Clothing
|
 |
Down suit
|
One of our most important pieces of
equipment, these single piece Eider Articheski down
suits provide good protection from cold.
We will be using them above camp 2.
They have full side and rear zips, and
plenty of internal pockets for keeping
batteries and drinks warm. High wear
points on the shoulders, arms and legs are
reinforced with Kevlar. There is an
internal polar fleece jacket and hood sewn
into the suit, which adds warmth and helps
keep it sitting on your upper body without
compressing the down. Weight is about
2 Kg. |
 |
|
|
Down jackets and vests
|
For when its slightly less cold, we both
have Mont high altitude down jackets and vests as well.
These are extremely light-weight and
compress into tiny bags |
  |
|
|
Gortex over-pants
|
Until we're wearing the down suits, we'll be
wearing our Macpac Mountain Bibs when climbing. Ours are
an overall style, helping to keep you
warm around the mid-section |
 |
|
|
Gortex jackets
|
For rain while we're trekking in and snow
protection up higher when we're not wearing
our down suits |
 |
|
|
Fleece jackets
|
For warmth up to base camp and will be used
under down suits. We each have a
couple of these |
 |
|
|
Fleece pants
|
Worn on their own down low, and
under other garments up high |
 |
|
|
Thermals
|
Lots of under-layers ranging in thickness |
 |
|
|
Synthetic walking pants
|
For hiking into base camp, these dry fast if
they get wet. Some also have zip off
sections, allowing them to be worn as shorts |
 |
|
|
Synthetic T-shirts
|
Again, fast-drying fabrics are essential
(otherwise the sweat from your body quickly
gets very cold as soon as you stop) |
 |
|
|
Jet Heat Vests
|
Jett have supplied Paul and Fiona with
batter-powered heat vests to use on their
2007 Expedition. Paul will wear it under his
down suit above C3. This product has won
many awards, but it hasn’t been tested in
the extreme cold of high altitude
mountaineering, so we are interested to see
how it performs. |
 |
Footwear
|
|
|
High altitude
climbing boots
|
Boots like these eliminate the need for
gaiters, and are said to provide the best
protection from the cold. Fiona has
the Everest One Sports which she used on
Khan Tengri with good success and Paul has Millet
Everest 3 boots.
These will be used from base camp onwards. |
  |
|
|
Crampons
|
These are essential for walking on steep
snow or any ice. We'll have
them on from base camp onwards. |
 |
|
|
Hiking boots
|
To hike from Lukla to base camp we'll use
our regular hiking boots |
 |
|
|
Sandals
|
For using around base camp and during the
trek in to base - most probably will be
achieving that ever so stylish look of
wearing them with thick socks underneath |
 |
|
|
Thick socks
|
Most of the time we will be using normal
hiking, explorer type socks |
 |
|
|
High-tech socks
|
We will also have a couple of pairs of
super-expensive Lorpen TEPA Polar-Stretch socks for
using very high up. These are made
from a fleece like fabric and we could only
purchase them from Europe |
 |
|
|
Thin socks
|
To use in combination with the thick or
high-tech socks, these help with warmth and
comfort |
 |
|
|
Electric foot warmers
|
Since experiencing frostbite, we are taking
no chances with our feet and have invested
in a set of Hotronic battery operated foot warmers. These are like a mini-electric
blanket with heat coming through an element
mounted in a custom
insole. The battery can either clip
onto the back of your boot, or using special
extension leads which run up your legs
inside your down suit, they can sit in your
chest pockets. This is also where you
control the heat setting. There are 3
settings - the lowest has a temperature of
32 degrees C and battery life of 17 hours
and the highest is 72 degrees. We should be able to recharge
the batteries at base camp and have
purchased additional batteries for when
we're away from base camp for a long time |
|
|
|
Chemical toe warmers
|
We have plenty of these which warm when they
are opened from their packaging and stick
onto your toes. They go between the
liner sock and the outer sock. |
|
|
|
Plastic freezer bags
|
That's right. This household item will
be used between our thin socks and thick
socks to provide a water-proof barrier,
keeping our warm perspiration close to our
feet and not into our outer socks.
This helps keep your feet warmer |
 |
Head and Hand Wear
|
|
|
Fleece hats
|
For warmth in tent, while walking, etc |
 |
|
|
Neck warmers
|
Better than scarves because they don't come
off - keep your ears warm too |
 |
|
|
Balaclavas
|
For use up high |
 |
|
|
Ski goggles
|
For use when its cold - provide warmth and
protect the eyes from the very harsh UV
which can cause snow-blindness |
 |
|
|
Glacier sun glasses
|
When its a bit warmer, we'll be using
something like these to protect from UV |
 |
|
|
Sun hats
|
During the trek in and on some sections of
the climb, its likely to be warm with harsh
UV. A sun hat with a neck covering is
essential |
 |
|
|
Fleece gloves
|
Around camp and on lower parts of the trek
we'll generally be wearing fleece gloves |
 |
|
|
Inner gloves
|
We'll be using polar tech
OR gloves underneath our
down mitts when climbing high |
 |
|
|
Down mitts
|
We have new OR Alti Mitts which we'll wear
while climbing most of the time. These
are regarded as the best mittens available |
 |
|
|
Outer mitt
|
For when its very cold and/or windy, we'll
also use a outer mitt to provide a
further level of insulation. These
have been made by ourselves by cutting up a
cheap synthetic sleeping bag (patent
pending!) |
|
|
|
Chemical hand warmers
|
We have plenty of chemical hand warmers (the
type that warm for about 8 hours when
exposed to the air). We'll be using
them inside our mitts and especially making
sure that we put them inside our thumb
socket this time |
 |
Climbing Gear
|
|
|
Helmet
|
To protect from falling ice and rocks -
especially when climbing in sections where
other climbers are ahead of us |
 |
|
|
Climbing harness
|
Used so that we can use ropes (rope to each
other or clip into fixed ropes). Ours
is a Black Diamond Alpine Bod that can be put
on while standing up
after your boots and crampons are already on.
The leg loops are adjustable to take into
account your thick down suit. |
 |
|
|
Ice axe
|
These will be clipped into our harnesses at
all times. On flatter sections, we'll
be using them like a walking stick for
balance (holding on where the blade meets
the handle) and on steep sections we'll be
holding the handle and swinging it above our
heads to dig into the ice we're climbing.
However, the main purpose of the ice axe is
that if you fall and are sliding down the
slope, you "self-arrest" by digging the
blade into the ice as a brake |
 |
|
|
Climbing rope
|
For roping up to each other while climbing |
 |
|
|
Carabiners
|
For clipping into fixed ropes, and attaching
ropes in general. We'll have both
locking and snap-lock versions |
 |
|
|
Figure 8
|
For abseiling down steep sections |
 |
|
|
Ascender / Jumar
|
Used for climbing fixed rope - they slide
upwards but not downwards, allowing you to
pull yourself up on the rope |
 |
|
|
Head lamp
|
For climbing at night, a strong head torch
with a long-life battery will be used. |
 |
|
|
Oxygen Mask & Tanks
|
Once we're up high, and especially on our
summit push, we'll be using supplemental
oxygen. The system has been developed
by International Mountain Guides.
(Oxygen tanks also accompany the mask and
regulator shown here.) |
 |
Camping and Carrying Gear
|
|
|
Climbing / trekking packs
|
We will be using normal hiking packs on the
trek into base camp, and then smaller
climbing packs as we go further up the
mountain. Although we won't need to
carry everything as our tent, oxygen, etc
will be carried in ahead of us, we'll still
be carrying our personal equipment, clothes,
etc. On summit day, we'll need the
packs to carry our oxygen tanks |
 |
|
|
Tents
|
Tents like these will be used above base
camp. At base camp they'll probably be
bigger, less robust versions |
 |
|
|
Stove
|
Above base camp, we'll be using a stove like
this to cook our dinner and importantly, to
melt water |
 |
|
|
Ski poles
|
We find them handy for trekking and walking
in snow (in conjunction with our ice axe) |
 |
|
|
Huge duffle bags
|
These will contain all of our gear and will
be flown into base camp |
 |
Sleeping Gear
|
|
|
Down sleeping bag - heavy
|
These bags will be
used for camps 2, 3 and 4. They are
enormous!!! |
 |
|
|
Down sleeping bag - light
|
These ones will be used at base camp and
camp 1. These are similar to what many
people would have for hiking in winter |
 |
|
|
Silk sleeping bag liners
|
These are supposed to increase the body
temperature by 5 degrees |
 |
|
|
Therma-a-rests
|
These provide the most comfortable night's
sleep when camping - but can be a bit cold
so will probably only be used at lower camps |
 |
|
|
Foam Mats
|
Not as comfortable but much warmer for high
camps - will possibly use in combination
with the therm-a-rests at lower camps for
extra comfort |
 |
|
|
Pee-bottles
|
If its very cold or we're camped on a steep
site, the idea is not to leave your tent at
night! |
 |
Miscellaneous Items
|
|
|
Nourishment
|
Although the food for our meals will be
supplied by IMG, we are taking various
snacks and supplements for use when
climbing. A big part of this will be
Gu Energy Gels and Gu Sports Drinks as they
provide both fast and slow release energy,
as well as replacing electrolytes to aid in
hydration
|
  |
|
|
Water bottles
|
For the hike in |
 |
|
|
Thermoses
|
For water up high - otherwise it freezes |
 |
|
|
Camel back
|
System for having water inside a cask that
you can suck from without having to worry
about taking a pack off, undoing lids etc.
Hydration is really important at altitude so
this is a necessity |
 |
|
|
Altitude watches
|
Shows how high we are using the air pressure.
These also let us monitor our heart rates |
 |
|
|
Digital cameras
|
We'll be taking one each |
 |
|
|
Satellite phone
|
We'll be accessing a satellite phone to use
the internet and communicate with home |
 |
|
|
PDA
|
The mini-computer we'll be using to update
this website. We'll also be accessing
email using this |
 |
|
|
MP3 Players
|
Can't be without some tunes! |
 |
|
|
Pocket knife
|
Miscellaneous uses |
 |
|
|
First aid kit
|
Blister tape, paracetamol, asprin, Ibuprofin
(aches and pains), Imodium (diarrhea), anti-biotics,
bandages, Iodine (for purifying water),
sunscreen, lipbalm, etc |
 |
|
|
Spare batteries
|
For everything - cameras, MP3 players,
torches, etc |
 |
|
|
Books
|
Imagine we'll be spending a fair bit of time
at base camp so these will come in handy |
|
|
|
Toiletries
|
Wet ones, face wipes, toothbrushes, soap,
hair brush, shavers, towels, etc |
|
