And, I bet you can always find more comprehensive and long packing lists off the Net, but the simplistic list below is something that is tailored to just me and probably you can use as a reference. Nothing fancy, with no heavy duty bazookas to carry.
-1 pack of dry tissue
I'm not talking about the mini packets sold in hawker centres, its the power pack 300pcs, 3-ply Kleenex kind of tissue that will save you somewhere somehow. Wiping blood etc..just kidding. Just don't bring the bulky box along.
-1 pack of wet tissue
Because you won't get to bathe for..let me see..3 days? The first night we reached the hostel, it was already 11pm and there was limited time for us to settle and pack for the climb, let alone bathing time. What more temperature dips at night, you wont want to put yourself through the daunting experience of bathing in freezing water. Just use wet tissue and you are clean enough I guarantee. If you are a clean freak, knock yourself out and bring more wet tissue.
-Keep your spare clothes in a zip lock bag or carry a waterproof bag.
I bought my climbing bag (a cool black killer looking exterior with drawstrings which are too long and the guide kept helping me to tuck it in) from the army market in Lavender. 30 bucks and its scratch resistant I must say, just. not. waterproof. I made the mother of all mistakes which was to assume that the material was thick enough and no water can seep in. But I am so wrong. Wrong with the big X on my face. Zip lock could have been a life savior. If you wish to use a waterproof cover for your bag, I suggest you check the coverage. Because, you know, climbing action and all that, waterproof cover slips off your bag, water seeps in and you are back to the square one.
-Bring snacks & bread.
On Day 1 of climbing, we reached the Laban Rata resthouse at about 1.30pm. Not to brag, the guide told us it was pretty awesome timing for us mountain climbing amateurs. We had a lot of time to rest until the next morning (2am) for supper. But. our resting place was 150m above the main cookhouse, and we had to get down at around 7pm for dinner (nightfall).
Honestly, after 6 hours of climbing and wobbly legs and cold shivering body, trekking 150m down to cookhouse in pitch darkness (we had headlights), and wet clothes was just simply not an option. So we skipped dinner and WL had a slight gastric. That was when my yucky gardenia bread came to the rescue. But it doesn't have to be gardenia of course. I just couldn't find any twiggies left.
-Bring a brolly
I, like most people, think that wearing a Goretex jacket wards off all weather elements. From thermal insulation to waterproof to windbreaking properties. No doubt, it is waterproof as hell, but when you have to climb muddy slides in relatively heavy rain and wind. A brolly is the one that saves you. Think, wet hair wet face wet pants with dry torso or dry hair dry face dry pants AND dry torso. You got the point.
-Dua ratus ringgit Timberland may not be as good as a lapan ringgit kampong kasut
I spent about 200 bucks on a pair of Timbs which I have proudly sweared by and carefully broken into so it moulded my feet shape before the trip. But when the crucial time came for me to kick off the wall and pull myself up the 60 degrees steep slope, the shoes kept slipping and I just couldn't manage a kick. Partly because my arms were weak (this I admit), the shoes werent helping at all. Later when I was asking the guide on his shoes, he told me Timbs are meant for trekking and walking on terrains rather than climbing. His pair of kasut is rather soft and flimsy on the underside, so I guess it helped with more grip, allowing his feet to mould onto the rock. So...I'm guessing those Teva vibram soles will help better with more grip and moulding.
-Gloves (MUST)
If you are going to bring those pair of gloves worn by durian uncles, you might as well not bring at all. Gloves are so important in the entire climbing trip I cant emphasise enough. Fancy all your palms tissues and skin getting torn and abraised by the thick white nylon rope when you abseil? If yes, go ahead with bare hands. If not, bring a good one but does that mean you should burn a huge hole in your pocket? NO. Man, just go into their hostel convenience store and get one pair at 10 bucks. Waterproof, thermally insulated and helluva fashion statement with different colours to choose from. Works better than any of those your friends bring I can bet.
-3 litres of H2O is seriously minimum. Its for the 2 days in mountain (no watercooler pls)
Didnt your mama tell you to drink more water? Please don't scrimp on water unless you are rich kid enough to just carry 200ml and buy the rest at the resthouse. Intensive climbing action warrants sufficient and frequent hydration. Drink less but often. Vertical distance is really different from lateral distance.
-Swear by Uniqlo's heattech
When we started our summit trail at 2.30am on the third day morning, I thought I was already geared for the cold cold unforgiving temperature. I had a base parka sweater to trap heat, thick white cotton sweater also to trap body heat, and lastly the Goretex jacket for windbreaking and waterproofing, all zipped up to the topppp. But when I was halfway through (about 1 hour into summit trail), I was feeling incredibly breathless, with giddy spells and felt like puking. Told my guide, Johnny he asked me to loosen those clothing around my neck, leaving Goretex zip open around chest area. Was asked to take in deep and slow breaths it definitely helped.
I wore Uniqlo's heattech bottoms below the trackpants. Just these two layers and my legs were kept pretty snuggly warm, I think I did better with the bottoms tho.
Anyways I think I'm pretty much done with my list of exhaustibles. Of course it depends on individual needs, you bring however much you want as long as you can carry them up. The reason why I love trekking/ climbing mountains albeit abit amateurish, is its simplicity. Contradicting right? Most people fuss over whatever technologies/gears they can test out in the mountains, but I for one love the simplicity climbing mountains bring. You are stripped to the very feelings and emotions you are vulnerable to when you are at home with nature. There is simply no branding/labels/clutter/noise . You are stripped bare to your core, and you focus on the ultimate goal and you walk the talk. You just keep walking.
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