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Contents

The clothing and equipment that you need depends on your trekking style, the time of year you go and the length, altitude and difficulty of the trek. Thoughtand preparation are required, as too little or inadequate equipment is not only a discomfort but a potential danger, and too much is expensive to porter and may be difficult to shift to the start of the trek. Obviously, those carrying their own packs should take only the essentials; those using porters or pack animals, however, can afford to take a few luxuries. If you go at the very start or end of the season (June or October) you need warm and waterproof gear more than if you go in August. For a one- or two-day hike you need no more equipment than you would take on a walk of similar length at home, but for a long trek a much more comprehensive list is required. Generally the higher you go, the colder the nights are, and if you plan to walk for any length of time above the snow-line waterproofs are essential.
Second-hand shops in the Gilgit and Skardu bazaars are good sources of good, cheap equipment that has been sold by departing expeditions, but it is safer and surer to bring most of it with you. At the end of your trip, you can sell your leftover food and unwanted equipment. In Gilgit, Dad Ali Shah of Hunza Handicrafts, beside the Park Hotel, and the G M Baig bookshop, in Jamat Khana Bazaar, buy and sell second-hand equipment, food and books.
Pakistanis have become a nation of handymen. If any equipment breaks, take it to any shop. If they cannot fix it themselves, they will know someone who can.
Walking boots
are worth spending considerable time and money getting right, as uncomfortable feet are a real misery on a trek. Generally, you get what you pay for, but a good salesperson should be able to tell you the real value of a boot. Boots must have plenty of ankle support and a sole rigid enough to take the sharp edges of rocks with ease. A Gortex lining, though not necessary, is very good if you can afford it, as it keeps your feet dry when walking through wet grass or shallow streams. Unless you plan to do any technical climbing, double-lined plastic boots suitable for attaching crampons are not necessary.
Use your boots as often as possible before you go, to walk them in, toughen your feet and ensure that they are not going to cause problems. Ask whether the boots need to be waterproofed. If so, make sure that this is done properly, or they can literally fall apart at the seams as the stitching rots (keep the receipt just in case). We carry a box of wax to apply every so often, impregnating the leather to prevent mildew and water rings and to keep the leather soft and the stitching sealed (beware of wax in tubes, which can split).
On the trail, the secret to healthy feet is to keep your nails very short and to give your feet as much fresh air as possible. Take your boots and socks off at lunchtime and leave them on a rock in the sun to air. If your feet get hot, dip them in a stream.
Second-hand boots are available in Pakistan but, like borrowed boots, are not recommended.
Camp Shoes
For camp shoes, a comfortable, light-weight pair of sneakers or tennis shoes make a pleasant change and are also useful if you have to wade rivers and do not wish to get your boots wet. Some people prefer to use these on the trail when the path is free of stones and not too steep. Rubber thongs are invaluable on hot afternoons in camp or when bathing in rocky streams. They are extremely light and take up very little space.
Socks
Special hiking socks of a nylon-wool mix are best, as they are thick at the heel and toe (where you need padding most) and dry more quickly than pure-wool socks. Sweaty socks are a major cause of blisters, so carry two pairs and wash them regularly. Some people like to wear easy-to-wash cotton liners to help keep the outer socks clean.
Trousers  
should be made of a strong material and have a baggy cut but must not be too heavy. We prefer colorful  sports trousers made of cotton-polyester Supplex with draw-string waists and elasticated ankles. Army combat trousers have good pockets and are cheap but are also a little hot. The local shalwar, worn by all Pakistanis both male and female, are comfortable and light, but they have no pockets and do not offer much protection or resilience against thorns and rocks. They do, however, make excellent pajamas that can double as spare trekking trousers. They can be bought or tailor made in any town in a few hours.
Shorts  
may be the obvious choice for walking in hot weather—and they may be used by trekkers elsewhere in the Himalaya—but bare flesh, especially on women, offends the Pakistani Muslim sense of propriety. Wearing shorts in Pakistan—even in high pastures—is as inappropriate. Also, shorts give no protection; legs get scratched and may turn sceptic.
Shirts
should be loose fitting and light weight; for women, long-tailed men's cotton shirts are best. Button-down pockets are very useful, and a collar keeps the sun off the back of your neck. One loose T-shirt is useful for sleeping and as a change when you wash your trekking shirt. For men, T-shirts are acceptable, but at higher altitudes sunburn becomes a real hazard, so one long-sleeved shirt is a good idea.
A sweater or pullover should be warm but not bulky. A large, thin, woollen polo-neck is best.
Long thermal underwear 
is essential, not only because nights can be very cold at high altitudes, but also because, if you get caught in a storm and soaked to the skin, you need a means of getting warm. Silk feels wonderful but is expensive.
Boxer shorts  
are preferable to Y-fronts for men, as they are less likely to cause crotch rot in the heat. 
Panties 
Women need three pairs of easily washed  panties Do not be tempted to take disposable panties; they are difficult to bum and, if you bury them in Pakistan's dry soil, take years to decompose.
Jackets
We recommend taking two jackets, one light-weight water- and windproof outer shell, preferably light-weight (but very expensive) Gortex or something cheaper (K-Way 2000) with a cotton liner to absorb the moisture. It must be large enough to fit over your second jacket, which should be warm—either fleece or a synthetic ski jacket that is comfortable but not bulky. If you plan to spend any time above 4,000 metres or travel early or late in the season, consider buying a good down jacket that is light and packs into a small space. Nothing is warmer than down, but it is expensive and needs special care to keep it dry. Your jacket stuffed into your sleeping-bag cover doubles as a pillow at night.
A rain cape
is advisable, even though there is little rain in northern Pakistan. A plastic poncho takes up little space and can also cover your backpack. We also carry cheap plastic over-trousers, with full zips up the outside of the legs. These are easy to put on and useful in the cold and wind, as well as in rain.
Gloves
Cheap cotton gloves are available in Pakistan and keep the hands warm when cooking at night and in the morning. They also protect them from sunburn during the day. Warm, waterproof ski gloves are necessary only if you plan to spend considerable time in the snow or are traveling early or late in the season. Gloves allow more mobility than mittens.
sun hat  
A broad-brimmed sun hat that covers the face and back of the neck is essential. A badly burned face can be a very serious problem, especially when blisters become infected, leaving scars for life. The hat should have an elastic strap or string to keep it on, as the winds can get very strong in the mountains. A warm ski hat that covers the ears is also needed in the evenings and early mornings. A cotton balaclava can be useful if caught in a storm at high altitudes, to wear under your hat to protect your face.
Light plastic gaiters 
with a strap to keep them down should be brought along to keep your feet dry in case you run into unexpected snow. If you plan a long trek up a glacier or to travel early or late in the season, good  gaiters are worth the expense. Try to get ones with Velcro fastenings, as zips freeze overnight and are difficult to do up.
Sunglasses 
Many people wear sunglasses in the towns and on the trail. However, on snow you should wear glacier glasses with side flaps to keep out the glare. Snow-blindness is not only extremely painful but can be permanent. Check that the glacier glasses cut out ultra-violet rays. Take extra pairs for your porters.
You can buy tampons and sanitary napkins only in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, so it is best to take a full supply. Disposing of them is a problem, as they do not bum and the dry sand of the mountains harbors few bacteria to decompose them—and Hoopoes (the digger birds) like to dig them up. The best solution is to wrap them in plastic and carry them out.
Sarong
Women may find it very useful to have a sarong of light-weight cotton two meters by one meter, like those worn in many parts of Asia and Africa. This can provide a modicum of privacy when washing and can also be used as a head shawl to avoid offending
Moisturizing cream, Vaseline or lotion 
in a strong, screw-top plastic bottle keeps your skin from getting too dale in Pakistan. After-sun lotion is also a good idea, as it does not sting. Also take a good hand cream or barrier cream (we like Neutrogena) and some good lip protector.
Miscellaneous 
Such personal items as towels, lavatory paper, washing soap, shampoo and shaving cream all are available in PAKISTAN.