Required Mountain Gears

-T-shirts: Two t-shirts that you don’t mind getting dirty while on the mountain. Synthetic is best… no cotton on summit day.
-Upper-body Layer: For climbing the mountain, we recommend having three warm layers for the upper body. Items are made of wool, synthetic or pile. Make sure all layers fit comfortably over each other and supply good insulation. A good combination is a long underwear top, a sweater, and a pile jacket or heavy wool shirt. Cotton items do not provide adequate insulation and are completely useless when damp.
-Rain Parka: Afternoon showers are common in East Africa, especially on the mountain. Bring a good parka of Gore-Tex or waterproof nylon that has been “seam sealed”.
Wind Shirt: (Optional if you have Gore-Tex rain gear) A nylon wind shell (not waterproof), roomy enough to fit comfortably over all upper-body layers. Gore-Tex is good for both this wind shirt and for the raincoat.
-Poncho: (Optional) Quick and handy protection for body and rucksack. Poor protection in windy rain.
-Gloves or Mittens: Wool or pile. One pair of heavy mittens and a light pair of gloves work well.
-Mitten Shells: One pair to go over your mittens. These are for use against the winds sometimes encountered in the crater on the way to the summit.

-Quick Dry Hiking Shorts: One pair. Good for hiking at lower elevations on the mountain.
-Long Underwear Bottoms: One pair, wool or synthetic.
-Wool Bunting or Pile Pants: One pair that fits loosely and is comfortable. These are essential to be worn over the long john bottoms.
-Rain Pants: Bring a good pair of rain pants of Gore-Tex or waterproof nylon that has been “seam sealed”.
-Wind Pants: (Optional, if you have Gore-Tex rain pants) One pair. These are used often on the mountain for protection against wind. They should be breathable nylon and roomy enough to fit comfortably over wool or pile pants.
-Tights: Lycra type is best. These are comfortable to hike in, help prevent nettle stings, provide good warmth on cool misty days, dry fast and prevent sunburn.
-Undergarments: Enough for the duration of the trek.

-Thin Socks: Two pairs of synthetic socks to wear under heavy wool socks. These help prevent blisters and keep feet dry.
-Thick Socks: Six pairs of heavy wool or synthetic socks to wear for warmth with hiking boots.
-Hiking Boots: One pair medium weight hiking boots large enough to be comfortable with one liner sock and one heavy wool or synthetic sock.
-Gaiters: One pair of either high or low gaiters made of breathable material to keep dirt and snow out of your boots.
-Tennis Shoes: These are to wear in camp after a day of hiking.

-Sleeping Bag and Stuff Sac: On the mountain, temperatures can get down to zero degrees Fahrenheit at night so bring a warm bag.
-Sleeping Pad: A closed-cell foam camping mattress is okay. An inflatable thermal-rest type is more comfortable.

-Water Bottle: Two, one liter wide-mouthed plastic bottles.
-Water Treatment: This is very important. The water in East Africa is not unhealthy, but its flora content is different from what you are used to. To keep your system running normally, we recommend you bring two bottles of “Potable Aqua” or “Polar Pure” crystal iodine in a bottle, to treat drinking water. Filtration pumps are also effective, but costly and rather bulky.
-Water Flavoring: Wyler’s Lemonade, Tang, Gatorade, etc., as these mixes are hard to come by in Tanzania and make treated water taste much better. Two bags or more.

-Frameless Pack: A medium-size comfortable pack is adequate to carry personal gear. The pack should fit properly and have a good waist belt. Side pockets are recommended for soft packs. Personal loads with camera gear, water for the day, and warm clothes are often between 18 and 25 pounds.
-Pack Cover: Something waterproof to cover your pack when hiking in the rain. Otherwise, bring a large plastic bag to line the inside.
-Duffle Bag: Medium-size with lock for mountain gear; the porters will be carrying them.
-Duffle Bag: Large enough to hold your non-mountain gear. This will be left at the hotel, where you pick it up after your climb.
-Plastic Bag: Several, to double bag your sleeping bag and clothes on the mountain. It can rain every afternoon.

-Toiletries: Bring enough for entire trip. Keep simple and light. Few toiletries are available in Tanzania, however, so bring enough for all your needs.
-Flashlight and/or Headlamp: Important on summit day and just plain handy in camp. Plenty of batteries.
-Pocket knife: Simple Swiss army type with scissors.
-Personal First Aid and Drugs Kit: Please see recommended list below.
-Trail Munchies: Bring plenty of snacks/trail food for personal interest, because most trekkers like the taste from home in their pack. Touted as important accessory by those who have brought them in the past.
-Hot Drink Mixes: We will try to provide plenty of coffee, cocoa, and tea, but some caffeine drinks are not readily available here. Bring a supply of your favorite herbal teas.
-Towel: For washing up in camp, a small one for drying out quickly is fine, or you can use a bandana.
-Hand-wipes: Such as “Washin Dries” for general hygiene.

-We will have gauze, tape, aspirin, medicated soap, antibiotic ointment, antacid tablets, some antibiotics, pain killers, eye treatments, anaphylaxis kit, immodium, compazine and diamox. Because of liability problems, prescription drugs will only be dispensed in an emergency.

We suggest you bring the following medical items, so please discuss these with your physician prior to coming on this expedition.
-Intestinal Disorders: Compazine. 25mg rectal suppositories, for severe nausea, vomiting; Immodium to decrease diarrhea and cramping. Tetracycline, Cipro or bactrin antibiotics for initial treatment of severe diarrhea. Activated charcoal has proven to be an effective first stage treatment.
-Cuts and Scrapes: Its wise to bring a supply of band-aids to treat those abrasions that might sometimes occur.
-Infections: Antibiotic ointment for cuts and abrasions. Erythromycin or amoxycillin tablets for skin of soft tissue infections.
-Blisters: It is wise to bring your own small supply of blister treatment items to insure that you avoid letting any blister get out of hand.
-Headaches: Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Tylenol with codeine to help relieve possible altitude headaches. Nothing stronger than codeine should be taken for fear of masking potential severe altitude problems while on the mountain.
-Insomnia: Halcion 15mg tablets. In high altitude mountaineering, restlessness is not uncommon, and sleep is very important. Halcion is a light sleeping pill, and we do not recommend using any pills above 15,000 feet.
-High Altitude Sickness: Diamox (acetazolamide) 25mg tablets to be taken twice a day from 13,000 feet to the top. This drug is widely used in high altitude mountaineering and is very highly recommended by our staff.