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image of Denali / Mt. McKinley

Photo: Nic McPhee

Denali / Mt. McKinley

Height: 6194m

Min. Temp

Day:  -10°C to -25°C

Night:  -25°C to -40°C

Normal range of Min. Temp high on mountain (without windchill)

Gear Recommendations

Essential
  • Down & Synthetic Jackets
  • Down Trousers & Salopettes
  • Insulated Mitts
  • Insulated Socks
  • Wind Suits
  • Shell Jacket
  • Shell Trousers & Salopettes
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Extreme Balaclava
  • Sleep Systems
Optional
  • Down Suits
  • VBL Bag

Weather

The main climbing season is May to September. May is cold: June is the most popular month: July and August warmer and more unsettled: September cold again. Denali is sometimes called the coldest mountain on earth, and in winter it is a place for the fanatical few. In the main climbing season the temperatures above are the normal minimums you would expect to encounter (possibly a few degrees colder in May and September). But there are important points to remember about conditions on Denali:
  1. The windchill effect can be severe.
  2. Storms can last for days even in the summer.
  3. Because of its high latitude there is less oxygen high on Denali than on a similar Himalayan peak. 6000m on Denali will feel like 6600m in the Himalayas.

Wind chill rating: Severe

Gear Notes

  1. The approach to base camp is either long (10 day) trek or a short flight - either way light and compressible gear is an obvious advantage.
  2. Climbers usually move up through a series of camps to a high camp at about 5200m: with supplies of food & fuel needing to be carried up for these camps, the lighter the gear the better.

Guided Trips

Coming soon.

Pointers

  • Lightweight
  • Windchill
  • Personal Metabolism
  • Sleeping bag zips
  • Down vs. Synthetic
  • One-piece Suits
  • Other trips
  • PHD Sizing
  • Temperature Ratings

Recommended Gear for Denali / Mt. McKinley

Down & Synthetic Jackets
image of Down & Synthetic Jackets
Down Trousers & Salopettes
image of Down Trousers & Salopettes
Insulated Mitts
image of Insulated Mitts
Insulated Socks
image of Insulated Socks
Wind Suits
image of Wind Suits
Shell Jacket
image of Shell Jacket
Shell Trousers & Salopettes
image of Shell Trousers & Salopettes
Sleeping Bags
image of Sleeping Bags
Extreme Balaclava
image of Extreme Balaclava
Sleep Systems
image of Sleep Systems

Optional Gear for Denali / Mt. McKinley

Down Suits
image of Down Suits
VBL Bag
image of VBL Bag

Copyright © 2008-20 Peter Hutchinson Designs Ltd.

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