Bernese Oberland Haute Route - West
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. During this holiday you will carry all of the things you need during the trek. It is possible to leave travel clothes in your luggage at the guesthouse.
You must bring the following items:
Mountaineering 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
Thermal Base Layer x 2 (one with long sleeves for glacier travel)
T-shirt or casual shirt
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Waterproof jacket (with hood)
Extra warm layer/ duvet jacket – (prima loft or lightweight down)
Sunhat
Warm hat
Eye wear – sunglasses – category 3 or 4.
Thin gloves – leather or thermal
Warm gloves/ski gloves or mittens
Rucksack 40 to 50 litres
Head torch – with new battery
Sun Protection (high factor for skin)
Lip salve – with sunscreen
Water bottle x 1 litre
Small Wash kit and Pack Towel
Sleeping bag liner/sheet sleeping bag (silk is lightest)
Plastic Bag to keep essentials dry
Basic First Aid Kit. Including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).
Mountaineering Equipment
Crampons – MUST be fitted with anti-balling plates
Crampon bag
Ice Axe
Mountaineering harness
Screw gate karabiner
The following items are optional:
Trekking poles x 2 (with baskets) – highly recommended
Long johns
Shorts (for non-glacial travel)
Earplugs (particularly if you are not the one snoring!)
Camera
Penknife
Duck tape
Small Padlock (for trek bag)
Travel Clothes
Travel Shoes
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.
Sleeping bags/extra shoes
These are NOT required as bedding and hut shoes/slippers are provided at mountain refuges. However, you MUST bring a sheet sleeping bag.
