Loaded horses at one of the many passes along the Tsarab Chu on a commercial trek (Trek 2)
You might want to check the items to be taken by your trekking agent; some may be unnecessary. The chairs and tables that most of the companies carry are comfortable. However, do you really need such comfort on a trek to 5000m-high passes? Discuss your menu too. The more factory-made food, the more rubbish. It might be nice to receive a juice carton or chocolate bar in your lunchbox every day, but wouldn’t you be fine with fresh stream water and dried fruits from a local organic food shop?
Do not litter. Arrange with the company to bring back all the rubbish that will be produced. Try to be a part of the team, not just a customer. Try to help with pitching tents and packing them, loading the pack animals and with food preparation. It will certainly enrich your experience and you will get to know more about the region and the locals.
What to bring from home
Leh has excellent shops, offering good quality trekking equipment and clothes, usually made in China. Many of the tourist agencies in the city have equipment for rent. However, some things are hard to obtain, or for other reasons it is better to bring them from home. You may also not want to spend your time shopping!
Trekking boots, socks and rucksack are going to be your closest companions on the trek – you will wear them all for hours each day – and so they should not be obtained in a rush. Buy boots and rucksack some time before the trip and test them on a few long walks at home; they must fit properly.
Setting up camp in the Kargyak Valley on an independent trek (Trek 3)
On the trek take care of your feet and avoid blisters! Take off your boots and socks whenever you stop; change wet, sweaty socks for a clean pair during the day. Do not ignore the smallest stone in your boot – stop and take it out as soon as it disturbs you. Examine your feet every evening; treat irritated areas with soothing ointment and apply a plaster if necessary. Before you leave for the trip buy gel plasters designed for blister protection and healing as well as a suitable ointment for treating blisters and small cuts. Ask your doctor or chemist for advice.
Trekking socks may save you from blisters – it is worth making an effort to find good ones and to pay for them. Two pairs should do; washed socks left out overnight will usually be dry by morning. You need strong, leather trekking boots that support your ankles, not light hiking boots or sandals.
The type of rucksack you need depends on the style of trekking you plan to do. On a supported trek a daypack of around 30l will be sufficient (you will need to carry an extra jacket, water and probably a camera). If you are going to carry everything yourself, the back system is most important. A strong and comfortable hip-belt is vital if carrying heavy loads. All the straps must be easily adjustable; carrying the bag for hours necessitates changing the position of the load often. The size of bag required for an independent trek depends on how much of the load you can share with your companion, on the time spent in the area where no food is available, and so on. A rucksack of around 80l capacity seems to be a minimum requirement. Remember to make use of the space and that it will be easier to carry the load if you pack everything inside the bag instead of attaching some items to the outside.
Electronic equipment
Although electrical devices are generally available in India, you will probably want to bring them from home. Bear in mind that unless you use a solar charger you will not be able to charge batteries during your trek. Good quality AA and AAA batteries are available in the cities (including Leh), but do not expect to buy them in villages. Proper recycling of used batteries is not popular in India, and so using rechargeable batteries is recommended. When buying them, consider their capacity, cycles of charging, durability and the time the charge will hold at low temperatures.
India uses a 220–240V/50Hz electric system. European plugs with two round pins fit most of the sockets used in the country.
If you still use a film camera, do not expect to buy your favourite film in Ladakh (although there are a few shops offering a range of film in Delhi) so bring all you expect to need. Processing at a Kodak Q-Lab certified laboratory is possible.
Medical supplies
Medicine is easily available in India, and is cheap; usually you can buy antibiotics without seeing a doctor. However, according to popular opinion, some pills available in the country are made of substances that are banned in the West, and medicine storage regulations are less strict than those in Europe. On the other hand, some local medicaments, antibiotics especially, are more effective in fighting local bacteria. This seems to be particularly true in the case of common gastric problems.
Valley north of the Kanji La (Trek 6); shepherds spend the summers in the upper valleys and high mountain meadows, tending yaks, sheep and goats
It is strongly recommended to visit a doctor before leaving your home country. Do this well in advance – at least one month – of your trip as you will probably be advised to have a course of vaccinations (hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus). You don’t need malaria prophylaxis for Ladakh, but it is quite possible to get infected on the way to Leh. However, unless you are spending some time in the lower parts of India, avoiding mosquito bites and using a strong mosquito repellent should be sufficient precaution. Seek the correct medical advice concerning malaria. MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) is a useful source of information in advance of your trip. See www.masta-travel-health.com.
If you spend an adequate amount of time on acclimatisation you will not need any medications for altitude sickness. If you need to adjust rapidly, however, you may want to use drugs that support the process. See below and consult your doctor, and go to the website of the International Society for Mountain Medicine at www.ismm.org. Soluble multi-vitamin and mineral tablets are recommended; choose different flavours.
A light space blanket (mylar or first aid blanket) is very useful, not only for use in an emergency, but also for protection against the cold.
Water purification should be considered before the trip. You should never drink tap water in India, not even for cleaning teeth. In cities outside Ladakh you should use bottled water, available everywhere (make sure that it is sealed). The mass disposal of plastic bottles has become a serious problem in India (and Leh in particular), and it is strongly recommended to refill bottles with boiled or filtered water. This can be done in many shops and guesthouses in Leh.
DRINKING WATER ON TREK
Opinions on water purification during the trek vary. Although water in small streams is generally clean, there is always a risk of bacterial or viral infection, especially if the stream passes a village or pasture. Boiling water is the most effective way of making it safe for drinking, even at high altitude. However, considering that you need to drink about 5 litres a day, it is not practical. Chemical methods are based on iodine, chlorine and silver. The simplest consists of dropping iodine into water and waiting for some time. This, however, does not kill all the bacteria and is sometimes considered unsafe for anyone with a thyroid problem. Advanced chemical methods (available as soluble tablets) are effective in treating bacteria and viruses, but these usually affect the taste and smell of the liquid.