October in Ladakh is the sweet spot — tourists are gone, passes are still open, and night temperatures hover between -5°C and -15°C depending on altitude. I did three back-to-back trips this season (Markha Valley, Stok Kangri base, Tso Moriri loop) and refined my pack down to 11.4 kg base weight including a tent. Here's exactly what's in it and what I'd do differently.
The pack itself — 1.6 kg
A 50L pack with a roll-top closure. I started the season with a 65L and finished with 50L; if you can't fit October Ladakh into 50L you are carrying too many "just in case" items.
Sleep system — 2.1 kg
- Supra-Loft -10°C synthetic bag (1.45 kg) — kept me warm at -13°C with a liner, was damp by day 4 but still warm
- Closed-cell foam pad + 3/4 length inflatable (650 g combined)
- Silk liner (95 g) — adds ~3°C and keeps the bag clean
Shelter — 1.9 kg
Single-wall tent. Double-wall would have been worth the extra 400 g — I had ice on the inside of the fly every morning and dripping condensation at sunrise.
Clothing — 2.4 kg worn + packed
Three-layer system. Base layer (merino long-sleeve and tights), mid (fleece + insulated pants for camp), shell (waterproof jacket + pants). One spare pair of socks and underwear — wash them in evening, dry on pack the next day. Down jacket goes inside the sleeping bag at night and adds another 5°C of warmth.
Kitchen — 850 g
Canister stove + 230 g canister (lasts 5 days for one person at altitude — gas pressure drops badly below freezing, sleep with the canister in your bag). Single 800ml titanium pot. Spoon. Lighter + matches as backup.
What I'd cut next time
- The spare camera battery — solar charger on the pack handled it
- The second buff — one is enough
- 200 g of trail mix I didn't touch because I lost my appetite above 4500m (this happens to everyone — plan for it)
What I'd add
- A proper pair of insulated camp booties — my feet were the coldest part of me every evening
- A second 230 g gas canister for the high-altitude leg — running low on fuel at 5000m is genuinely scary