It's been almost a year and a half since I wrote a post I called Packing for Bhutan. Not surprisingly, my thoughts then were very similar to my thoughts now as I pack to leave for Peru later this week, and for much the same reason. I need to be prepared to spend time at high altitude in another major mountain range. In Bhutan, we never exceeded about 10,000 feet in the Himalayas. This year, I'll start out at 12,000 feet in the Andes, and will top out at just over 15,250 feet during the trek to Machu Picchu. There's a reasonable chance it could be cold.
However, when I checked the forecasts for Puno and Cusco, the first two small cities I'll be spending time in, daytime temperatures are predicted to be about 70 F. That's a heatwave for me - I'll need tank tops and shorts. Night time temps, though, are supposed to be in the upper 40s, a bit chilly.
Add to the range of temperatures the fact that I'll be spending a whole week just hanging out before I start hiking. I need clothes for both, although there can be a great deal of overlap.
The upshot is that by the time I threw an item or two of clothing in for all possible conditions, double-checked the packing list from Adventures in Good Company, and added the necessary odds and ends, it seemed like I had enough stuff for the whole family laid out on the floor. I went through everything, tossed out a pair of undies, two pairs of hiking socks, and a tank top. There really wasn't anything else I could pare down.
The specified weight limit for our duffel bags is 35 pounds since all our bags will be strapped to horses for transport while we hike. I assume whatever I carry can be extra, but it looks like everything combined will be well under that limit. I suspect I'll be under that limit even if I come home laden with souvenirs.
When I think back to what I took to Bhutan, a similar amount to what I'm taking to Peru, I don't think I took anything I didn't use. There, in fact, I wished I'd had more items that were cooler. I was grateful I'd brought both my big DSLR camera and my little point-and-shoot, and I'll do so again this time. I'd hate to not have lots of wonderful pictures to share with you! I don't anticipate needing most of the items in my first aid/medical kit, but I certainly won't leave behind my pain pills, antibiotic prescription, or super-duty antibiotic ointment. Who knows what strange bacteria I might encounter!
I think all I have left to do is make copies of my passport and credit cards, get a little extra cash, and pull together a few odds and ends that I use daily. I may just be ready to leave by Friday.
Wish me luck!
