Electronic Gadgets

We westerners have grown accustomed to the convenience and wonders of our electronic gadgets, but with the limited infrastructure in the Himalayas you'll need to decide which gadgets you'll really need and you'll need to take steps to safeguard their continued operation. Electric power is not as readily available in that region and the adverse conditions of the natural elements can be dangerous to your electronic health. Some of the items you might want to bring include a laptop, a radio/mp3 player, a handheld game machine, a digital camera, and a GPS device. These items can generally run on batteries, and some of them with rechargeable batteries, so you wouldn't run out of power if you brought a sufficient supply of replacements. However, carrying so many batteries adds a great deal of weight to your packs and the dead batteries can turn into toxic waste if not disposed of properly. During my trek through the Khumbu I packed a laptop with me and it was a constant consideration for me to find power to recharge the battery, and I went through a ton of batteries for my GameBoy.

The option for recharging at wall outlets is also very limited in the high mountain villages. Many of the lodges and teahouses are wired with only the most basic electrical fixtures and there is no guarantee that there will even be a proper electrical outlet for you. There are instances where all you have is a wire with bare leads to work with. When there is an outlet available the owners may not be willing to avail it to you free of charge. The expense of gaining access to electricity in those far reaches can be quite high, so the owners may charge a significant hourly fee to charge up. Some of the lodges operate on their own car batteries charged up from solar panels, so their resources are very limited.

Make sure that you have an adapter to convert the plug on your electrical cord and make sure that your items can handle the voltage. Most of the electricity runs between 220 and 240 volts, so some of your devices may need a voltage converter. Items such as the laptop and the iPod will charge up just fine since they have built-in regulation. To avoid the issue altogether you may want to acquire your own personal solar panel to collect enough charge for your devices. You can purchase a lightweight solar panel to drape over the back of your backpack to collect the rays during the daytime.

Assuming that you can keep maintain enough electricity to keep your gadgets going during the hike, you'll need to be mindful of protecting them from the elements and the wear and tear of outdoors. The greatest dangers will come from moisture, dust, and the trauma of smashing against hard places. Against the moisture and the dust it is best to store the gadgets in sealable plastic bags, such as the zip top quart or half-gallon sized freezer bags with tough plastic. Bring lots of extras of those bags since they will wear out. For the more sensitive items, like a laptop, it's a better idea to carry it with you in your daypack so you can ensure its tender treatment. The items you pack away in your large duffels to be carried by porters may or may not be well protected. As an extra level of protection for the items you carry in your pack you'll want to get a waterproof backpack cover in case the weather is wet. In any case, choose your electronic components economically considering the weight and the extent that you can actually keep them running.