Denali 6,194m

Alaska (USA), McKinley (6194m), Mountaineering

Why go there?

Climbing Mount Denali (20,310 feet / 6,190 meters), the highest peak in North America, is one of the toughest and most prestigious mountaineering challenges in the world. The most popular route, the West Buttress, is a non-technical but extremely demanding climb, requiring glacier travel, heavy gear hauling, and high-altitude endurance. Climbers must navigate crevasses, steep snow slopes, and the dangerous High Camp at 17,200 feet, where fierce winds and extreme cold can make progress nearly impossible. The thin air and brutal weather, with temperatures dropping below -40°F (-40°C) and unpredictable storms, make Denali a true test of resilience. Unlike guided Himalayan climbs, Denali expeditions are often self-sufficient, meaning climbers must haul sleds loaded with supplies over long, grueling days. The ascent typically takes 2–4 weeks, and proper preparation, including cold-weather mountaineering experience, is crucial. Despite the difficulty, those who reach the summit are rewarded with unparalleled views of the Alaskan wilderness and the satisfaction of conquering one of the toughest mountains on Earth.

Tips guidelines (important information!)

You entrust your life, health, your time and money to the guides. And the guides take this responsibility for you and for the success of the whole trip. They are doing this 24 hours.

500 USD from each participant is expected amount of tips for the Guides. If you liked everything about the trip, please don't forget to thank them.

Necessary travel papers (documents)

- Valid passport
- American Visa (if necessary, depends on your citizenship)
- Special questionnaire
- Medical and climbing insurance covering all climbing risks and helicopter evacuation

By air and by land

Transfers Anchorage - Talkeetna - Anchorage on minivan.
Air Taxi Talkeetna - Kahiltna Glacier Base Camp - Talkeetna

Accommodation

- Lodging in Anchorage 1 night (not included in the program)
- Lodging in Talkeetna 1 or more nights, all depending on the weather (not included in the program)

Meals

Meals and drinks during the whole climb while on mountain

Staff

- Mountain guide from 7 Summits Club
- Local guides services

Health and medical insurance

Our guide will have a first aid kit and we strongly recommend bringing your own specific medicines you might need. Besides, we recommend you start taking Poly vitamins 3 weeks before the expedition. Also, would be very useful to try to acclimatize on some peak over 5000m and test your system before you come to Alaska.

To be qualified to climb Denali you must have a climbing experience of 6,000 m peaks, and must be proficient with crampons, roped glacier travel, and snow climbing techniques.

Weather

During the day, the temperature on the glacier is around 0°C, while at night it drops to -10 to -20°C. At higher altitudes, it can fall to -30 to -35°C. The weather is changeable and unstable. Due to bad weather, climbers often have to wait it out in camps.

Extra expenses

- Meals in towns
- Lodging in Anchorage and Talkeetna
- Gratuities for a guide team
- Climbing permit and park fee entrance

Internet, phone

Satellite phone

Possibility of renting personal equipment

We highly recommend on bringing all needed personal climbing equipment with you.
You may rent snowshoes.
You may buy some gear/ equipment at REI store in Anchorage or in Talkeetna (however in Talkeetna there is a very limited gear choice, so we highly recommend getting in Talkeetna fully gear prepared).

Personal gear

GEAR LIST

General Information
Each item on the list below is required unless specified to be optional
If seasonal fluctuations impact the requirement for an item on your list, it will be specified
All other items are required regardless of the forecast to ensure your well-being, as weather and conditions can change quickly in the mountains

TRAVEL ITEMS

- Small Duffel Bag
This item can double as carry-on luggage for your flight, and is used to store any items you do not plan to take into the mountains. Think light and simple, with 40-50 liters of total capacity.

- Expedition Duffel Bag
An approximately 150-liter expedition-ready duffel bag used to transport all gear. All items need to fit securely into the duffel bag.

- Casual Travel Clothes
We recommend wearing clean clothing while traveling and before and after your trip. It's a good idea to pack a comfortable variety of outfits, including some t-shirts, swimsuits (optional).

TECHNICAL CLOTHING

- Short Underwear
3-5 pairs including the pair you are wearing on Day 1. Synthetic or wool fabrics only - no cotton.

- Baselayer Bottom
2-3 pairs of thermal bottoms: lightweight and medium weight. Fabric: wool, wool blend, synthetic or polyester. No cotton.

- Baselayer Tops
2 thermal long sleeved tops: one light weight and one medium weight. Fabric: wool or synthetic. No cotton.
1 sun hoodie, preferably light colored.

- Softshell Pants
Non-insulated, stretchy softshell pants that should fit comfortably with or without your baselayer bottoms.

- Hardshell Pants
These must fit over your thermal under layers and softshell pants. These must be non-insulated, lightweight, waterproof and have full zips on the side to get on and off over your climbing boots and crampons.

- Insulated Synthetic Pants
Fabric: Synthetic or Down. Medium weight is ideal. These should fit over both your thermal under layers and your climbing pants. These must have full zips on the sides to get them on and off over your climbing boots and crampons without taking your boots off.

- Midlayer Top
A midweight, lightweight fleece layer for use over baselayers. Hoods are optional but recommended. Very light down jackets can also suffice as a midlayer.

- Softshell Jacket
This breathable, wind-and-weather resistant jacket is a key part of a mountaineering layering system. A hooded model is highly recommended. This layer must fit well over your midlayer top and baselayer top.

- Hardshell Jacket
A non-insulated, fully waterproof shell jacket with a hood. This layer must fit comfortably over your baselayer, midlayer, softshell, and potentially a lightweight insulated layer. Helmet-compatible hoods are required.

- Lightweight Insulated Jacket
You may use this as a layering piece or as stand-alone insulation when appropriate. Down or synthetic insulation. Down is more packable and lighter weight, and synthetic insulation will retain warmth when wet.

- Expedition Down Parka
An 8000 meter rated, expedition ready parka.

- Expedition Down Pants
Must be heavily insulated and must fit over all other layers, with a weather proof outer shell fabric.

HANDWEAR

- Lightweight Liner Gloves
Lightweight wool or synthetic liner gloves.

- Softshell Gloves
Midweight, lightly insulated gloves. Leather-palm construction is recommended.

- Insulated Shell Gloves/ Climbing Gloves
One pair of warm shell gloves with insulated removable liners. We recommend models with a durable leather palm.
These need to have room in the fingers to not be constructive and cut off warmth and circulation to your fingers. More room in the gloves is better than less. You must have enough dexterity to use your technical gear (ascender, carabiners, rappel device) while wearing these gloves. It is important to be very familiar with these gloves and get used to using them with your gear before your climb.

- Expedition Mittens/ 8000 mitts
These must fit over your medium weight liner gloves and your heavy weight climbing gloves without constriction. Larger is always better than smaller. These down mitts serve as a backup in case you drop a glove or your hands are simply too cold in the heavy weight gloves and need a warmer option (gloves plus mitts).

- Hand Warmers and Foot Warmers (Optional)
Bring enough pairs to get you through the expedition but not more as they are heavy to carry up the mountain. If you are bringing the Hotronics electric foot warmers you will likely not need the chemical warmers. Note: chemical hand warmers use oxygen to burn so do not work well at high altitude and the foot warmers in the boots do not really work at all on summit day.

HEADWEAR

- Buff Neck Gaiter
- Balaclava: one heavyweight or one mid weight
- Sunhat
- Wool or Synthetic Ski Hat
- Facemask
- Glacier Glasses
These must be the high quality darkest lenses you can buy (Cat 4) and have full coverage around the eyes to block all light.

- Ski Goggles
High-quality goggles for sun and wind protection at altitude.
These must be the darkest lenses you can buy (Cat 4). If your goggles accept multiple lenses, bring one super dark lense and one clear or high light transmission yellow for low-light/high wind conditions.

*Note: If you need prescription Glacier Glasses contact the manufacturer for options well in advance of your trip.

FOOTWEAR

- Liner Socks
4-5 pairs of liner socks.

- Wool or Synthetic Socks
4-5 pairs of medium to heavy hiking socks. These must fit over your liner socks if you plan to wear liner socks.

- High Altitude All In One Boots
Boots rated for 8000 meter

- High Altitude Double Boot
Double boots. Plastic-shelled models are sufficient, but modern non-plastic boots are more comfortable and are highly recommended. Single boots of any kind (boots without a removable liner) will not be sufficient. If using a boot with a built-in gaiter, separate gaiters are not necessary. If using an all-in-one high altitude boot, overboots and gaiters are not necessary. We suggest you carry your mountaineering boots with you in your carry-on luggage, incase of lost or delayed luggage on your flights.

- Insulated Overboots
Below the knee length neoprene overboots. Should fit tightly over your boots and work well with your crampons. Required when using a high-altitude double-boot system. Not necessary for use with a high-altitude all-in-one boot system. Make sure your crampons are compatible with your overboots (strap on crampons preferred).

- Gaiters
Full-sized waterproof gaiters that must fit snugly over your boots. Short trekking gaiters do not offer sufficient protection. If using a boot with a built-in gaiter, separate gaiters are not necessary.

- Down Booties
Down or synthetic insulated camp booties for use inside the tent and sleeping.

- Snowshoes

CLIMBING EQUIPMENT

- Alpine Ice Axe

- 12 Point Crampons
General mountaineering crampons. We recommend modern steel 12-point crampons with anti-balling plates.

- Trekking Poles
- Locking Carabiners 4 items
- Standard Non-Locking Carabiners 4 items
- Alpine Climbing Harness
- Climbing Helmet
A lightweight climbing-specific helmet. This must fit comfortably over your bare head, hat, and/or balaclava, and your headlamp must be able to strap securely to the outside of the helmet.

- Belay Device With 1 Locking Carabiner
- Ascender

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

- Climbing Backpack
A 75-100 liter climbing pack designed with climber-specific features and an internal frame. The volume you choose depends on experience level packing and gear quality.

-40 F Down Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag should be rated to -40°F and must be down-filled, not synthetic.

- Inflatable Sleeping Pad

- Foam Pad

- Water Bottles
2 one-liter wide-mouth hard-sided water bottles.

- Water Bottle Parkas
2 insulated water bottle parkas that fully cover your water bottle with closing lids.
We recommend the Forty Below Bottle Boot or the Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parka.

- 1 Liter Stainless Steel Thermos

- One Insulated Mug

- Knife

- Bowl

- 0.5 Nalgene Bottle (Optional)

- Pee Bottle
Collapsible or hard-sided 1 liter Nalgene models.

- Pee Funnel For Women
Optional. Practice is needed for the use of this item.

- Sunscreen
Should be with a high zinc content and sweat resistance. This must be 30 spf or higher.

- Lip Balm with SPF 30+

- Altitude Watch (Optional)

- Small Pocket Size Camera (Optional)

- Solar Panel (Optional); Power Bank

- Medical Kit

Should include: blister kit, low dose aspirin, Band-Aids, wound closure strips, triple antibiotic ointment, basic repair kit, scissors, Diamox (acetazolamide, 125mg) for AMS, nifedipine (for pulmonary edema, time release), dexamethasone (for cerebral edema, 4mg), antacids, NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, anti-diarrheal, duct tape, ear plugs, Antibiotics (upper respiratory such as Azithromycin and a gastro-intestinal such as Ciprofloxacin), melatonin, Asthma medication if you use it (Advair), cold and flu medication. Prescription medications in consultation with your doctor.

- Toiletry Bag
Should Include: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, shampoo,
trek towel (compact and quick drying), and any personal medications or prescriptions. Choose a quantity appropriate for the length of your trip.

- Snacks

We recommend assortments of hard candies; chocolate; dried fruits; special athletic foods such as energy gels (Gu); electrolytes (Nuun); Clif Shot Bloks; energy bars; protein bars; trail mix nuts.

1. We have the biggest record of orginizing many commertial technical and altitude expeditions.
2. Our guides are highly experience with guide work on many serious climbs all over the world.
3. We offer the best accommodation and food conditions. Your personal needs any special kinds of food will be considered.
4. You can contact your personal advisor in the gear issue for free consultation. Plus free delivery of your personal rented gear to base camp.
5. We offer the scheme of discounts for loyal clients.