I'm a packer and a planner but this was quite the challenge for me!!!
A typical adventure involves copious watching of YouTube, blogs, forums and FB groups for 3-6 months to gather lists, tips, ideas and recommendations before packing - and packing begins 3+ MONTHS in advance!
Kili was different. I had to test and use all the gear I was taking, right up to 2 weeks prior and that meant I was behind the 8-ball on the packing front. Anxiety ensued. As it could, should and would.
5 climate zones + 2 very different adventures = 4 (FOUR!!) bags to tote to Africa.
This post serves as a record of the gear I took and hopefully will never come in handy for an insurance claim! I will update it to reflect the most used, least used and "wish I had packed it" conclusions, post mortem. You'll be able to review it when planning for your trip and also come to the conclusion that my list and your list will differ because of weather/season and personal comfort preferences!
Bag #1:
Camera Bag/Personal item
Canon EOS 6D Mark II
24 - 300mm lens
150 - 600mm lens
Multiplier: 1.4x
Fisheye lens
14mm lens for night sky photography attempts!
Spare camera: EOS 50D + telephoto lens
Camera batteries and charger
Camera memory cards and protective case
Shutter release cable
Camera raincoat
Cleaning cloths
Camera manuals
Journal of photography notes and checklists
Personal journal to document trip
Writing tools
Bag #2:
Carry on (medium sized, soft-sided duffel got changed out for wheelie suitcase the morning of.) It goes in overhead bin onboard and fingers crossed, never gets weighed!
3/4 leg merino wool base layer
Smartwool tights (thicker)
Hiking pants
Goretex pants
Long sleeved tops, merino (2)
T-shirt, merino (1)
Rain shell
Down jacket
Wool hat
Cotton Buff
Wool Buff
Wool balaclava
Hankerchief
Electric socks
Liner socks, wool
Mid weight socks, wool
Mountaineering socks, wool
Liner glove, merino
Ski mittens
Sun gloves
Underwear (6)
Sunglasses
First Aid Kit
Prescription meds
Gaiters (small)
Computer
SSD hard drive to back up pics (Sandisk 2TB)
Noise cancelling headset, Bose
Headband with speakers for summit night
Charging brick (2)
Candies/Gin-gins
Liquid IV
Playing cards
Bag #3:
Checked bag, large waterproof duffel that porter will carry hiking gear up Kili in.
(Kili hike related)
Fleece joggers
Hiking pants
Smartwool tights (thick)
Baselayer merino tights
Long sleeved merino tops (2)
Merino camisol (1)
Liner socks, merino (1)
Medium thick merino socks (2)
Mountaineering merino socks (1)
Underwear (4)
Bra, merino (1)
Gloves, wool
Cotton Buff (1)
Fleece hood
Sunhat
Ski goggles (clear)
Sandals
4 dry bags
1 down sleeping quilt
1 sleeping bag liner, silk
1 camp pillow
Selfie stick
Compression sack for rented sleeping bag
Pee conch
Electric handwarmers - removed. (Not allowed batteries in checked luggage!)
Chemical handwarmers
Bath wipes
Wet wipes
Toilettries/sunscreen
Toilet paper
Head torch and spare batteries
Knee supports
Snacks (Bobo's PB&J oatmeal cookies and Think! mini protein bars) Gin-gins, Werther's candies and liquid IV drink powder
Charging cable
(Non-hike related)
Linen shirts (2)
T-shirts, merino (2)
Tank, merino
Camisoles, merino blend (3)
Pants with pockets (2)
Soft skirt
Underwear (4)
Bra (2)
No-show socks (3)
Travel tripod
International power plug - a newer and smaller version acquired shortly after this photo!
Camera cleaning kit
Bag #4:
45L Backpack, Deuter (Checked luggage, carried by me up Kili and donated post hike)
School supplies for donation - pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners and erasers
Trail shoes, La Sportiva (to be donated)
Ski pants
Rain poncho
Down booties, North Face - actually moved to carry-on bag shortly after this photo!
Ortovox rain shell - for donation
Wool sweater - for donation
NOTE: October 28 upon return and reflection
I used ALL the clothes and items I took! The nature of the hike is such that it is easy to reuse and rewear items (especially merino wool) if the weather is dry-ish, even if dusty. I didn't need more .... I'm glad I didn't have less. We rented sleeping bags, poles, gaiters and summit jackets, which was perfect as those items are bulky to carry over there. (It was a joy to give them all back, dusty and grimey, and know they were someone elses problem to launder!)
The electric socks were not ideal only because after first use, I charged them and they used 3/4 of my charging brick!! Eeek! After that I decided that summit night was going to be for regular socks and I'd only use the electric ones in a pinch overnight on the mountain. I used merino wool toe socks and wool thick socks over them, for summit night. My feet got mildly cold a couple of times, but came back from that on their own and were fine.
Snacks: I loved what I took and shared the candies, gin-gins and even cough drops. BUT we were stuffed with food morning, noon and night and were given snacks such as apple, juice boxes, cookies and even full sized Snickers for the day time hikes too. Bringing bars and whatnot was not necessary for the hike. I ate a few during the safari days though.
Favorite items:
Dry bags! They turned out to be an organizational tool I might never live without again. Plus, putting boots and dirty laundry in drybags is a beautiful thing.
Sea to Summit down sleeping bag/liner. Another layer inside the rented sleeping bag in addition to the liner I took. Cozy! (This particular item is a down quilt if opened up and can be used on the plane or where-ever as needed too. Very handy!)
My La Sportiva mountaineering type boots, a full size bigger than I normally take, fitted with upgraded insoles and well used for training hikes all summer long.A little heavier than you'd think but incredibly protective and insulating for my feet. I laced the ankle portion super tight for the downhill and not only did I never get a blister, hotspot, toenail issue.... but the pedi I got October 4, is still 100% intact! Not a rub mark. Not a chip.
Liquid IV electrolyte satchets. EVERY day I put one in my Nalgene bottle. Nice to have something flavored and definitely helped with hydration and health, IMHO.
Zovirax meds. I don't often get cold sores but the combo of high altitude sun, wind and dryness, coupled with eating orange slices (my personal trigger) meant that I felt one coming on, day 3. I took the meds, was vigilant about lip balm every 30 mins while hiking and within a day or two, it was a non-event... never got as far as a full blister on my lip!
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