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You should consider the Anna Purna circuit.
You're a wimp for relying on sherpas. But seriously, if you're taking an organized trip and you're not horribly out of shape, it's not a big deal. Organizers have dealt with older people and people in average shape, they know you're a foreigner, so it's not like they're going to be pushing you hard. In fact if you're with other people you're only going to go as fast as the slowest person.
And as for the altitude, unless you do some low oxygen training there's nothing you can do about it. Like everyone else, just wait a few days to a week to adapt, then go about your business. Conditioning is fine for hiking but it won't do anything about the altitude. Running at 90% at 100% oxygen doesn't help much running at 50% oxygen.
You're not going to be running in the himalayas, so you might start doing some weekend 10 hour or overnight backpacking trips.
Equipment: Unless you specifically sign up for a mountain climbing expedition, you're not going to need ice picks. Sleeping bags, tents (although they'll probably bring the tents and may hire cooks), just have stuff rated to low temperatures and you'll be fine, and much better off than what the native sherpas use (flip flops).
If you're trying to prepare for food, start eating dahl baht takari, rice lentils and vegetables so your stomach won't have to adjust.
And finally, if the problem is that you're bored of tours and hotels and standard holidays, but are think an organized tour or an african safari are adventures, you should realize there are far less scripted ways of traveling. The whole point of tours is to make them less difficult and more accessible. Stop going on tours, don't stay in hotels catered to big spending tourists, stop being such a foreigner and just try to mingle with the locals. Live in their world, don't bring your vacation to them. Part of the fun is getting lost, not knowing where you're going next, and playing charades with the locals with broken bits of speaking on both sides. That last paragraph is my opinion of course.
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On August 03 2009 08:07 igotmyown wrote:
Equipment: Unless you specifically sign up for a mountain climbing expedition, you're not going to need ice picks..
Well a walking ice axe is used like a walking stick but can help in some situations.
I'm not talking about some super technical ice axes for ice climbing.
=/=
;<
I think it can be really useful if there is snow. That should be a good question to ask to your tour company 
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that ravenpro is a sick ass walking stick. I really need to get back into my camping/outdoorsy roots.
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Well if you want to carry extra weight. He'll be traversing probably the most popular trail in Nepal, and most hikers don't have trouble sans ice axes, unless they're traveling in winter. He might need a permit to go to beyond some of the base camps.
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On August 03 2009 08:24 Kennelie wrote:
that ravenpro is a sick ass walking stick. I really need to get back into my camping/outdoorsy roots.
Eh i was lazy with google image ( took this one because he is sexy :p ) but you get the idea, a long, light ( and straight ) walking ice axe for all around purposes ;(
If there is no snow or ice at all this should be enough :
( Although it is a matter of personal taste because some people like to walk without sticks ).
Even if it is "just" a trek, it is the Himalaya so you have to plan carefully your equipment ( ask your tour to be 100% sure but igotmyown is probably right ) .
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On August 03 2009 08:07 igotmyown wrote:
You should consider the Anna Purna circuit.
You're a wimp for relying on sherpas. But seriously, if you're taking an organized trip and you're not horribly out of shape, it's not a big deal. Organizers have dealt with older people and people in average shape, they know you're a foreigner, so it's not like they're going to be pushing you hard. In fact if you're with other people you're only going to go as fast as the slowest person.
And as for the altitude, unless you do some low oxygen training there's nothing you can do about it. Like everyone else, just wait a few days to a week to adapt, then go about your business. Conditioning is fine for hiking but it won't do anything about the altitude. Running at 90% at 100% oxygen doesn't help much running at 50% oxygen.
You're not going to be running in the himalayas, so you might start doing some weekend 10 hour or overnight backpacking trips.
Equipment: Unless you specifically sign up for a mountain climbing expedition, you're not going to need ice picks. Sleeping bags, tents (although they'll probably bring the tents and may hire cooks), just have stuff rated to low temperatures and you'll be fine, and much better off than what the native sherpas use (flip flops).
If you're trying to prepare for food, start eating dahl baht takari, rice lentils and vegetables so your stomach won't have to adjust.
And finally, if the problem is that you're bored of tours and hotels and standard holidays, but are think an organized tour or an african safari are adventures, you should realize there are far less scripted ways of traveling. The whole point of tours is to make them less difficult and more accessible. Stop going on tours, don't stay in hotels catered to big spending tourists, stop being such a foreigner and just try to mingle with the locals. Live in their world, don't bring your vacation to them. Part of the fun is getting lost, not knowing where you're going next, and playing charades with the locals with broken bits of speaking on both sides. That last paragraph is my opinion of course.
Thanks for the advice.
I have back packed around places before with absolutely no plans, it is definitely something different, I also don't really rely on tours as much as I tend to do my own thing, I'm a fairly social butterfly, I've never had any problems making friends with the locals, those things have never been an issue. I guess I just wanted to visit somewhere different to the main destinations, to your Singapores, Japans and Germanys.
Everyone has to start somewhere, I don't know how much luck I am going to have just taking off into the mountains or jumping onto a raft into the jungle.
I think I would enjoy things like trekking tours, 3 week trans Siberian railway trips and white water rafting/elephant riding in Thailand more than I would just being let loose into the wilderness. That is still a big different to staying at a resort and going out to restaurants each night. I am after all at heart a snob. Adventure means different things to different people.
Wimp for relying on Sherpas... lol, I did for a second consider carrying 60-80 litres of stuff for two weeks. It was a very brief second.
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You're supporting the local economy by relying on sherpas, Armin.. *clap clap* Such a good man!!!!!!
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I've trekked the Himalayas twice, one to Everest base camp and one all around the Annapurna range starting from Pokhora (flew there from Kathmandu).
I didn't do any technical mountain climbing, but the experiences there (similar to what your friend described) were unforgettable.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://www.hiboox.fr/go/images/image-perso/quantummonster,33441687abb69c81bc54b03375c32d28.jpg.html)
![[image loading]](http://www.hiboox.fr/go/images/image-perso/ravenpro,30c0f826a1c6ef7f87db63678b798f35.jpg.html)
![[image loading]](http://www.hiboox.fr/go/images/image-perso/walking-stick,c426d2972629858371a1ad16e2eb4f86.jpg.html)
