There is something very mysterious and unique about Mountains that keep attracting people in large numbers. The vastness of mountain ranges and the panoramic view of the lush greenery or the snow-laden surrounding from the top is as close as it gets to perfection. But a trip to the mountains is different from your regular outings. You will be far away from civilization, there will not be your comfortable hotel rooms and only your backpack would be Aladdin's Chirag if you plan for your adventure smartly. Nature is a freak and you would be left bewildered by its twists and turns. If you haven't thought of unforeseen circumstances in your planing you are in for a misadventure. Fret not folks, you don't have to be Dr Strange with the Time Stone to see forth the probabilities. We have come with the ultimate guide on packing for a trek or hike for our fellow backpackers which takes care of most of the things that would make your adventure a memorable and easy one. Though we have tried to generalise a few things, they can be very subjective so filter out those using your judgement.
1) THE BACKPACK
The most important thing in your entire journey is the backpack. You are not going to be cosied up in a hotel in Bangalore but rather you would be in the wilderness. Now you would want such a backpack that is neither too small nor too large. You should be able to pack everything that you need without leaving any space or that would prompt you to pack unnecessary things. You would also want your backpack to be strong so that you don't have to struggle with a torn strap on your trek. The capacity should be sufficient considering your duration. For example, if you plan for a 2-3 days trek you should have a 40-litre backpack and if your trek is going to last for more than a week, you should go for at least a 70-litre backpack. Also, check if your backpack comes with a rain cover or not. You might want t get one if it doesn't. Other than the backpack, you would also need a daypack if you plan to go on a camping trip. It won't be practical to carry your backpack everywhere you go and a daypack would be more suitable for light strolls or walk around the new place or your camp. Get one and you won't have to beg your friend for carrying your snacks or bottle.
Talking about packing your stuff, some resealable waterproof packs would be very handy on such trips. Wouldn't it be nice if your foodstuff and ID cards or Smartphone is safe in a watertight pack! Just get a few of these and thank us later. To make your travel more convenient you can also use a money belt to carry your wallet and other useful stuff handy so that you don't have to always reach for your backpack to get these things.
2) FOOTWEAR
The next most important thing is your footwear. You would need a high ankle leather boot if trekking with a heavy backpack but you would be fine even with a low ankle boot if you are a bit athletic. The sole of the boot should have treads to make them more useful on the rough terrain and have a solid grip. You would also need a pair of hiking sandals just to ease your foot from the weight of heavy boots. You can change your boots for the sandals in the evening to give your feet rest and its always better to have something on if not wearing the boots.
3) CLOTHING
Clothing is the next most important thing when planning a trip to the mountains. You can go for hiking jackets and hiking pants that withstand heavy rain and are also very comfortable. They are usually made from some nylon blend and are usually quick drying to make you feel comfortable even after sweating a lot into them. You can also buy some convertible pants that can be turned into shorts as and when needed.
Mountains are generally cold places and so you would need a body warmer. Remember, you are not lodged in a hotel room so carry an extra pair of thermals as you won't be cleaning or washing your clothes there. You should also have a proper puffer jacket that keeps the cold out with its airtight outer and fluffy inner. You need to carry a bunch of underwears. You would need to at least change this piece of clothing more often so you would need the replacements. Don't carry a lot of trendy t-shirts, just carry 2-3 regular t-shirts for hiking or for sleeping. Carry a few pair of socks just like your innerwear. If you can get the rapid drying one's nothing would beat that. They are usually very comfortable, keep you warm, dry fast and don't stink even after several days of trekking. Ladies you need to carry extra pairs of leggings. Carry the warm ones to make you feel comfortable when you sleep. You can also carry a cap for the sun and a beanie for windy days. You need to be a bit wiser and choose the best-required apparels while planning your trip as a lot of depends on the place you are planning to go to.
4) CAMPING GEAR
Your camping gear is what will make or break the day for you. If you plan well and have all the must-haves, you will be enjoying this adventure to the fullest. You can get yourself an entry-level tent that is not too expensive but is of good quality. The tent is going to be your abode so it should be spacious, sturdy, well-designed, easy to build and reasonably heavy so that it isn't carried away with a light breeze. You will have to check whether the tent comes with a compression bag or you may need to buy one. Another must-haves in camping gear is a sleeping bag. It's not safe to sleep even in the tent since something may creep its way inside. So for additional safety and extra warmth, we would recommend a quality sleeping bag where you can rest and doze off the tiresome day. Camping in the mountains is like hotels that offer 24 hours check-in facility. Just set up your tent and sleep all you want whenever you feel like. You can use an inflatable sleeping bag if you are concerned with space. Though you will have to be careful to not handle it in a way it gets punctured.
5) COOKING
If you are planning to stay up for a while, you may need to cook your food. Unlike your last holiday where you got all your favourite delicacies while being in your hotel room in Vashi, here you will have to cook your meal. You will need to carry durable and ultralight cookware. There are multiple options of materials for cookware like Stainless steel, aluminium and titanium. The best choice being aluminium for being cheap as well as it distributes heat more evenly than steel. You can get two pots- big for dinner, small for tea and a frying pan. You would need a gas-powered cooktop. If you are in a large group it may be easier to carry a few of these. You would want to carry a gas lighter rather than matchboxes since they are waterproof and are much easier to use when lighting a bonfire. You should carry a personal fork and spoon since the lightweight plastic spoons with the group are often not that durable and make the food experience cumbersome. You can also carry recyclable plates and cups, small spice and salt packs etc.
6) GADGETS & ELECTRO
Though you are an athletic person with a lot of energy, you should carry a pair of trekking poles whenever you are supposed to go o a trek through rough, muddy or snowy terrain. Trekking poles make you go faster on those steep uphill climbs and also greatly assist in taking the pressure off your knees and ankles while carrying a heavy backpack. Also, your arms are busy using these trekking poles which would otherwise become stiff after a long day's climb. You should always carry a pocket knife or even better a swiss knife while trekking. Sunglasses are a must especially when they even make you look cooler in the photos. You should consider carrying a DSLR for those distinct and grand landscape pictures. Install the offline version of google maps on your phone and it will come handy when you don't have a network. Unlike other vacations where you had a hotel room, you will have to carry a fully charged power bank because you don't know when will you run out of the juice. You should have spare AAA batteries for your DSLR camera and the torch.
Don't forget your charging cables for camera and phone and also a small pad and pen. You never know when you might need any of these.
7) HEALTH & HYGIENE
There are some definite must-haves when packing for an adventure with mountains. Make sure you have your toothbrush, toothpaste and the toothpicks. You should also have some baby wipes for cleaning your face. You should also have a box of tissue paper. Sunscreen lotion with high UV protection, moisturizer, lip balm, mosquito or insect repellent, nail-clipper and paper soap. Carry miniature versions of these items like the ones you get as toiletries in your hotel rooms because you are the only one using them so no need to carry big packs.
A first aid kit is the next most important things to carry on such a trip where you will be away from a doctor and would need immediate help. You need to carry at least 2-3 pieces of the following items- Antiseptic wipes, syringes, butterfly bandage for small cuts, sterile gauze, cotton rolls, Betadine ointment, paracetamol tablets, painkiller tablets and ointments.
8) COMMON STUFF
These are a few items that may not be required for everybody but if someone has these in your group he can save the day in some extreme conditions. The first item is a sewing kit. Suppose your trousers give up around the butt and rip apart on the very first day. You would be left walking embarrassed only if you don't have a sewing kit.
A rope is another item you or your group may need when hiking or trekking on some not so well known trails or crossing a river or some steep terrain.
A guidebook is another important item one should have so that at least someone in the group keeps track of whether they are going in the right way or not.
Some universal fixing tools such as the Duct tape. There are so many things in the world that can be fixed with the duct tape! Along with a Swiss knife, the duct tape would really be of great help in certain extreme situations.
Is it your first solo trip? Don't miss The To-Do List: A complete travel guide for your First Solo Trip