Cho Oyu Climb and Tibetan Cultural Trek

Travel Gear:

• Travel Wallet: It should sling over your shoulder and lay discreetly next to your body
• Passport, cash and travel documents. Make sure to have a print out of all travel documents, pen, plenty of csh for the trip, and your passport handy.
• Day pack: Light weight 30 liter pack doubles as a carry on and a trekking pack
• 2 Duffel Bags Climbers/1 Duffel Bag Trekkers
• Heavy PVC duffel bags hold up to abuse and pack well on yaks and in jeeps.
• Locks for Duffel bags. It is best to not tempt anyone into going through your gear so one lock per duffel is smart. TSA-type locks that customs officials can access and re-lock are handy as are zipties that can be cut off and put back on easily.
• Passport photos (5). You will need at least 2 or 3 for your Visas and it’s always good to have a few extra.
• Casual Travel Clothes. Several days will be spent in transit, in Kathmandu, driving to base camp and at base camp so it is nice to have some casual clothes to travel in.
• Hotel vouchers if laying over. If you have extended layovers make sure to pre-book a hotel and print out the voucher. Our travel agent can help you with this.
• A printout of your travel itinerary, all CTSS emails, etc.
• Cash
• Pen

Feet:

• Sneakers. Light weight sneakers for travel and at base camp
• 2 pairs light socks. For use with sneakers.
• Medium weight trekking boots. Comfortable boots with plenty of ankle support and warmth to ascend to C1 at 21,000ft/6,500m.
• 2 pairs medium weight socks. Synthetic or wool socks to use with medium weight boots
• Medium weight gaiters. These are to be used with the medium weight trekking boots on the treks en route to base camp, trekking to ABC, and ascending to C1. They don’t need to be too big or too warm.
• Foot warmers (optional). Some people use foot warmers and others don’t. If you get cold feet then you should consider them, although they don’t seem to burn very warm at 8,000m due to the lack of oxygen needed for the chemical reaction to take place.
• Foot powder (optional). Foot power keeps feet dry and warm and can really help on summit day.
• Down booties. These are great for walking around base camp and at the upper camps. Try to find something light weight with a sole.

Lower Body:

• 2 pairs of synthetic under layers: 1 light and 1 medium. One lighter pair for down low and one medium for up high. They will be worn underneath climbing pants so make sure the climbing pants will fit over them.
• 3 pairs of synthetic underwear, 3 pairs cotton underwear. A few pairs of each for travel and on the mountain.
• 2 pairs of synthetic climbing pants: 1 light and 1 medium weight. The lighter pair will be worn trekking en route to ABC and the heavier pair above ABC. They need to fit over the synthetic under layers. Scholler type pants or quick drying zip-off pants are both great options.
• 1 pair of insulated pants. These will be warn at base camp and ABC and can be used at the lower camps.
• Casual jeans for travel and base camp
• 1 pair of shell pants (water proof). These must be full zipper and should be light weight. They need to fit over your synthetic under layer and climbing pant combination to layer for warmth up to C1. They must be waterproof and breathable.

Upper body:

• Casual shirts for travel and base camp
• 2 synthetic under layers: 1 light, 1 medium. These must fit underneath your mid weight layers. The light one will be for lower on the mountain and the medium weight for up higher.
• 2 medium weight layers: 1 synthetic pile jacket, 1 down or synthetic vest. These two layers must be able to be worn in unison over the synthetic under layer and underneath the Shell jacket and down jacket. They should be light and one should have a hood.
• 1 shell jacket. This need to fit over your medium weight pile layers and be light weight, waterproof and breathable.
• 1 heavy down jacket. This is to be worn at base camp, ABC and possible the lower mountain camps. It must be able to layer over your other layers and have a hood. It doesn’t need to be an 8,000m parka but should be the step just below.

Head and Hands:

• 2 buff neck gaiters. These can be worn on the dusty drive to base camp to avoid sickness and on the mountain to warm and humidify the air.
• 2 heavy weight winter hats
• 1 baseball hat
• 1sun hat. A sun hat that protects the neck is a great addition to your gear for trekking and on the mountain.
• 1 pair light weight fleece gloves. These may be used on their own or underneath the warmer glove and mitten layers
• 1 medium weight fleece glove. These will be used on their own lower on the mountain
• 1 heavy weight pair of climbing gloves. These can be used on their own or with a lighter pair of fleece liners higher on the mountain when climbing in cold weather. They are required gear and should be warm enough to climb to the summit in. Gloves have more dexterity than mittens for manipulating gear so they should be warn as much as possible as long as your hands are warm.
• Hand warmers (optional). Some people use hand warmers, others don’t. If you get cold hands you should consider bringing them although they don’t burn very warm due to the low oxygen at higher altitudes needed for the chemical reaction to take place.
• 2 pairs of Glacier glasses: one spare. These must block out as much light as possible and be the darkest level of protection (Cat 4). Removable side shields are useful. Bring a spare pair in case one is lost or broken.
• Prescription eyewear. If you wear prescription eye wear make sure to figure out how you will deal with tis on the mountain when it is cold, dusty, and windy. Many people purchase prescription glacier glasses and goggles to use up high and use glasses and contacts down low.

Personal Gear:

• Trekking Poles. These must be collapsible and fit in your duffel bags. A medium sized snow basket is recommend.
• Pack cover. This is convenient for the trek to ABC if the monsoon season persists. It must fit your pack.
• Umbrella. An umbrella is nice to have for the trip to base camp and ABC if the monsoon season is persistent. Buy a large one with a long handle.
• 2 sleeping bags: 1 rated to -20F/, (1 rated to -40F/-40C, climbers only). The lighter sleeping bag will be used for the drive to base camp and on the trek to ABC and then brought up on the upper mountain in unison with your down suit. The heavier bag will be used for ABC only. The should be made of don and light weight.
• 2 sleeping pads: 1 closed cell foam, 1 inflatable (climbers only). The closed cell foam pad will be used on the trek to ABC and the inflatable used at the mountain camps. They should be light weight and have a high R-value.
• 2 headlamps; 1 medium sized and 1 small sized as a backup both with extra batteries. The main headlamp must be bright but light weight and the other will be used as a back up. Bring extra batteries for both.
• 8 AA batteries and 8 AAA batteries depending on what your electronics use
• Make sure to have enough batteries for 6 weeks for all your electronics and gadgets.
• 2 liter water bottles, wide mouth
• Snack food. We will provide lunches but be sure to bring enough palatable personal snack food as you will need on the mountain. We recommend 5 pounds/2 kilograms. It need to be food you will eat when you don’t want to eat at altitude and specialty items such as “Gu”, “Nuun”, and shot blocks are excellent. It’s nice to have extra snacks on the drive to base camp as well. The food is good but some people feel they don’t get as full eating eastern food as with heavier western diets, so it’s nice to have some extra calories.
• Water purification: Iodine tablets, filter or UV treatment. You can buy bottles water until base camp where we will boil the water for you, but it is nice to not create as much trash and save some money. I wouldn’t recommend drinking un-purified water out f the tap either in Nepal or Tibet.
• Books
• Bring one or two and we will be able to share them around to save weight.
• Camera. Lightweight is good for the mountain but you can bring a heavier one for the drive and in to ABC. Make sure to bring plenty of storage and your battery charger.
• Multitool
• Toilet paper: 1 roll. It’s nice to have one roll for the drive. Toilet Paper will be provided once we arrive at base camp and at the hotels on the drive.
• Altitude watch. Knowing your altitude is important in the mountains. Everyone should have an altitude watch.
• Cup, bowl, spoon. A collapsible bowl, small cup, and durable spoon or two are needed for the mountain camps
• Sun screen
• SPF 30 or higher. Make sure to bring enough for the entire expedition.
• Hand Sanitizer. Bring several small bottles to keep in your pocket at all times and one or two medium bottles for use at camps.
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Towel
• Tooth Brush and Toothpaste
• Nail trimmers
• Baby wipes. These are invaluable while at the mountain camps.
• Basic medical kit, should include: blister kit, low dose aspirin, bandaids, wound closure strips, triple antibiotic ointment, basic repair kit, scissors, diamox (acetezolomide, 125mg) for AMS, niphedepine (for pulmonary edema, time release), dexamethazone (for cerebral edema, 4mg), antacids, NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprophen, anti-diahrheal, duct tape, ear plugs, Antibiotics (upper respiratory such as Azithromycin and a gastero-intestinal such as Ciproflaxin), meletonin, Athsma medication if you use it (Advair), cold and flu medication,

Climbers only:

• 2 water bottle covers
• These must fit over your water bottles and be as insulating as possible.
• 1 liter thermos. This will be used high on the mountain to make sure you always have unfrozen water. Make sure it insulates well and doesn’t leak.
• 2 pairs heavy climbing socks . Heavy synthetic or wool socks to use with triple boots. They must not be too tight when used with triple boots.
• Heavy down mitts. These are used as a back up pair if you were to drop a glove or if it is extremely cold and you need a layer warmer than heavy climbing gloves. They should fit over a lighter fleece liner glove.
• 60L climbing pack. This pack will be used on the mountain. It must be lightweight and fit your back. We recommend Hyperlight designs out of Maine, USA
• Triple climbing boots. The warmest 8,000m boots you can find to keep your feet warm above C1 and especially on summit day.
• Boot warmers. Many people use boot warmers for 8,000m climbing and swear by them, others don’t. If you get cold feet you should seriously consider purchasing a pair of boot warmers and fitting them to your boots. They could prevent you from needing to turn around on summit day with cold feet.
• 1 down suit or 8,000m top and bottom. This should fit comfortably over 2 top and bottom layers. Leg zippers, arm pit zippers, and a rainbow fly on the seat are highly recommended options. It must have a hood.
• 1 face mask. A full face mask that can cover all of the skin on your face when used in unison with goggles is a necessity for cold, windy days.
• 1 heavy weight pair of down mitts
• 2 pairs of goggles: 1 clear lens and 1 dark lens. The light pair will be worn on summit night when it is dark if it is really cold and windy, and the dark pair the rest of the climb. They both should block UVA/UVB and fans are quite effective.
• Harness. This should be lightweight and have detachable leg loops.
• Ascender with sling. Buy an ascender for your strong hand. We will show you ho to rig this at ABC.
• 2 extra slings
• 3 locking carabiners and 4 non-locking carabiners
• 20 feet of prussik cord
• Helmet. There are a few sections with rock fall and ice fall.
• Ice axe. Bring an alpine axe that is long enough for walking and has a leash.
• Crampons. 12 point crampons that MUST fit your boots perfectly. Once we get on the mountain there is no option to change crampons so a proper fit is critical. We will check this in Kathmandu.
• Figure 8. A figure 8 is easier and smoother to use  for rappelling on the fixed lines on Cho Oyu.