Seven Dragons Across Asia
A dream that became an adventure! 
By Bill Pratt
By Bill Pratt
Gear List: prepared by Rusty BrennanDubbs
The key to staying
comfortable while motorcycling across Chinas’ low regions, touching the Gobi
Desert, then riding across the Tibetan plateau and crossing the windy passes of
the Himalayas to Kathmandu Nepal…is layering.
To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers
that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and
weather protection. This Clothing and Equipment list is provided as a guideline
for planning travel-packing needs.
Consider that excess baggage can be a burden to you and the rest of the
team in the field. Pack light, but pack
right. This list will have two
sections: one personal gear and one Team gear.
Required & Recommended Gear:
r Valid Passport, with Chinese visa
r Airline Tickets
r 2 extra passport photos
r Proof of ownership of bike
r Travel wallet with money
r Master and Visa credit cards
MOTORCYCLE ESSENTIALS
r Bring a
motorcycle, ha
r Heated grips on bike
r Ortlieb
waterproof whitewater Duffel bag - 3000 cu. in”.
r Ortlieb saddle bags, largest, watertight
r Daypack 2 - 2500 cu. in. to carry your
camera, water bottles and sweater
r Tank bag or bar bag for daily small items
r Helmet wipe, Wee Willy
r Full face helmet
r Ear Plugs
OTHER ESSENTIALS
r Socks bring 5 changes of your favorite
combination, no cotton!
r Cap with bill for sun protection
r Wool or synthetic cap for warmth
r Neck “gasket” fleece
r Bandanna
(road can be dusty)
r Warm liner gloves for motorcycling
SHELL CLOTHING
r Rain jacket or Motorcycle riding suit
r (First Gear Kilamanjaro
or Equal)
r Rain or wind pants
INSULATION
r Mid-weight fleece or wool sweater
r Fleece pants
r 2 long-sleeved easy care shirts
BASE
LAYER
r Lightweight thermal top and bottom
r One comfortable hiking / travel pant
r Synthetic, wicking MTS T-shirts
r Motorcycle gloves cold weather
r Motorcycle gloves hot weather
r Motorcycle boots, water repellent/tough
ACCESSORIES
r One-quart water bottle
r Flashlight and spare batteries
r Pocket knife
r Sunglasses fit inside helmet
r Sunscreen/chap stick - SPF 15 or higher
r Toilet articles, toothbrush and paste, towel,
wet towelettes (Baby Wipes) etc.
r Soap for washing you or clothes.
r First Aid kit (i.e. Band-Aids, moleskin) (Rusty has large Expedition first aid kit)
r Zip lock bag for important documents
r Tool kit (Team carries full tools)
r Two 1-meter tie down straps. 4 bungee
r Cable and lock from Kryptonite
r Bring a few lightweight easily washable items
for city wear
r Comfortable shoes for sightseeing
r Reading and writing material
r Several zip-lock plastic bags
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
r Camera and film
r Digital Camera w/ NiMH Batteries and charger
r 110-220 AC adapter for electronics
r Roll of toilet paper
r Small binoculars
|
Your first aid kit should
have: Antiseptic Cream,
lomotil, 1” tape, 2” & 4” gauze Pad, aspirin with codeine, 4” ace bandage,
Band-aids, antibiotic, iodine, regular Aspirin, Eye medication for infection. (Rusty will carry drugs
for altitude problems) |
Weather:
China will be warm or hot, with rain showers possible. Tibet will each have vastly different
weather. Tibet will be moderate or cool temperatures. Days are between 55 and 70 degrees with nights in the 40’s other
than at Base Camp where mid-thirties are possible. At this time of year Nepal is simply warm and wet with temps in
the 80’s and periodic heavy rain.
Extra Gear to bring:
Sleeping bags, cooking, and eating utensils during the Mt. Everest
camping portion of the trip. We’ll stay
in the simple guesthouse for the night.
Boil water for making simple food.
Top Ramon or equal junk food works well for emergency meals.
Ü Culturally sensitive dressing tips in
Tibet:
For Men: Pants are best. Men may wear hiking shorts, but they should be longer near the
Knees are
best. Men should never go shirtless.
Ü Cotton: Cotton
is wonderful in warm weather. However,
once it becomes wet it will drain your body heat. Bring wools or synthetics such as Capilene, MTS and Thermax.
Ü Wind chill is a significant feature of this trip. Air temperatures are not very cold, but the
wind is constant and when combined to the stress that the altitude puts on your
body, wind can rob a body of needed heat quickly. Wind or rain gear then becomes very important.
Ü Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate
contents.
Ü Foot care: Make
sure hiking shoes are broken-in. The
socks should be wool or synthetic, not cotton.
Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
Ü Rain: You
should bring a garbage bag to line non-water/dust proof duffel bag, should
inclement weather be encountered.
Ó Copyright, Bill Pratt, Mill
Creek, WA – March 2001