Ok looking for a little advice and help in planning a trip to climb mountain in tropical Africa. This is a return trip i.e. Ive attempted the hill once before but had to abort the walk on the second day due to weather (heavy rain and lightning), limited time and poor kit choice (it was a last minute decision and our kit was more suited to vehicle based camping - i.e bulky and heavy).
Ive been sat here thinking what I would change next time and thought maybe I could pick the brains of the experienced jungle trekkers on the forum for advice/tips. I saw a thread a while back for a tropical kit list but cant seem to find it now that I need it ?
Ok so the brief:-
Its a tropical mountain walking up sustained steep slopes (real thigh burners but no ropes required) up to a sort of plateau.
Relatively good going but ground quite rocky with sometimes dense undergrowth (lots of thorny/slashing plants) requiring scrambling/sliding and ducking under low bushes.
Densely forested on the slopes (pretty much rainforest) but moorland/low scrub/cycads on top.
Heavy rain a possibility but should hopefully be dry (depending on season, although mountain can attract rain all year round).
No designated tracks just elephant paths and game trails to follow and a bit of trail blazing.
Hot (30oC+-) at the bottom but coolish (think British summers day! Maybe 15oC+) and possibly a bit windy on top i.e. very sweaty on the way up but near the summit fleeces required at night/when static.
A large number of streams all the way up and on the summit so water collection not a problem purification needed
No leeches but some ticks and the possibility of mosquitoes near the base of the hill, plenty of other undesirables on the slopes (some very large spiders, ants and centipedes! )
Will have 2 guides from the nearest village and 1 armed guard (for the wildlife) they look after themselves kit wise be we will cook for them (they help carry food/cooking kit).
2 people traveling (myself + 1)
Trek for 3 days minimum with a different camping location each night (2 nights on the slope and 1 on the summit, down in one day ...... in theory)
All cooking done on open fire/embers using the 3 stone method, communal cooking and share amongst the guys.
What would be your dream kit list for such a trip? Any specific items you would recommend? Anybody done something similar (sort of like a lower altitude Mount Kinabalu) what did you carry? My main issue at the moment is what to sleep under as hammock is suitable on the slopes (for the first 2 nights) but unsuitable on the top where as a tent is unpractical and/or uncomfortable (but can be used at a push) on the slopes but would be more suitable on the summit (1 night)?!?
My thoughts:-
Something to carry stuff in keep it as small as possible, low slung an advantage to avoid hang up on branches (very irritating/strength sapping last time!)
Something to waterproof the above dry bags to keep kit separated and dry
Something to sleep under on the slope a hammock would be ideal but on the summit plateau trees a suitable distance apart are lacking. A compromise?
Something to sleep in jungle sleeping bag of some description or poncho liner? (anyone with experience of both? Which would you choose?)
Something to carry water in just for drinking during the day (maybe platypus/camelbak type?) as we will be camped near-ish streams in the evening
Something to cook with suitable light weight pans, stove not required
Something to eat off lightweight bowls, cups and sporks
Something to cut with machete/panga, another shorter fixed blade (stainless steel) and a folder
Something to purify good enough for 2 people (we didn't purify last time - big no no and don't want to risk it again) puritabs?
Clothing
Basic Wash kit streams and pools to wash in, foot powder
Mossie repellent & malaria pills - not bad enough for head net (didn't get a single mosquito bite last time)
Sharpening stone
Para-cord and bungees
Small survival kit
Head Torch x2 (1 in use & 1 spare)
Fire lighting kit matches (waterproofed), lighter and firesteel plus tinder of some sort (inner tube?)
Sat phone (already have this one)
Compass (although no maps for the area) - emergency use
Small camera
Have I forgotten anything? Anything you would get rid of or add?
If any one has any more specific questions about terrain or environment please feel free to fire away.
Cheers
Ive been sat here thinking what I would change next time and thought maybe I could pick the brains of the experienced jungle trekkers on the forum for advice/tips. I saw a thread a while back for a tropical kit list but cant seem to find it now that I need it ?
Ok so the brief:-
Its a tropical mountain walking up sustained steep slopes (real thigh burners but no ropes required) up to a sort of plateau.
Relatively good going but ground quite rocky with sometimes dense undergrowth (lots of thorny/slashing plants) requiring scrambling/sliding and ducking under low bushes.
Densely forested on the slopes (pretty much rainforest) but moorland/low scrub/cycads on top.
Heavy rain a possibility but should hopefully be dry (depending on season, although mountain can attract rain all year round).
No designated tracks just elephant paths and game trails to follow and a bit of trail blazing.
Hot (30oC+-) at the bottom but coolish (think British summers day! Maybe 15oC+) and possibly a bit windy on top i.e. very sweaty on the way up but near the summit fleeces required at night/when static.
A large number of streams all the way up and on the summit so water collection not a problem purification needed
No leeches but some ticks and the possibility of mosquitoes near the base of the hill, plenty of other undesirables on the slopes (some very large spiders, ants and centipedes! )
Will have 2 guides from the nearest village and 1 armed guard (for the wildlife) they look after themselves kit wise be we will cook for them (they help carry food/cooking kit).
2 people traveling (myself + 1)
Trek for 3 days minimum with a different camping location each night (2 nights on the slope and 1 on the summit, down in one day ...... in theory)
All cooking done on open fire/embers using the 3 stone method, communal cooking and share amongst the guys.
What would be your dream kit list for such a trip? Any specific items you would recommend? Anybody done something similar (sort of like a lower altitude Mount Kinabalu) what did you carry? My main issue at the moment is what to sleep under as hammock is suitable on the slopes (for the first 2 nights) but unsuitable on the top where as a tent is unpractical and/or uncomfortable (but can be used at a push) on the slopes but would be more suitable on the summit (1 night)?!?
My thoughts:-
Something to carry stuff in keep it as small as possible, low slung an advantage to avoid hang up on branches (very irritating/strength sapping last time!)
Something to waterproof the above dry bags to keep kit separated and dry
Something to sleep under on the slope a hammock would be ideal but on the summit plateau trees a suitable distance apart are lacking. A compromise?
Something to sleep in jungle sleeping bag of some description or poncho liner? (anyone with experience of both? Which would you choose?)
Something to carry water in just for drinking during the day (maybe platypus/camelbak type?) as we will be camped near-ish streams in the evening
Something to cook with suitable light weight pans, stove not required
Something to eat off lightweight bowls, cups and sporks
Something to cut with machete/panga, another shorter fixed blade (stainless steel) and a folder
Something to purify good enough for 2 people (we didn't purify last time - big no no and don't want to risk it again) puritabs?
Clothing
- this time go for the dry clothes/wet clothes routine if it rains this time?!?!
- maybe a poncho as a waterproof (could also be slung up to provide dry admin area) - our guides carry golf umbarellas ..... a good idea in retrospect!
- maybe also use sealskinz socks as part of dry clothes so only need 1 pair of shoes/boots
- used Merrell Moad Ventilators last time, did ok but might use higher leg boots next time
- Fleece for the summit
Basic Wash kit streams and pools to wash in, foot powder
Mossie repellent & malaria pills - not bad enough for head net (didn't get a single mosquito bite last time)
Sharpening stone
Para-cord and bungees
Small survival kit
Head Torch x2 (1 in use & 1 spare)
Fire lighting kit matches (waterproofed), lighter and firesteel plus tinder of some sort (inner tube?)
Sat phone (already have this one)
Compass (although no maps for the area) - emergency use
Small camera
Have I forgotten anything? Anything you would get rid of or add?
If any one has any more specific questions about terrain or environment please feel free to fire away.
Cheers