UNLIKE THE NORTH SIDE OF THE KARAKORUM, TIBETAN TRIPS ARE USUALLY MUCH LIGHTER & SELF-SUSTAINED. THE ABSENCE OF HUMAN PORTERS MEANS BASECAMPS ARE SUPPLIED BY HORSES OR CARRIED IN BY THE TEAM.
COMPARED TO K2, BASECAMPS IN TIBET ARE USUALLY MUCH SIMPLER, SOMETIMES NO MORE THAN A HIGH CAMP. THE LIST BELOW INCLUDES BASECAMP GEAR THAT WOULD BE STRIPPED AWAY IF NOT REQUIRED
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. TIBET IS VERY TRADITIONAL BUT HAS NO DRESS RESTRICTIONS.
- APPROACH SHOES APPROPRIATE FOR SECTIONS OF SNOW AND ICE
- TREKKING SOCKS X 4
- SHIRTS, LONG SLEEVE
- PANTS, LONG
- SUN SCARF
- SUN HAT
- SUNGLASSES
- DAY PACK, APPROX 40L
- TREKKING POLE(S)
- WATERBOTTLES 2 X 1L
- HEADTORCH APPROX 250 LUMEN MUST HAVE RED LIGHT
- 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
BASECAMP
FOR TRIPS NOT USING A REGULAR BASECAMP, ITEMS NOT USED ARE INDICATED WITH ITALICS
- COFFEE CUP
- KNIFE, FORK, SPOON SET, UNBREAKABLE,
- BOWL, UNBREAKABLE
- PLATE, UNBREAKABLE
- WATERBOTTLES X 2 1L EA,
- THERMOS, 1L, CLIP LOOP
- ELECTRONICS, CHARGERS, KINDLES, CAMERAS, BATTERYS, SOLAR (NO DRONES)
- TENT LIGHT
- ENTERTAINMENT, BOOKS, GAMES, MAPS, BINOCULARS ETC
- REPAIR KIT, SCISSORS, SPINNAKER TAPE, SEWING KIT, GLUE
CLIMBING
TIBET IS MOSTLY MIXED ALPINE CLIMBING SO GEAR REFLECTS THAT. THINGS NEED TO BE REFINED, SIMPLE & TECHNICAL. THE SELF-SUPPORTED NATURE OF THESE TRIPS WARRENTS PARED DOWN AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL EQUIPMENT.
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 EASILY STUFF GEAR IN INSIDE A CRAMPED TENT.
GEAR IS OFTEN CARRIED IN OVER TWO CARRIES, MEANING ONE LOAD CAN BE IN YOUR LARGE CLIMBING PACK AND THE OTHER IN SOMETHING RUGGED BUT ALSO CARRYABLE LIKE A BLUE CHEM BARREL, HAUL BAG OR DUFFEL.
- 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, NOSE GUARD RECOMMENDED
- GOGGLES, ORANGE LENS, KIDS SIZE
- GLOVES FULL CLIMBING (INC GAUNTLET), LIGHT CLIMBING, LINERS X 3
- MITTS, DOWN WITH LEATHER PALMS & RETENTION CORDS
- BOOTS 6000m SPECIFIC DOUBLE BOOTS
- INSOLES IF REQUIRED
- SOCKS, PREFERABLY NEW SYNTHETIC IE PRIMALOFT X 5 PAIRS
- BASELAYER LEGS (ONE PIECE OPTIONAL) MEDIUM WEIGHT
- BASELAYER TOP X 2, HOODED, CHEST POCKET
- MIDLAYER TOP, SYNTHETIC INSULATION, HOODED
- BELAY PANTS, SYNTHETIC, FULL SIDE ZIPS (OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED)
- BELAY JACKET, SYNTHETIC OR DOWN
- SHELL JACKET, LIGHT BUT CLIMBING FEATURES
- SHELL PANTS, SOFTSHELL OR HARDSHELL
- HELMET, HARDSHELL (NO FULL FOAM)
- HARNESS, ALPINE, LOW PROFILE
- 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)
- SAFETY LANYARD, ADJUSTABLE, WITH LOCKING BINER, ATTACHED TO HARNESS
- TOOL LEASHES, DOUBLE
- TOOLS, TECHNICAL MIXED ALPINE, WITH HAMMERS
- CRAMPONS, VERTICAL POINTS FOR MIXED ALPINE
- CRAMPON REPLACEMENT PARTS, BAIL, STRAP, BAR & HEEL BAIL
- CLIMBING PACK, LARGE APPROX 70L
- CLIMBING PACK, SMALL APPROX 40L
- SLEEPINGBAG(S)
- BIVY BAG (RECOMMENDED)
- 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
PACKING
PACK SENSIBLY. DON’T JUST DUMP THE WHOLE LOT RANDOMLY INTO DUFFELS, AND DON’T SHOW-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.
FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS CAN PROVIDE BLUE CHEM BARRELS OF VARIOUS SIZES IN-COUNTRY. PLEASE BRING STICKERS & LARGE SHARPIES TO MARK FOR ORGANIZATION, AND SMALL PADLOCKS TO SECURE.
