• Water Bottle / Hydration bladder
  Most guides will recommend 3 liters of water a day, and we know that every “body” is unique, so we encourage you to bring what you need.  For water containers, we use Camelbaks, Nalgenes, and just plain old water bottles from the corner market.  The main point is that you drink each day, so do have a plan for how you will carry your water.  Many prefer to bring a water bottle and a thermos, in this way they can have hot drinks or water throughout the day, or just fill their thermos with cool water for the hot days.  It’s a good idea to bring drink mix powder as well for your daily needs, as you will need the extra boosts of salts and sugars in your hydration plan.  The more you drink, the better days you will have.  It’s better to drink a little every hour as opposed to drinking in the morning and evenings.  Your body absorbs fluid better with this practice.  The absolute best (and worst tasting) hydration powder are Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS).  Typically used for rehydrating after a bout of diarrhea, ORS is the ticket to maintaining the best hydration even on the longest trek and climb days.  ORS is readily available in India and Nepal over the counter (and far more affordable).

• Pee bottle
  It’s a grand idea to bring a wide mouth bottle for the inconvenient need to answer the call of nature at night (translation: urinate).  A plastic peanut or pickle jar works great and is far less expensive than a Nalgene.  Do bring one, you’ll appreciate it.

• Head lamp/torch and extra set of batteries
  Bring a good headlamp for your trek.  It should be bright enough to use on the trail if we have a day that is longer than usual, an early start for a pass or climb,  or for reading in your tent.  Our dining tents are lit with solar power, so they’re a good place to save battery life on your headlamp.  You’ll want to bring your headlamp with you on the trail for a “just in case” situation.

• Towel
  It helps to have a towel along for drying your feet after washing them at the end of the day, for bathing next to the river on hot afternoon days at camp, and for washing your face in the morning to start the day.  We provide warm water for all these “activities”.

• Sunblock
  Bring sunblock lotion for your body, and a “faces” type sunblock for your face and lips. It’s good to have a lip balm as well, Banana Boat and Coppertone make great ones.  You’re better off bringing this from home.  We prefer the “stick” varieties to the lotion types for your face.  They stay on longer and are more effective than the lotions.  UV rays at high altitude are two times as strong as those at sea level, the more sunblock you can bring the better.

• Moisturizer
  Bring a moisturizer for dry skin after several days in the mountains.  Even if you don’t normally use one, you will on a ski trip.  It’s dryer and harsher at altitude.

• Sun hat
  You want to have a good sun hat with you, preferably one that is light in color as it’s far cooler temperature wise than a dark-colored one.  We use a sun hat with a bandana underneath to absorb sweat and to hang down and block the sun on your neck.

• Bandana
  A bandana has one thousand different uses (if not more).  Bring one to cover your neck and ears in “sheikh” style.  Also great to wet at river crossings and cool off your head.  You can buy these in Asia, and they will be a little less expensive.

• Buff
  A what?  A buff is a neck gaiter that is made of very thin fabric.  We don’t go into the mountains anymore without one.  They protect your skin from sun and wind.  You can find them now in Leh, Manali, Kathmandu, Delhi.

• First aid
  We carry a full medicine / first aid kit.  Bring any personal medication that you need, and let your guide know so they can assist if there could be an emergency.

• Water Purification
  We purify our own water morning and evening for you.  If you think you’ll drink more water than you’d prefer to carry in a day, then bring water purification tablets to purify mid day bottles filled in a stream.  You’ll be able to top off your water bottles at our water filter station in the mornings and evenings, but will need to “fend for yourself” while we are on the trail if you need extra water.  Purification tablets are relatively inexpensive and lightweight to carry.

• Camera
  You’ll want to have a camera to document your trip.  Be sure to bring enough memory cards to shoot as many photos as you please (how many times have we heard people say, “wow, I never take photos but this place is beautiful!”).  Bring enough memory cards and an extra battery for your camera.  You’ll be able to charge our camera several times during the trek on our solar unit.

• Book
  Bring a book with you.  You’ll appreciate it and can swap it out with others on the trip, while also using our compact library that we bring (which contains literature pertinent to the particular trek area).

• Snacks
  Bring snacks for in-between meals, and for longer ski days.  You’ll appreciate having a snack even if you normally don’t snack between meals.  You will eat a lot more on trip, putting salt on food, using more sugar in tea and coffee.  Your body burns a lot of fuel in the mountains, keeping warm, ascending and descending, skiing with your pack.  If you normally don’t eat salt and sugar on your foods at home, we’ll encourage you to while on trek.  You’ll acclimatize better when you are more hydrated.  It’s nice to bring a snack to share with the group as well that comes from your area of the world (or just one of your favorites).  Do bring snack bars.

• Ski Goggles
  Good quality ones for strong UV light at altitude (ask us). Optionally bring an extra pair in case you break a pair, and also for low visibility (clear or yellow lens). Luke’s Choice: Julbo Skydome

• Avalanche Beacon, Avalanche Shovel, Avalanche Probe
  Three antenna beacon, aluminum shovel, aluminum probe (ask us).

• Repair Kit for your skis / splitboard

Be able to keep your trip going if you have a binding, ski, or pole break.

• Ski Crampons