Equipment
This section outlines the equipment we took, and is intended as a guide to those undertaking an expedition of their own, as well as a reminder to us when we are preparing for our next trip. The following observations supplement the bare listings:
100 corrugates and 250 blotters was about right for the size of drying frame. Having pre-folded flimsies was a bonus as they are lighter than newspaper and much easier to use. We had spare capacity as our collecting was curtailed: 2000 would be about right for 4 weeks collecting. 35 plastic bags was about right, remembering that 12 were needed for packing specimens once dried.
The drying frame worked very well with reflective ground sheets being more effective that canvas as used on previous expeditions. They are lighter, and can easily be clipped round the frame with bull dog clips to seal gaps. A negative aspect is that the heat retention is so good that clothes do not dry so well when draped around the outside! The wick stoves and heat dissipaters are a proven technology on these kinds of trips, and again were reliable and efficient. A good idea for future trips is to buy different colour stoves so that you can begin to recognise their idiosyncrasies.
Camping equipment needed for expedition treks is somewhat different to holiday treks. The normal dining tent doubled as our work tent, but we needed another tent of the same size to store our collecting equipment and erect the drying frame. We opted to share tents (2 per a tent) to save on camping equipment. We should have requested an additional Tilley lamp for use in the work tent, as only one was brought by the trekking company and this was mainly used by the cook staff. Our head torches were sufficient to work by, but a brighter lamp would have been better.
The metal trunks that we bought in Kathmandu were not robust enough and only just survived the treks. Metal trunks bought on previous expeditions (e.g. to Sikkim) were much better and were also used to ship the specimens back to Edinburgh. Binoculars are good for bird watching and for spotting plants from a distance. However, they must be lightweight else they become a burden.
Although the trek food in Nepal is good, it can get a little tiresome and some little luxuries from home usually go down well and help raise flagging spirits. MW produced a pepper grinder so that there was freshly ground pepper for supper. Dry roasted peanuts, salted cashews and dried fruit periodically appeared, and on two special occasions a small Dundee cake was produced.
On the clothing front we all wondered why we had bought down jackets, woolly hats, windproof gloves, scarves, fleece gear, etc., when we were walking in through the subtropics, but these were all well used once we got above 3000m. Long down jackets are the best as they cover your lower back and backside when sitting down. Wind block fleece is best as it is warmer and less bulky than its normal equivalent. MW appreciated his Coolmax gear (socks, pants and shirts), particularly when slogging through the sweaty Arun Valley, and was nice and warm in his down booties (bought 2nd hand in Kathmandu fpr 1300Rs [£10]) in the frosty mornings and evenings at altitude. High factor sun cream (SPF 20 or greater) is essential both for the warm, sunny lowland and the cooler but high UV conditions at high altitude! Light coloured trousers and shirts are better than dark materials as they are cooler in sun and you can easily spot leeches crawling over them. Drying wet clothes can be a problem. Quick dry materials score highly here, and a quick dry trek towel is a worthwhile investment.
Batteries...we took lots, and in the end had many to spare. However, most of our electrical equipment runs on AA batteries so it is worth having a margin for error, especially as the GPS can turn itself on and discharge four batteries very easily. The group used about 40 AA batteries during the trip, and a few large head torch batteries. The large head torch batteries seem to give a brighter light for longer than the 3 x AA adaptor.
Group Expedition Kit - essential
Group First Aid Kit (see medicines)
GPS (Garmin GPS12 - at least 2, we took 3)
AA Batteries (lots for GPS, digital camera, psion computer, headtorches, etc, mainly Duracel M3 Ultra)
A4 hardback note books (2) for Collection book, 30cm ruler and protective plastic bag
Selection of marker pens, biros, pencils and rubbers
Sellotape (2 rolls) and packing tape (2 rolls)
Nylon string (2 balls)
Rubber bands for moss packets
Pre-folded moss packets and A4 paper to fold more
Plastic bags: large sacs for collecting and protecting dried specimens (35)
A4 collecting bags (lots)
A5 and smaller bags for DNA samples, etc (lots)
Cotton bird bags for seeds and fruits (100 ~ 70 were actually used)
Small envelopes for dried seed
Small greaseproof sachets for dried seed
Silica gel for DNA samples (3kg)
Prefolded thin paper flimsies (2000)
Blotting paper (250)
Aluminium corrugates (100)
Press ends (12 pairs)
Press straps (20 pairs)
Aluminium drying frame (collapsible) and tools for assembly (see frame)
Foil-lined groundsheets to wrap drying frame (2 x Lifesystems mountain sheet)
Large bulldog clips (20) for drying frame
Kerosene wick stoves (2) (bought in Kathmandu)
Spare wicks (bought in Kathmandu)
Kerosene and jerry cans (bought in Kathmandu)
Matches and gas lighters
Heat dissipaters (2) for kerosene stoves
Metal trunks (2) (bought in Kathmandu - big enough to take three press ends)
Large kit bags (4) (bought in Kathmandu)
Padlocks for kit bags
Group Expedition Kit - desirable
Digital Camera (we took a Nikon Coolpix 995)
Memory cards for digital camera (we took 4 x 64Mb CompactFlash cards)
Electronic data recorder (Psion pocket computer with Palmtec case)
World receiver short band radio
Clothes pegs
Group Expedition Kit - luxury
Whisky
Pepper grinder
Good quality instant coffee
Dundee cake
Dried fruit and nuts
Individual’s Day Kit - essential
Rucksack (large ‘day sac’)
Rucksack cover
Rucksack liner (strong plastic bag/large collecting bag)
Shoulder bag or Bum bag (for notebook, GPS, collecting bags, etc.)
Hand lens
Altimeter (we took analogue Thommen 6000m)
Compass (Silva)
Wrist watch
Field note book
Digging equipment (ice axe and/or stout trowel)
Pen knife (preferably lockable)
Secateurs/Clippers
Camera equipment (35mm SLR) and spare film
Water bottle (Platypus or Sigg flask)
Small first aid kit (see medicines)
Individual’s Day Kit - optional
Umbrella (non-collapsible)
Money pouch/wallet
Trekking poles or walking stick
Individual’s Main Kit - essential
Kit bag (robust zippered 90 litres ‘soft’ bag, e.g. The North Face Large Base Camp Duffle)
Pad lock (for Kit bag)
Plastic ‘sandwich’ boxes (2-3) (for packing small items: medical, wash kit, etc.)
Small dissecting kit (forceps, fine scissors, blades, etc.)
Multi-function pocket tool/good pen knife
Sewing kit and safety pins
Notebook for diary
Photographic film (we took 20 x 36 exposure 100ASA slide film per person)
Camera batteries
Head Torch and spare batteries and bulbs
Thermorest (standard, if possible long)
Sleeping bag (3 season, down preferred for cold dry conditions)
Sleeping bag liner (pertex preferred for wicking qualities)
Nylon drying line
Trek food (museli bars, dextrose tablets, flapjacks)
Maps
Guide books (extracts/photocopies)
Botanical reference material (local Floras, checklists, etc.)
Reading material/novel
Address lists
Individual’s Main Kit - optional
Small calculator
Travel pillow
Insulated trek mug
Pack of playing cards
Individual’s Clothing - essential
Trail or trekking walking boots (well broken in)
Camp shoes (trainers or walking sandals)
Waterproof shell overcoat (Goretex recommended)
Waterproof over trousers (Goretex recommended)
Leech leggings (2 pairs)
Walking socks (3 pairs, incl. short socks for hot days)
Sun hat
Sun glasses
Warm hat/balaclava
Scarf/neck wrap
Bandana (2)
Gloves (preferably windproof)
Down waistcoat/jacket
T shirts (3) (wicking fabric preferred)
Long sleeved shirts (3) to cover arms from sun
Base layer fleece/sweat shirt
Mid layer fleece (windblock preferred)
Thermal long johns/fleece trousers
Lightweight trekking trousers (3 pairs) (belts as necessary)
Lightweight shorts (2 pairs)
Underpants 5 pairs (wicking fabric preferred)
Pairs thin socks/liner sock (2 pairs) (wicking fabric preferred, e.g. Coolmax)
Handkerchiefs (3)
Individual’s Clothing - optional/luxury
Down booties (great for high altitude camps!)
Down trousers
Fingerless mitts (for fiddly work in the cold) or spare gloves
Spare pair of walking socks
Swimming trunks
Individual’s Clothing and travel kit to leave at base (Kathmandu)
Smart trousers
Smart shirt
Lightweight smart shoes
Underpants (2 pairs)
Socks (2 pairs)
Handkerchief (1)
Eye mask and neck support (for sleeping on planes)
Universal sink plug
Individual’s Health etc - essential
Ear plugs (for travel and noisy lodges)
Toilet roll
Wet wipes (2 x 15 packs)
Small/Medium towel (quick dry trek towel recommended)
Face cloth/flannel
Razor and spare blades (if you are going to shave!)
Shaving brush/brushless shaving cream/shaving oil
Soap and soap dish
Toothbrush and toothpaste (50ml)
Dental floss
Cotton buds
Shampoo (sachets or screw top bottle)
Deodorant
Nail clippers
Hair brush/comb
Travel clothes wash
Water purifying tablets (Puritabs/iodine etc.)
Hand cream (nutrogena, nivea, etc.)
Vasaline (small tub)
Lip balm
Sun cream (factor 20 or higher, some total block for face)
Insect repellent (including autan sticks - anti leech)
Vit C tablets
Knee supports
Blister kit (e.g. Compeed)
Plasters (various) and micropore tape
Medicines (see medicines)
Individual’s Travellers documents
Travellers cheques
Cash (including some US$)
Passport (with visa)
Copies of passport and visa
Spare passport-size photographs
Credit cards
Business cards