One Week Haute Route - Mnt Blanc to the Matterhorn
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your rucksack to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Mountain Boots (see notes below)
Gaiters (long or short)
Socks – technical walking socks are best (2/3 pairs)
Trekking Trousers/Pants (not cotton)
Waterproof Over trousers
Underwear
Long johns
Shorts (for non-glacial travel)
Thermal Base Layer x 2 (one with long sleeves for glacier travel)
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Waterproof jacket (with hood)
Extra warm layer/ duvet jacket – (prima loft or down)
Sunhat
Warm hat
Eye wear – sunglasses – category 3 or 4.
Thin gloves – leather or thermal
Warm gloves/ski gloves or mittens
Trekking poles x 2 with baskets
Rucksack –50 litres
Head torch – with new battery
Water bottle x 1 litre
Sleeping bag liner/sheet sleeping bag (silk is lightest)
Sun Protection (high factor for skin)
Lip salve – with sunscreen
Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium) painkillers, plasters (band-aids) and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets are a good idea.
Mountaineering Equipment
Crampons – MUST be fitted with anti-balling plates
Crampon bag
Ice Axe
Mountaineering harness with screw gate karabiner
The following items are optional:
Earplugs (particularly if you are not the one snoring!)
Small Wash kit and Pack Towel
Plastic Bag to keep essentials dry
Camera
Penknife
Duck tape
Other items you may require for travel:-
Trek Bag (KE)
Small Padlock (for trek bag)
Travel Clothes
Travel Shoes
NOTES:
Mountaineering Boots: Recommended boots for this trip are comfortable, warm and sufficiently stiff to take a crampon securely (A ‘worn in’ B2 boot is ideal) Plastic ‘Expedition’ Boots are NOT suitable for this trek / nor are B1 boots.
Crampons: Modern strap on crampons are perfectly acceptable for this trek and will fit any boot. All crampons MUST be fitted with anti-balling plates. Grivel Crampons - G10 or G12 with a strap system are excellent and they come fitted with anti-balling plates.
Equipment hire/ rental: The following equipment can be hired from KE: Crampons (with anti-balling plates); Harness Pack (with karabiner); Ice-axe. This can be reserved either when you book your trip or closer to your departure but we advise booking hire equipment as soon as possible to ensure availability. ** We do not hire mountaineering boots, but there are several shops in Chamonix renting boots that are suitable for this trip.
Sleeping bags/extra shoes are NOT required as bedding and hut shoes/slippers are provided at mountain refuges. However, we do recommend you bring a sheet sleeping bag.
Needle Sports (specialist mountaineering equipment shop)
Needle Sports is the English Lake District's foremost specialist climbing shop supplying mountaineering, rock, ice, alpine and expedition equipment worldwide. Internationally recognised as among the very best of the UK's top technical climbing gear retailers. They have a good range of equipment appropriate for this trip and offer knowledgeable advice both on their website and in store.
View >>http://www.needlesports.com/
