Gear here, Richard Gear. It's not often they let me loose on a
proper article, but it being travel week, I've been asked for my top
travel and trekking tips with a geary flavour, so let's go! (To the
airport if at all possible)...
Anyway, follow my top tips and a wonderful time is guaranteed.
Ignore them and you'll wish you'd stayed at home.
If you want to ask me a question about a specific bit of travel
gear, take a look at my regular Q and A section and
Ask Richard Gear.
|
 Stoves
I'm often asked what sort of stove is best for trekking
trips. The short answer is that it depends where you're
going. In areas like the Himalyas and Andes, a multifuel
stove like the MSR XGK or Primus Himalaya means you can burn
either petrol or kerosene, even diesel. Elsewhere gas may be
available. If you're not sure, the Primus Multifuel burns
gas as well as liquid fuel, but not particularly
effectively. One solution is to carry an ultralight
cannister-top gas stove like an MSR Pocket Rocket as a
standby.
Finally, if you take a liquid stove, pack a service kit
and spares as well and remember, before flying, that some
airlines are very strict on fuel bottles and the merest
whiff of petrol may get your bottle confiscated. It may be
better to buy a new one for the trip. Carry lighters not
matches for ignition.
|
Nosh
Unless you're on a very short trip, you have no real alternative
but to buy locally, you can chuck odd home-bought luxuries in to
spice things up though. I always pack some dried crushed chillies for
example.
When buying food think about two factors - weight and cooking
times. Ideally you want light, dried food that cooks fast, pasta or
noodles for example. For energy boosting, fat-rich food - chocolate
for example - is an effective way of carrying the carbs for evening
refuelling.
|
 Dosh
You'd be surprised how far ATMs have spread, but don't
rely on them. In remote areas the US dollar is king and if
you're carrying travellers cheques make sure they're in
dollars. I always spread a few spare high denomination notes
through my belongings just in case my main supply gets
robbed.
My other tip is to use a leg wallet to carry anything you
want to keep really safe - passport, credit cards and
travellers cheques for example. Don't open it in a public
though. Waist belts are okay, but experienced thieves and
pickpockets are wise to them now.
|
Travel
Packs
Travel packs are those weird hybrid crosses between proper
rucksacs and suitcases. They look smart but have few of the
advantages of either and the disadvantages of both. If you're
planning any serious trekking or backpacking, you're better off with
a proper sac. It'll cost less, weigh less and carry a lot better into
the bargain. The exceptions are ones like those from Macpac, which
are close to being a rucksac anyway.
|
 Spares
and Repairs
It's easy to get carried away and take the workshop along
for the trip, but you can get away with a lot less. I always
carry a roll of duct tape wrapped round a 35mm film
cannister, a repair kit for my Therm-a-Rest, around 20 cable
ties, some thin climbers accessory cord, a very basic sewing
kit and a Swiss Army knife. Lightweight multi-tools with
plier / wire-cutter attachments can be handy, but weigh more
than a basic knife. In an emergency you can patch an
inflatable mattress with a Compeed blister plaster and some
duct tape - the last repair I made like this lasted 18
months... Remember, you can usually find someone to help you
fix stuff in even small villages, so don't panic.
|
Clean
Water
You could write a whole book on water purification, but the bottom
line is that you have a choice to make. Iodine is a good, all round
solution for shorter trips, but you must give the iodine time to work
and remember in low temperatures, it will take longer to act. The
best way of carrying is a bottle of crystals that are re-useable. You
can remove the taste after treatment with a pinch of vitamin C powder
which converts the iodine to tasteless iodide. Beware of adding
orange powder to iodine treated water before it's stood for this
reason.
Boiling is a simply solution, bringing water to a rolling boil
should kill everything, dead. Finally, a water purifier with
combination of filter and iodine matrix disinfectant stage is an
effective but expensive solution. Whatever you choose to use, be
careful. Contaminated water is the fast way to miserable bowel
syndrome and worse...
|
 Head
Torches
The new LED head torches are a god-send to travellers
because of their light weight and extended battery life. The
AA and AAA batteries they use are easily obtainable
worldwide as well, unlike the old, square 4.5 volt unit in
the Petzl Zoom. If you still have one of these, opt for a AA
converter insert - you won't regret it. If you need a longer
beam for route finding on climbs, think about one of the
combination halogen / LED torches.
|
Clothes...
All travel clothing is beige... Or sand. A little research and
thought goes a long way when it comes to clothing and what to take
along. Often foreign conditions are more variable than in the UK with
greater extremes of cold and heat in one 24-hour period, so
adaptability is the key. Look for kit that's light, packable and fast
drying, but still effective at keeping you warm, cool or dry.
Fortunately modern outdoor kit is designed to do just this.
For most trekking, synthetic pants work well, if it's really cold
team them with base-layer legging, if it's hot then shorts worn over
baselayers are a good compromise. Except in very hot places avoid
cotton. The good news is that in cold, dry, high altitude conditions,
breathable fabrics work better because of the favourable temperature
humidity gradient between inside and out. If in doubt, for most
mountain areas, think about what kit you'd use for a typical British
spring or autumn weekend.
|
Organised or Independent Travel?
Travelling and trekking independently will be cheaper and
more flexible than taking an organised trip - you can go
where you want, when you want and do pretty much what you
want along the way. You do need to think a bit harder though
and you may lose out on some of the information you'll get
from a good guided trip, though a decent guidebook will
help.
Organised treks mean minimum effort and low hassle, which
may appeal if you want to get away from it all. You'll get a
ready-made social circle, which is fine if you all get on,
but not so great if you don't. You'll pay more for the
privilege, but all you need to do is turn up at the airport
in a healthy condition with your kit.
The third way is semi-indpendent travel, booking porters
or treks on the ground in the area you're travelling to,
which will be cheaper and ensure that the money you spend
goes directly into the local economy, plus you'll have
contact with local people.
|
Snaps
and That
See Simon Kirwan's excellent photographic articles on this site
for more detailed information, but for trekking and travel you have a
choice between an SLR and a compact camera, or both. SLRs generally
produce better results, but a compact with a good lens will also take
decent pictures and be lighter and smaller to boot. Whichever you
choose, always take a spare battery and enough film, expecially if
you're a clickaholic...
Digitals are all very well, but you need a lot of memory storage
to make them a realistic option, or maybe a lap top for download.
Have fun.
