Today I wanted to share my experience of what to take on a trip to the mountains and list a couple of “essentials” that are good to have at hand.
However, I need to say that most of these things depend on how well can you live without the comforts of the modern world.
Actually I feel kind of stupid listing items that mostly are irrelevant to one’s survival but I will do it anyway and you decide what you may want to carry.
The locals live without any of those things, and even I trekked the Argentinian south when I was much younger without any of this and not only did I survive but had a great time! I guess I’m older now and want to be as comfortable and safe as possible…
Anyway, here is the list:
Two pairs of cargo pants light to medium weight specially designed for trekking. These are super useful; they have many pockets to carry the basics, are breathable, and you can wash them at night and they will be dry the next morning. In most of them you can also remove the lower portion and transform them into capris or shorts. I bought two pairs very cheap at a REI clearance sale.
A warm long sleeve top to use early in the morning and at night when the weather gets cooler. There are many types, choose one that is light but warm.
A good pair of trekking shoes. Take a pair that is not too loose or too tight and preferably not brand new. I took a pair of hiking leather boots that I use when we go to Mt Rainier that protect my weak ankles from twisting.
Good hiking socks that provide some cushioning to your feet.
A hat, of course, to protect yourself from the sun. Instead of a baseball cap, it’s better to use an outdoor sun hat that will shield your head all around. I felt a bit ridiculous wearing it, like an older version of Dora the explorer, but I’m glad I used it.
Bodyglide Anti-chafe Balm to prevent blisters, it’s really good if you plan to walk for long hours. In case you do get blisters, carry some Moleskin, I prefer the roll to the precut shapes. In many of the mountain sites, you won’t be able to take a shower and if you can’t stand being dusty and sweaty, carry a pack of No Rinse Bathing Wipes. It’s not like water and soap, but it’s a temporary alternative.
I took something called Steripod. It’s a plastic thing that attaches to your toothbrush and sterilizes it, a cool invention really that will ensure your brush is always clean to use.
A good sunscreen lotion in the high mountains is very important, I used Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-touch sunblock.
Take energy bars, like for example the Clif brand; they’ll provide good nutrition and energy when you need it and can even replace a meal. I also took with me some bottles of the 5 Hour Energy drink and they worked very well. I must warn you that they have a good amount of caffeine, vitamin B6 and B12, so don’t drink it late in the day or you won’t be able to sleep.
A water bottle sling is very practical to keep your hands free or a backpack with a side pocket that fits a 1 liter water bottle. Also carry some packs of oral hydration salts,  just in case, to add to the mineral water and avoid dehydration.
A first-aid kit and also some handy medicines like Imodium, Miralax, Cortaid, Neosporin,Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.. You don’t know when you may need them.
Some Melatonin is a good idea too to take at night and adjust your body to the new time zone; a good brand is Nature Made Sleep.
A torch. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, and you’ll probably only use it when you need to go to the bathroom at night… It’s not a bad idea to carry also a couple of candles and matches too…they have some to give you at the sites, but they don’t take much space in your bag anyway. A sleeping bag liner can be useful in certain places and some come treated to repel insects. However I didn’t have mine when I most needed it because Ethiopian airlines misplaced my luggage…
A soft bag such as a duffel bag, to carry your belongings. This is not for your comfort, but for the donkey’s. A small backpack or fanny pack to carry things you may need while you walk, like medicines, sunscreen, documents, money, etc..
Spare charged batteries for your camera and extra memory cards. There is no electricity up there and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to take great pictures!
There are some other things I took with me but ended up not using them, like bug spray and mosquito coils, I guess the amount of mosquitos you can encounter depends on the season and the region where you hike. The mountains of the north are free of malaria, but it’s advisable to carry some protection against insect bites not only for malaria but for other diseases that are spread by mosquitos. Flies also are a big nuisance wherever you go…
All of these things won’t take a lot of space and are light to carry.
Some people will also take extra blankets or a sleeping bag since nights in the mountains are cold, but I discovered that what they provide at the sites was enough for me.
If you go to a specialized store, you’ll be tempted to buy a hundred of little things for the trip, but honestly you’ll probably never use them. Try to take only the essentials, you’ll never be very far from a town anyway, and the people of TESFA will take great care of you.

AliciA