Details for Organizing the HikeToiletsThere are virtually no pit toilets on Alpamayo. Responsible camping means burning your toilet paper. Don’t bury TP as animals may dig it up. Used toilet paper is the worst litter of all. Only the best hikers can burn TP in the pouring rain. (It always refuses to burn when you are most in a hurry.) Our Swiss hiker allows you only 1 match. If you’re not that talented, carry the paper back in a plastic bag. Need more advice? Get a copy of How to Shit in the Woods, by Kathleen Meyer, a useful, frequently hilarious guide for hikers. Defecating. How to:
By the way, at the Grand Canyon, since 1979, all solid human waste from river trips must be packed out in watertight boxes!. Other US hikes are starting to require you bag and carry out your faeces. Gear ChecklistBrowse our long checklist of standard gear. If you hire pack animals, no worries. But if you are carrying your own pack, go as light weight as you possibly can. There is not much oxygen above 4000m. Do not run short of food as there are not many options to restock en route. Hiking PolesThe jury is out on telescoping hiking poles. Some hikers swear by them. They prevent falls & stabilise in rough terrain & mud. We all agree they are great when nursing a sore ankle or knee. On the other hand, a pole is more weight to carry. They break easily. Some of us like to keep both hands free. Poles can be a nuisance at times. Photography & VideoMost hikers take a light digital or point and shoot camera in a waterproof bag. Die hard photographers lug an SLR (single lens reflex) camera and some heavy lenses in a padded, waterproof camera bag. Weight is a factor, but a quality zoom lens is essential for shooting birds & other distant animal life. You'll likely be frustrated with any camera — digital or not — which has less than 10x optical zoom in the awesome wide vistas of the Cordillera Blanca.
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