Quality British Education in Saudi Arabia
Mount Everest Base Camp Trek
Packing and gear list
Gear
An expedition of this nature needs the right gear – it must be of good quality and reliable.
Rucksacks and kit bags
During the trek the porters will carry the majority of our gear. As we are walking, we will need to carry some spare clothes, water, waterproofs and snacks. To carry this you need a backpack. I use a 55 Litre backpack which is ideal for the job. Although you won't be carrying much, your bag will feel heavy at the end of the day!
A good backpack is ESSENTIAL. Don’t compromise on quality. As far as I am aware, there are no shops in Saudi Arabia that sell good quality backpacks. The packs on sale in Al Khobar look fine but are cheap copies. One of our teachers climbed Mt Kenya with one of these bags last summer. The bag looked fine at the start of the trip but fell apart during the climb. Good backpacks can be bought from outdoor equipment suppliers in the UK and US. You may be able to borrow a pack from someone.
The rest of your gear - which is to be carried by the porters - also needs to be in a bag. This can be packed in a backpack if you are lucky enough to have two! Alternatively it can be packed in an expedition bag, kit bag or large duffle. I use large PVC North Face duffles which are waterproof and very strong. Any strong, soft duffle will do. It must be strong though, as it will get a lot of rough treatment.
You may not bring suitcases or roll-on luggage.
Boots
Good walking boots are absolutely essential. They must fit. They must be worn in – that means wearing them for several weeks. They need to be worn with good quality walking socks. Don’t skimp on footwear. Poor boots, or boots that haven’t been properly broken in, will cause injury, very painful feet and make your life miserable. If you have any doubt about this please talk to the students that went on our previous expeditions. Buy boots early and wear them for weeks – you can wear them to school. If you don’t you will get blisters and suffer.
Suggested on-line outdoor equipment suppliers
http://www.fieldandtrek.com/ UK
http://www.rockrun.com
http://www.rei.com/
Sleeping bag and down jacket.
We will provide students with a down jacket, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat on the trip. This will be fine for the coldest situations we meet.
PRELIMINARY PACKING LIST
GEAR AND ACCESSORIES
♦ 1 Hiking shoes/boots *see special instructions (you will wear these, do not pack an extra pair of hiking boots)
♦ 1 Pair simple, lightweight Camp shoes for night time (incase your hiking shoes get wet) – trainers are fine
♦ 1 Backpack* *see special instructions (for trekking)
♦ 1 Baseball Hat or other hat for sun protection
♦ 1 Warm hat (wool or fleece) Essential
♦ 1 Warm gloves (wool or fleece)
♦ Backpack Rain cover – or pack liner. Strong polythene bags to wrap gear in work well as an alternative
♦ Trekking Poles (Optional – if you like to walk with poles they are good. Not essential)
♦ Flashlight or headlamp (small, lightweight). Head torches are best.
CLOTHING
♦ 2 Long sleeve shirts (synthetic, wicking material)
♦ 1 Short Sleeve Base layer (synthetic, wicking material)
♦ 1 Warm sweater (synthetic or wool) – a fleece is fine
♦ 1 Warm jacket (wind stopper fleece is recommended) – a second jumper or fleece together with a waterproof jacket works fine as an alternative.
♦ 1 Waterproof jacket – e.g. a Gortex jacket
♦ 1 Pair warm long pants (synthetic or fleece is recommended)
♦ 1 waterproof hiking pants – waterproof overtrousers
♦ 4 Pairs of synthetic socks – socks sold specially for hiking or walking are best – they don’t bunch up and don’t have seems that cause blisters
♦ 1 pair warm wool hiking socks
♦ 4 Undergarments (avoid cotton)
♦ 1 sarong – for use as a towel - available from school.
♦ 1 Swim suit
♦ 1 waterproof jacket (if your outer layer/jacket is not waterproof)
♦ 1 Pair thermal underwear (synthetic material)
TOILETRIES
♦ Toothbrush/Toothpaste, Soap & Deodorant
♦ Shampoo/conditioner (small travel size)
♦ 1 flannel or face cloth
♦ Chapstick/Lipbalm, Moisturizer (small travel size)
♦ Toilet Paper (Personal Size)
♦ Feminine Hygiene requirements
♦ Wet Wipes or Hand sanitizer
♦ Sunscreen – at least factor 20. Don’t say “I don’t burn” – you will!
MEDICAL AND OTHER
♦ Sunglasses - optional
♦ Prescription medication
♦ Camera (batteries, film, SD or CF cards as required)
WHAT YOU DO NOT NEED AND MAY NOT BRING
♦ Ipod and other portable music players
♦ Mobile phones
♦ Video Games
♦ Extra snacks and food – causes problem going through customs and immigration
SPECIAL PACKING INSTRUCTIONS
How you pack is as important as what you pack. The first thing you should consider is packing heavier items in the bottom of your backpack and lighter items at the top.
Another thing to think about is ease of access. Place as many important items that you will need most often in an easily accessible area of your pack.
Fitting Your Backpack
Ensuring proper fit is the most important step when you select a pack. When looking for a backpack we recommend choosing a backpack that is no larger than 50 liters.
Finding the right pack size for you depends on your back length.
To find your back length, have a friend measure your back:
- Find the most prominent vertebrae at the back of your neck. It’s the large bump at about the same level as the top of your shoulders
- Find the top of your hipbone. Follow this point around in a straight line to your spine.
- Place a measuring tape directly against your spine, and measure the distance between the points.
If you have a hip belt it should be resting directly over your hip bones, not on your waist. The shoulder straps should be well padded and fit snuggly to your shoulders.
When trying on your pack walk around and play with the adjustments to fine-tune the fit. Remember to put weight in your pack when trying it on. Remember that if the pack doesn't feel right now, it certainly won't feel right after hours on the trail. (A. Example of Suitable Backpack)
Choosing Footwear
When choosing proper footwear for hiking there are a few things to consider. It is best if your footwear has been worn before you start off on your hike. Ensure the footwear is comfortable, lightweight, durable and provides your foot and ankle with moderate support.
