Why?
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Toilets
Inevitably you will get the urge to purge. The pit toilets are few on Ausangate.
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.
Our best tip is to cover your doodoo with a heavy flat rock. There are no shortage of these on Ausangate.
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:
- at least 60 m off the trail
- bring a light trowel (or stick) to dig your own toilet pit
- Find a nice mossy area that is easy to dig-up
- cat hole 10-20 cm deep (some people dig the hole after they do their business)
- in the forest, best is soft, dark soil
- if possible, cover the cat hole with a heavy stone
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 Checklist
If you need to carry more weight than that to stay warm, better to hire a pack horse. Ausangate is high & cold. There is a good chance that altitude will affect you negatively.
Packing light
Depending on your muscular strength and endurance, you may be able to carry more or less weight.
Do everything you can to keep the load light, but don’t scrimp on warm clothing, fuel or sleeping bag.
To avoid embarrassment on Ausangate, don’t be caught carrying canned food or wearing jeans.
If you really want to travel light, visit the website of Charles Lindsey, The 27-pound, 7-day Pack, for advice. Check our list of best hiking guide books.
If you feel it is impossible to carry your own gear on a hike this long, we recommend you hire pack horses.
3 pound pack, 3 pound tent, 5 days food
Hiking Poles
The 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 for balance. Poles can be a nuisance at times.
Photography & Video
Most 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. We used the digital panorama function to try to capture the huge vistas.
Magical Machu Picchu. Photo Neil Costeloe.
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