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scale and weight for kilimanjaro packing

Weighing Your Options: Packing Smart for your Kilimanjaro Trek

October 24, 2014/0 Comments/in /by

scale for weight limit on kilimanjaro

Everyone who’s ever been on a long journey knows it’s not just what you pack, but HOW you pack that counts. But on Kilimanjaro, the limiting factor isn’t the space in your duffle: it’s the weight of your items.

Porters on Kilimanjaro are only allowed to carry 33 pounds each up the mountain, a limit Thomson strictly adheres to for their health and safety. Every trekker with Thomson will have one porter to carry his or her duffle, but if that duffle weighs too much, another will have to be hired on the spot to help out.

It’s easy to avoid the expense of a last-minute personal porter, however. You just have to keep in mind how much weight certain necessary items will add to your total.

 

 TOTAL WEIGHT: 33 pounds


Sleeping Bag: 7-8 pounds, packed

1-packingtipsIf you own a 0˚ F-rated sleeping bag that you’ve tested in cold conditions, put it to another test: how much does it weigh, packed up?

This is one of the highest-weight items on your list, and one that your porters will have to carry every day (your hiking boots might also add significant weight…but they won’t be packed).

Keep in mind that a 0˚ rating doesn’t mean you’ll sleep comfortably at that outdoor temperature; if you know you get chilly overnight, you may want to bring a higher-rated bag, or add a sleeping bag liner (which may add as much as a pound of additional weight). Pounds remaining: 25-26

 

Cold-weather jackets and climbing pants: 3-4 pounds

2-packingtipsA Kilimanjaro trek generally starts with tropical temperatures (in the 70s and 80s F) and ends with a chilly summit bid around 0˚. Depending on the specific weather conditions when you climb, temperatures might range by more than 100˚ from the warm foothills to the cold summit!

That means you have to pack multiple layers for different types of weather, and when you set out, most of them will be packed in your duffle (read: adding to your weight limit). Your mid-weight jacket, heavier synthetic or down jacket, and warm climbing pants will probably each weigh between 1 and 1.5 pounds. Pounds remaining: 21-23

 

Outer shell layers/rain protection: 3-4 pounds

3-packingtipsYou hope you never have to use it, but every trekker absolutely needs to pack a full layer of rain gear, which includes coat, pants, shell mittens, and daypack cover.

We recommend Gore-Tex technology for all of these items (though “contractor-weight garbage bag” technology can work in a pinch as your daypack cover), which average around a pound apiece (shell gloves and pack cover may weigh less). Pounds Remaining: 17-20

 

Hat, heavy gloves, mittens, liner gloves, neck gaiter, cold-weather socks: 2-3 pounds

4-packingtipsOn their own, all these “little thing” cold-weather essentials don’t add up to much. A few ounces here, maybe half a pound there; even when you pack two or three pairs of socks, how much can it really weigh?

But every single item on this list is an absolute essential for your climb, and can’t be left out of your packing considerations. Pounds Remaining: 14-18

 

Everything else: as much as you let it take up.

5-packingtipsWe’ve only highlighted a few of the heaviest essentials on your packing list, but already more than half your weight is accounted for. And we haven’t even covered the litany of essential items—sunscreen, personal toiletry items, a camp towel, camp shoes, a headlamp, extra batteries for cameras and devices, etc. etc.—that you likely won’t want to haul around in your day pack throughout your hike.

And remember, your duffle itself will probably weigh a few pounds!

That’s why it’s worth considering how many “extras” you really need (will you use glove-warmers? Are you going to read a book in camp or not?) before you set out to pack.

It’s also why you may want to consider one additional “must-have” item: a travel scale. If you’re packing the right amount of the right items, you should easily stay under the 33 pound weight limit—but it can’t hurt to check (twice).

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Crater Camp on Kilimanjaro

Warm Up! How Not To Be Chilly on Kili

May 7, 2014/2 Comments/in , /by

Crater Camp on Kilimanjaro

Glaciers at Crater Camp (18,802’)
Photo: Thomson Safaris staffer, Rachel Seely


We warn all our trekkers that no matter what time of year they climb Kilimanjaro, they can expect it to feel like winter at the summit. Facing some chilly weather is a fact of life on the mountain, but there are a few things you can do to stay toasty during your climb…

 

Spring for the right sleeping bag:

Synthetic sleeping bags might be a bit bulkier and heavier, but a good one will keep you warm even if IT gets wet.

But did you know that a heavy-duty sleeping bag can also help keep your clothes clean and dry? If you put damp items in the bag with you overnight (not soaking ones—be sure to wring them out first!), your body heat will warm them…and the bag will do the rest.

On Amy’s recent trek, this trick helped get her gear dry on time for each new day (preventing mildew for clothes going in the ‘dirty’ bag, and discomfort for gear being reworn). “You’ll wake up to ‘condensation’ on the outside of the bag, but it will dry before you get to your next camp!” she says.

“I have never had a wilderness adventure that didn’t have at least a LITTLE rain or snow at some point,” Amy added. “That makes a synthetic sleeping bag well worth the extra weight and bulk!”

 

Get out of sweaty clothes ASAP:

By the time Paul got into Barranco camp, he wanted nothing more than to sit down and relax in the dining tent. So much so that he didn’t bother to change out of his sweaty socks before dinner.

“Halfway through dinner, I realized my feet were frozen,” Paul said. “It’s not rocket science, but it’s worth remembering: once you cool off, sweaty clothes will make you that much colder.”

 

Make your water bottles work overtime (and overnight):

On the trail, you’ll need your water bottles to stay hydrated. But overnight, you probably won’t need four liters of liquid.

Instead, fill two of them with boiling water, like Katie did, so that they can serve as a personal furnace.

“I put one at the foot of my sleeping bag and zipped the other one inside my shirt, so I could ‘cuddle’ with it for warmth,” Katie said. “It worked like a charm!”

 

Warm up from the inside out:

There’s nothing like a cup of hot tea, a bowl of steaming broth, or a steamy serving of soup to warm your soul…and your core!

Rachel relied on hot liquids in the mornings to keep her warm on the trail. “At least one of my water bottles was always hot, and I’d add tea, or bouillon cubes. Not only did it warm me up, the different flavorings helped make it easier to drink enough liquids.”

Amy has another tip that’s as tasty as it is effective:

“Add a pat of butter to your hot cocoa in the morning. You need the extra calories on the mountain, anyway, and burning through it will help your body stay warm.”

 

Start chilly, end extra-toasty:

In the mornings, it might be hard to fully warm up before you hit the trail. But that might be to your benefit:

“Wearing too many layers early on is a classic rookie mistake,” Paul says. “You’re shivering in camp, so you put on the big down parka, then as soon as you start walking, you’re sweating like the proverbial pig, and you wind up peeling off layer after sweaty layer by the time you make it to the next camp. Then, the minute the wind picks up, or after just a few minutes resting, you’re frozen solid.”

Instead, plan ahead like Rachel:

“As soon as you get into camp, change out of your sweaty layers, and replace them with dry clothes AND a heavier jacket. You might be a little too warm for the first few minutes, but you’ll cool down fast, and you’ll be happy you’re already in your warmer gear!”

 

If you’ve gotta go, just GO:

We’ve said it before, now we’ll say it again: if you have to pee, even if it’s the middle of a very-cold night, the best thing you can do for yourself—both for warmth and for comfort—is to go as soon as possible.

A full bladder sucks heat that could and should be going to the rest of your body.

So brave the chilly night air sooner than later if you want to spend more of those overnight hours feeling toasty!

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kilimanjaro-clouds-thomson-ftrd

When is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro?

March 26, 2014/0 Comments/in /by

Kilimanjaro clouds

Trekking ahead of the clouds
Photo: Lauren & Frank Boitano


We hear it all the time: “when is the absolute best time to climb Kilimanjaro?”

Not to be fence-sitters but: whenever?

There absolutely is a worst time to attempt your trek; in fact, there are two of them: April/May and mid-November through mid-December. During those times the entire country receives serious rainfall (especially during April, when the heavy rains come), and Kilimanjaro is too soggy to camp on comfortably (that’s what you get for standing head and shoulders above a continent).

So that just leaves you…the other 9 months to choose from.

Here’s a (possibly hard) truth that may make it MUCH easier to make a decision: no matter when you climb, it’s likely to be warm in the foothills and cold at the summit. Depending on the month, that might change to “slightly warmer” or “marginally less frosty,” but Tanzania’s seasons aren’t the climate you need to be concerned about when scheduling your trek.

The rest of the country has “winter” and “summer” (there’s still only about a 10-15 degree difference between the hottest months in Tanzania and the coolest, so those terms are still relative), but Kilimanjaro starts off with a hot and humid trek through the foothills and rainforest, and ends with a shivery last push to the top, no matter when you climb.

The mountain also has different weather patterns than the country at large, which means that while late summer and early fall is extremely dry on the ground, it’s possible you’ll get rain showers on Kili no matter when you climb.

So if there’s no real “best time,” how should you plan your trip?

One great way to decide when to climb is thinking about what else you might like to see in Tanzania; the differences between green season (when everything’s blooming, millions of animals are giving birth, and resources are abundant) and dry season (when animals concentrate more and more upon scarce water sources, increasing the odds of dramatic predator-prey encounters) are more pronounced on the plains than they are on the mountain. Likewise, a beach vacation to Zanzibar might be something you’d rather enjoy in the middle of your winter (or you might prefer the beach during the slightly cooler days of Tanzanian winter, i.e., June-August).

Basically, once you realize that Kili’s pretty much always the same Kili, it gives you a lot of flexibility! So plan for anything on the mountain…and plan your trip any time you want!

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High altitude hiking tips

The Downside of Altitude

March 12, 2014/2 Comments/in /by

High altitude trekking tips and digestion

Nearing the summit!
Photo: Thomson Safaris guest, Tom Rohrer


Trekkers know that reaching Uhuru Peak won’t be easy; getting to the top involves long days of hiking, chilly nights, and some serious willpower. After all, it wouldn’t be such an amazing achievement if summiting weren’t a serious challenge!

But there’s one part of a Kilimanjaro hike that many people don’t fully prepare for (maybe because it’s not that much fun to talk about it): the ways that altitude can affect you on the mountain. Specifically, the effects it may have on your digestion.

Almost everyone will feel some mild symptoms of altitude on the mountain, and one of the most common problems trekkers have is occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. It’s hard enough to get to the top as-is; make sure you’re taking a few simple precautions in order to minimize your stomach symptoms on Kili:


Pack Ginger

Whether you bring it candied, in a lozenge, as an extract, or in whole-root form for easy gnawing, put ginger on the list of items you keep in your daypack. Ginger can help ease nausea and upset stomachs naturally, and munching a little on the trail can help prevent symptoms from worsening (or if you’re very lucky, starting in the first place).

We provide trekkers with ginger tea in camp, but you can do even more to alleviate symptoms by stashing your own and consuming it as needed throughout the day


Double-Check Your First-Aid Kit

Your safety is the number one priority of the guides and staff members on the mountain, but over-the-counter treatments such as Pepto-Bismol and Immodium should be in your personal first-aid kit. For many people, these are enough to deal with any stomach issues on the mountain.


Load Up on Good-For-You Food (and Water)

All our food on the mountain is hygienically prepared, and we provide trekkers with unlimited PUR water throughout their treks—take advantage of this to help keep stomach issues at bay! Simple, plain foods, like crackers and unbuttered popcorn will be provided (and can keep a tender stomach from becoming more upset), and staying hydrated will not only keep you healthier, it can fight some of the symptoms of altitude.

Remember, it’s very important to eat and drink enough on the mountain, even if you are feeling a little off, which reminds us, you should make sure to…


Pack Your Absolute Favorite Treat

There will be more than enough healthy, hygienic food options on the mountain, but if you’re experiencing stomach troubles, sometimes a favorite food can help you get your appetite back. Whether it’s chocolate or Cheez-Its, a supply of your go-to guilty pleasure snack is a great way to help get your stomach back on track (or just reward yourself after a hard day’s hiking!) on the mountain.


Consider Diamox (a.k.a. Acetazolamide)

If you’re concerned about the effects of altitude, talk to your doctor before your trek, and consider whether a prescription for an altitude medication, such as Diamox, might be a good decision for you. You can either take these preemptively or as soon as you start feeling symptoms, and they can help greatly reduce the negative effects of altitude on your body.

Finally, maybe most importantly…


Mentally Prepare for a Bad Day

Chances are every trekker will have at least one rough day on the mountain; altitude just works that way. But if you follow these tips, and listen to your expert guides, you’ll likely be able to work through it. Often, trekkers will wake up the morning after a bad day feeling ready to get up and go!

So listen to your body, and do everything you can to keep symptoms at bay, but most importantly, remind yourself that feeling a little crummy occasionally is just part of a Kili trek…and it doesn’t mean you won’t still succeed in reaching the summit!

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duct tape

Life (on the Mountain) Hacks

March 5, 2014/0 Comments/in /by

No matter how you slice it, a trek up Kilimanjaro isn’t exactly a luxurious experience. You’ll be sleeping in tents, braving the cold, and pushing yourself past the point you likely thought possible…and of course there aren’t any mountaintop spa retreats along the trail.

But there are ways you can make your trip a little more comfortable (not to mention beautiful). With just a little prep-work, you can “hack” Kili in more ways than one!


Choose a Headlamp with a Red-Light Setting

Nights on the mountain are dark, without any of the background light pollution city-dwellers are used to. That’s why a headlamp is absolutely necessary for getting to and from your tent in the middle of the night, digging through the depths of your duffel, and making sure you don’t trip over a sleeping tent-mate.

But the night will be calmer—and more magical—if you choose a headlamp with a red-light setting. Flipping it to this in the middle of the night is less likely to wake a tentmate, and your eyes will have an easier time adjusting (so you won’t spend the first minute outside your tent just blinking and shivering).  

Red Headlamp

Headlamp with red LED light
REI.com


D.I.Y. Mood-Lighting

There aren’t outlets on the mountain, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn your tent into a relaxing, softly-lit retreat at the end of the day.

Simply wrap your headlamp around your full water bottle (with the lamp facing into the bottle) and turn it on; the water inside will spread the light around the entire area.

Bonus: the light will take on the hue of the water bottle you wrap it around, giving your tent serious ambience!

headlamp lanternOne-step ambient lighting!
Photo: aprilscreatives

Carry a Bathroom Prep-Kit

We recommend that all our trekkers carry a roll of toilet paper for possible on-trail pit stops, but it won’t do them much good if a sudden downpour turns it into a soggy mess.

If you stick a roll of TP and a to-go sized bottle of hand sanitizer in one of the Ziploc bags you’ll already be bringing with you on the trail, though, you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice

toilet-paper-and-ziplocOn the mountain, a Ziploc is T.P.’s best friend
Photo: Modern Caveman


Use Your Hand-Warmers More Effectively

Many trekkers pack hand-warmers for emergencies, but never crack into them, since they can be almost TOO effective.

But stick a pair into your boots as you’re getting going in the morning, and another in your gloves, and once you put them on (after removing the hand-warmers), they’ll be toasty-warm (and your hands and feet won’t start sweating profusely with the first step you take!).


Never Underestimate the Power of Duct Tape

It can add grip to a slippery trekking pole, patch up a tear in your rain-gear without sacrificing waterproofness, and even work as makeshift moleskin, preventing blisters on your heels.

As one of our well-traveled trekkers likes to put it: “if you can’t fix it with duct tape, you’re not using enough duct-tape.”

duct tape

Not working? Just add more duct tape.

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trekking poles

Gear Tips: I Can’t Believe How Glad I Was to Have…

February 12, 2014/0 Comments/in , /by

Most of the items on your Kilimanjaro packing list are things you’ll obviously need; most trekkers won’t question whether they’ll use their hiking boots, sleeping bag, or down coat on the mountain.

But there are a few items that might seem a little strange on the first look-through. Will you really need all that hand-sanitizer? How many layers will you really WEAR? Do you really need to bring some of your beauty routine up the mountain?

We asked Thomson staffers which item they scoffed at…until they started their trek, and realized how happy they were to have:


Katie: A Nail Brush

Our Kilimanjaro Program Manager has reached the summit twice, but even she was skeptical about the advice to pack a nail brush for her first trek.

“I thought I was rugged enough to deal with dirty nails, so I figured I wouldn’t need it.”

Needless to say, Katie thought wrong. “You get pretty dirty going up the mountain, including your nails. Having the nail brush was one of those little luxuries that helped me focus on my climb!”

nail brushIf you find the right one, your nail brush can serve double-duty as a cute pick-me-up!
Photo: wintersoul1


Paul: Insulation

We tell all our trekkers that it gets pretty chilly on Kili, but sometimes it takes a night in a (literally) frozen tent to fully appreciate just how cold it can get:

“I was one of those naïve folks that assumed I couldn’t possibly need all that winter gear,” Paul said ruefully. “The mountain is almost on the equator, after all!”

But after a night in Barranco Camp, where he woke up to a frozen tent and nearly-frozen fingers, Paul “realized it had been a good idea to pack the long johns and extra gloves.”

long johnsEven if you think you can tough out the cold nights, pack your long underwear!
Photo: Patagonia/REI


Rachel: Make-up Wipes and Moisturizing Creams

Rachel was ready to keep as clean as possible on a showerless trek with Fresh Wipes, and brought extra wet-wipes for her hands, but after days of dusty, dry-season trekking, she says she was most grateful to have packed make-up removal wipes.

“It’s not like I was planning on wearing tons of makeup on the mountain, so at first I thought they might be overkill, but at the end of the day, it was SO refreshing to get the dirt and grime from the trail off my face and neck. I really didn’t think they would be so important.”

Rachel finished up her Kili “beauty routine” with ample supplies of face lotion, another packing-list item she nearly left behind. “I didn’t realize how dry the air would be on the mountain, especially higher up. I thought face lotion would be just a luxury, but it became absolutely essential!”

face wipesCleansing makeup-removal wipes helped Rachel feel clean after long days on the mountain
Photo: Neutrogena


Amy: Neck Gaiter

Like Paul, Amy knew things would get cold on Kili, but she didn’t realize how much the temperature would change until she started her trek.

“I really didn’t think I would use my neck gaiter, but it was genius! It provided so much greater flexibility in my layering options,” she raved.

Being able to peel it off and throw it on at a moment’s notice was a huge benefit (and something Amy couldn’t do easily with clothing layers), and she said it was incredibly warm and protective against the elements.

gaiter - turtle fur

Amy relied on her Turtle Fur-brand neck gaiter more than she ever expected
Photo: Turtle Fur


Michael: Trekking Poles

Michael had been on tons of treks before he scaled Kili, and he was more than a little skeptical of the trekking poles we recommend to Kili climbers.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d use them—I’d never used poles on any other hikes, and they just seemed unnecessary.”

It didn’t take him long on the mountain to rethink his position.

“The terrain isn’t technically challenging, but it’s definitely rough, and these helped keep me stable during the climb,” he said. “There were definitely things I didn’t use much on the mountain, but my trekking poles were one thing I’m very glad I packed.”

michael & trekking polesMichael was so grateful for his trekking poles on Kili that he used them again on his Tanzania Trekking Safari!
Photo: Thomson Safaris staffer Michael Moitoso

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