I'm headed to Denali next week as well and was wondering the same thing. I used my Kindle (2nd gen) on the lower Kahiltna last year with no issues. But I did have my first one freeze up in the Whites in New Hampshire around 10 degrees F and the screen died. Amazon doesn't recommend its use in cold weather as the display can't take it. So I wasn't planning on brining mine up Denali. I'd rather deal with the weight of a few books than not have anything to read since my kindle display died. I have heard the Fire works well in the cold though.