Project on trekking and camping
Answers
The crux of knowing what take is knowing what to expect. Above, atop a 5600m pass, Lobsang with the big backpack, and do look through trek photos to see what people are wearing.
Snacks and nutrition
You will feel your best with plenty of good food and by keeping hydrated. We provide good, nutritious food (plenty, all you can eat!) and filtered water, and boiled water too. However, inevitably you want some snacks for that 10am stop and midnight munchies. Since we are exercising hard for several weeks, it is worth focusing on healthy, nutritious snacks. We recommend quality energy bars from home such as Clif Bars/Power Bars or your other favourite, although now in Leh we can get some health-focused India-made gym bars that are also packed with vitamins and similar protein bars. Also, in Leh you can easily pick up all the ingredients for a good, healthy trail mix, although prices are not so different from home, and don't forget some ziplocks. Leh's dried apricots are the best though!
Longer term energy (low glycemic) is best however, sometimes, a sugar hit is needed to fuel that addiction, and there are plenty of chocolate bars in Leh, to save your luggage allowance.
We usually carry Tang (which is mostly sugar) and medical electrolytes however if you regularly use sports electrolytes, bring your favourite. We also suggest fizzy multi-vitamins. In normal life, supplements are not necessarily recommended, however we are pushing our bodies hard and occasional multi-vitamins do mean less sickness and better recovery.
Lastly, after plenty of reading, I realize that while trekking you can never eat enough protein. You need more than a normal diet (any diet!) can provide, and so I strongly suggest bringing along some protein bars, one for every second day or so, or buy them in Leh.
Dress standards
While India's traditionalist nature is changing, dressing non-provocatively is still sensible and often earns you greater respect too. For town and trekking practicalities we suggest covered shoulders and longer shorts or long pants; avoid tight leggings.
Pre-trek
Delhi stopover, hopefully you are able to keep this short - during the day Delhi is almost always scorching hot so bring light, loose and cool clothes.
Summer in Leh is dry and hot during the day, sun cap, shorts and an airy shirt are enough, and pleasantly cooler in the evenings. We sometimes throw on a thermal top or light jacket for dinner on a cooler evening, or perhaps a light down jacket in early September, as summer ends.
On trek
We trek between 3300m/10,000ft and over 5000m/16,400ft so we can expect a variety of weather conditions. In June, July, August and September you must be prepared for sleet, snow, dust storms AND dry heat with hot sun up to a dry 30°C/80°F. River crossings can be easy but after rain they can be up to waist deep, and pass crossings can be under awesome blue skies or whipped by an icy wind.
Like the days of yore, we may get a blistering summer, no snow, indeed not even a cloud for weeks; however with global warming and increasing extremes, there have been summers seasons featuring incredible cloudscapes, and even rare sudden rain and flooding. So, we should be prepared for all eventualities.
Tsomoriri generates spectacular storms, here we didn't get a drop despite the fearsome clouds.
Arabella is wearing a merino t-shirt with a light Goretex jacket as protection from the wind and sun.
Comparing with Nepal
We are comparing Ladakh's summer with Nepal's autumn/spring. While the weather is variable, Ladakh is significantly warmer than the Nepal high country, and pleasantly so. Watching the sun set outside with a fleece or light insulated jacket is comfortable, even with a single layer for pants. Sunny days mean just a light top and shorts or if crossing a pass in sunny weather, a light jacket and trekking pants instead (with backup gear in your day pack).
Who carries what
You carry a day pack with your camera/phone, jacket, water and snacks, trekking pole/s and sometimes river crossing sandals. The horses and mules carry everything else. A duffel is easiest to pack and unpack in your tent, and fits well on the ponies. They are readily and cheaply available in Leh if you want to buy one there. The hotel safely stores left luggage.
Ponies carrying the kitchen boxes and wrapped trekker's kitbags
Camping treks - what you are planning for
Basically you should plan with 5 specific climates/functions in mind:
+ warm summer days in Leh and on the trail
+ fine weather trekking in the cooler high country
+ cold, windy conditions and possibly some cold drizzle
+ river crossings - on most treks
+ cool high country evenings
It can help to visualize what you will wear in each scenario. Obviously, much of your gear will fulfill multiple roles, and we can wash clothes on rest days (or you can pay the crew to wash them).
hope it helps