Haven't been to the Alps before. Going to do a week up and down the paths around Zermatt in august, with one guided Breithorn tour. I understand the weather could be pretty much anything from hot summer to winter conditions and would like to haul a minimum of gear. I have a bit of everything from windshirts, fleeces, shelled micropiles, merinos to eVent jackets, puffvests, Paramo trousers, P&P jackets..
Last August I did a week's tour with KE from Zermatt, crossing over the Breithorn into Italy and then back over Signalkuppe into Switzerland. Had everything from hot sunshine to driving snow and an electrical storm.
Clothing for the whole week was:
Tee-shirt (merino)
Long sleeve merino (make sure you've got something lightweight and long-sleeved if you're crossing any dry glacier)
ME microtherm top (basically a 100 weight fleece with an outer shell)
Paclite jacket
Convertible pants
KIMMlite overtrousers
Woolly hat from Tobermory Distillery (the best)
Insulated gloves
2 pairs ordinary walking socks
2 pairs merino underpants
Sunglasses
Freney boots (B2, strictly no goretex)
That's it. Presumably you'll have a pair of crampons, axe, harness and bits and bobs for your Breithorn day? If not there are loads of places to hire or buy then out there. You'll love it! Take loads of Euros if you're staying in Zermatt overnight though
All right, thanks for the kit list. Did you really need only one insulating top (microtherm), no belay jacket or similar? The alpine climbing gear goes with the Breithorn package, don't have my own..yet.
I was thinking merino long sleeve, Montane windshirt, Rab Phantom fleece, Montane eVent jacket, Paramo Torres smock, and for legwear Merino longs + shorts, Patagonia Simple Guides and Paramo Cascadas just in case. Woolly hat, sunhat, fleece gloves and shell mitts. Too much?
Personally I'd leave the smock at home, or in your digs if you're day walking. I only needed the Microtherm on one day (when we did have a little bit of a storm!) although I did wear it for about an hour on an early start (but rapidly overheated!).
A down jacket would be useful if you're staying high in huts during the evening but I really wouldn't bother if you're returning to Zermatt each night. Even on the Breithorn as it's really only a walk and it's not as if you should have a lot of standing about to do.
Convertible pants save a bit of weight too.
Make sure you've got good glacier glasses and plenty of sunblock and lip screen!
Michiko - Just to clarify (since im starting the TMB next Wednesday), was that the total clothes you took, including what you were wearing? Im going to be wildcamping as much of the tour as possible and using campsites otherwise and was wondering whether to take a spare baselayer top or not. Two microfleeces rather than a microfleece and a synthetic insulated jacket?
Yeh, that was the total clothes that I took. And 2 pairs of socks. During the day it was very hot. So only a short sleeved t-shirt was needed. And a pair of shorts. And the windshirt was only used when in shadow or high wind.
And naturally the temperature dropped considerably at night.
All my gear was 3 season except the tent was 4 season. The sleeping bag went down to 1 degrees comfort rating. sleeping mat down to 0 degrees.
I never experienced anything into the minus`s. Even when camping at 2350 metres.
I washed the clothes as I went a long. They all dried within an hour. So never carried a spare pair of anything except socks and knickers.
Actually, I think I took a spare baselayer top in case of emergency. I forgot to mention it. I only needed it once though. camping at 2350 metres. I did the trek at the end of August.
The polartec micro fleece was a haglofs fullzip hooded top. So I did not like to sleep in it! It had all this powerdry fabric etc. So it was very breathable. Thats why I took the other micro fleece to sleep in.
I would hazard a guess that you will not be guided to the summit of Breithorn unless the weather is going to be fine. Or let me put it another way, why would you want to pay the money to be guided to the summit (incl. cable car costs and maybe an overnight in a hut) unless you are going to be able to see some magnificent views and they are magnificent!. So, my advice would be, not to get too hung up on considering clothing for extreme conditions, because there is no point in going out in those conditions. The clothing for your low level walks should be suitable for the Breithorn in settled weather, with the addition of crampons, boots that take a crampon, axe, harness, gloves, hat and glacier sunglasses or ski goggles. You need to be covered up from the sun, so long sleaved top and long trousers and basic insulation for when it's cold first thing in the morning.
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