Packing list for a 2-night ridge trek in the Dhauladhar

You can Google a dozen trek packing lists and they will all tell you roughly the same thing. Half of them copy from Western blogs that assume an alpine climate with none of the Indian summer humidity that actually defines the Dhauladhar from May to September. Here is what actually matters on a two-night ridge trek in this range.

Footwear

Ankle-high trek shoes with a real rubber sole. Not running shoes. Not brand new shoes. Break them in on a two-kilometre walk in your neighbourhood before the trek. Two pairs of merino or synthetic socks, one pair for walking and one for camp. Do not bring cotton socks. They hold water and they give blisters.

Layers

For May-June: one base layer tee, one long-sleeve mid layer, one fleece, one wind shell. That is four upper body layers including the one you are wearing. For October-November add one insulated jacket. For winter add another. The system matters more than any single piece. You are going to take layers off on the climb and put them back on at camp. Zippers are your friend.

Bottoms

One pair of quick-dry trek pants. One pair of thermals for the night. One pair of lightweight tracks for camp. No jeans. No cargo shorts past mid-October.

Head and hands

Cap for sun. Wool beanie for camp and night. One pair of light gloves. Sunglasses rated category three minimum. The UV index on the ridge above two thousand five hundred metres is brutal even on overcast days.

Sleeping

If the operator is not providing the sleeping bag, bring one rated for the coldest temperature you expect plus five degrees. Ridge camps are always a few degrees colder than the forecast for McLeod Ganj.

Bag

A forty-five to sixty-litre rucksack with a waist belt. The waist belt is not optional past age thirty. A rain cover, non-negotiable from mid-May onwards.

The small stuff most people forget

Lip balm with SPF. A basic first aid kit with bandaids, paracetamol, and ORS sachets. A small quick-dry towel. A headtorch with spare batteries. A power bank. Identification card. Enough cash for cafe stops because the card machines at Bhangotu and Magic View are theoretical at best.

What you do not need

Trekking poles for Triund, unless your knees are already a problem. A filter-pump water bottle. Most streams before the ridge are fine with basic iodine treatment. Cooking gear if you are on a guided trek. A full mess kit. Your operator is feeding you.