Wool clothing is an advantage at higher altitudes, as it adds less weight to the outfit.

Wool clothing is an advantage at higher altitudes, as it adds less weight to the outfit.

After over 10 years of guiding people at altitude, I have come to appreciate every hundred grams saved from the weight of the equipment. Why do I say that? Because on high peaks, any weight can translate into water volume, which in my opinion is the most important component of acclimatisation. Since no one has yet invented a pill or powder to replace water, and the volume of water cannot be compressed in any way, it remains to be seen what other equipment can get rid of or reduce the weight of. That's why I was so excited when I discovered the merino wool shirts. It's not that they're the lightest - there are lighter plastic tops available - but the fact that they don't give off unpleasant odours means you can at least halve the number of shirts, underwear, tights or socks you carry in your luggage. Neither cotton nor synthetics compare with wool in this respect. With either of the first two, after a day of hard wear, you need to change them for the next day. This is not the case with wool.

I've just returned from my fourth ascent of Kilimanjaro, a very special mountain in terms of weather. In case you didn't know, it's the mountain that takes you through all the Earth's climate zones, from equatorial forests to perpetual glaciers. Add to this the high humidity on the first and last days of the climb and at the base of the mountain, the wind, the cold and the dryness of the days spent above 3800-4000 metres, and you realise that, in the absence of wool equipment, you should take at least 8-10 shirts with you, not to mention underwear and socks. Unless you want to be sidelined by your fellow expedition members or smell like a doorman... I can easily manage with 3 Merino short-sleeved shirts, one long-sleeved shirt, two pairs of underwear, two pairs of thin socks and one pair of thick socks for the whole climb. And don't forget that I'm doing the Machame route, the 7-day tented route, which is much better from an acclimatisation point of view than the Marangu (6 days and hut accommodation). For those of you who are known to be colder, especially women, consider some thin woollen tights.

Posted on 03/11/2024 by Merinito Merino storys 667
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