Departure City, Landing City, Summit: Dressing for Three Scenes
Most packing lists are written for the summit. You also have to walk through an airport, a city and a trailhead on the same day.
Plan clothing for three scenes, not one: the departure city and transit, where you need to look normal and shed layers; the landing city and the drive to the trailhead, whose weather may differ completely from the summit; and the summit or camp, where insulation, waterproofing and spares matter. Wear the base layer, shell and walking trousers; carry the warm layers, rain shell and spares.
Every trip has three climates, and most people only pack for the last one. The summit gets all the thinking; the airport, the landing city and the drive to the trailhead get none, which is why the first day is often the least comfortable part of the trip.
Scene 1 — departure and transit
City weather, airports, air conditioning, and the need to look like a person who is not wearing a sleeping bag. Wear something that works for commuting and travel, and that still looks reasonable once the outer layer comes off.
Scene 2 — landing and the road to the trailhead
The landing city and the road in between may have nothing in common with the summit. Prioritise comfort and adjustability for this stretch: you will spend hours in it, often in a vehicle, sometimes at a much lower altitude than the next day.
Scene 3 — summit and camp
Altitude, darkness, wind and rain, hypothermia risk. The insulation, waterproofing and spare layers for this scene live in the pack, and go on when you get there.
Worn versus carried
Worn:
- Base layer (merino or synthetic — never cotton)
- A softshell or light hardshell you are willing to wear in public
- Hiking trousers
- Hiking shoes that work for both travel and the trail
- Hat and sunglasses, depending on the weather
Carried:
- Fleece or down, for the summit and camp only
- Hardshell or rain jacket, depending on the forecast
- Warm hat, gloves, spare socks
- Sleeping system: bag, pad, liner
- Tent or tarp, stove, headlamp, first aid kit
How to decide
- Look at the forecast for all three places — departure city, landing city, and summit or camp. Not just the last one.
- Take layers off when you are warm, add them when you are cold. Soaking the base layer and then stopping is how hypothermia starts.
- Sleeping bag, tent and stove are never "worn weight". When comparing gear, keep the worn load and the pack load separate.
- If the departure city is unclear, ask before assuming — the answer changes what you wear on the plane.
Packing for the summit is the easy half. Packing for the airport, the hire car and the trailhead is what makes the first day work.