MATS, CLOSED CELL AND INFLATING, MUST HAVE CLOSED CELL OPTION
• STUFF SACK. LARGE FOR PERSONAL ORGANIZATION, MESH RECOMMENDED
• LARGE SNOW BAG, APPROX 50L
• INSULATED TENT BOOTS, WITH SOLE & CLIP LOOPS
• ACCESSORY BINERS & CORD
• SMALL PLASTIC SNOW BRUSH
• PISS BOTTLE, 1L, CLIP LOOP ATTACHED
• CUP, INSULATED WITH SCREW ON LID & CLIP LOOP
• SPOONS X 2 UNBREAKABLE

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PACKING

PACK SENSIBLY. DON’T JUST DUMP THE WHOLE LOT RANDOMLY INTO DUFFELS, AND DON’T SHOE-HORN EVERYTHING INTO OVER-STUFFED BAGS EITHER. THE MAIN THING YOU WANT IS 3 OR 4 LOADS PRE-ARRANGED FOR THE TRIP TO BASECAMP, UNDERSTANDING THERE WILL BE A DEGREE OF REARRANGING TO BE DONE. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE & BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEM IF YOU HAVE TO, THE MAJORITY OF THIS HAPPENING IN KASHGAR AND BASECAMP. WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO AVOID IS GEAR STREWN EVERYWHERE WHILE YOU SEARCH FOR YOUR SPOON, REPAIR TAPE, SECOND HEADTORCH OR CRAMPONS.

STARTING AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE DEPARTURE CLEAR A SPACE AND DUMP EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF ONTO IT WITH YOUR PRIMARY MOVERS (ie DUFFELS, BARRELS, HAUL BAGS, PACKS ETC) READY EMPTY. TAKE YOUR TIME, GET THE LISTED STUFF IN FIRST, ADD EXTRAS AFTER IF AT ALL.

ELECTRONICS WE SUGGEST CARRYING IN LOCKABLE PELICAN-TYPE CASES THAT CAN DOUBLE AS A WORK SURFACE. THE NORTH SIDE BELOW THE GLACIER CAN BE A DUSTY PLACE SO SECONDARY PARTICLE PROTECTION AND A GOOD CLEANING SET IS ADVISED.

FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS PROVIDES BLUE CHEM BARRELS OF VARIOUS SIZES IN-COUNTRY. PLEASE BRING STICKERS & LARGE SHARPIES TO MARK FOR ORGNIZATION, AND SMALL PADLOCKS TO SECURE.