expedition planning

[letsroll]

I am starting to look into climbing denali next year and would like to do all the planning my self, is this advisable? Are there any good books that will help me out? Also I will need to pick up a new backpack, what size and brand would you recomend?

[pete_a]

As long as you have solid snowcamping, navigation, and crevasse rescue skills, organizing your own trip is great.

RJ Secor and Colby Coombs both have written good Denali guidebooks. Beckey's 'Mount McKinley' is a great read too.

Just search on this site too...I posted a shitload of questions when organzing a trip to Denali last summer.

The NOLS Cookery book is another good resource for your meal planning.

I've got a pretty good excel spreadsheet for organizing gear and food that I'd be happy to pass along, send me a PM if you want it.

For a backpack, just get the biggest, most comfortable one you can get, try to find one with the burliest suspension with a minimum of bells and whistles.

[Jason_Martin]

Mountaineers have published a new book with the title "Expedition Planning."

 

For Denali you want a huge pack. You are going to have to carry a pile of junk from 14 to 17 and no matter the size, most people still end up strapping crap to the outside of the pack...

 

Jason

[mr.radon]

Send a PM I made a list.

 

14-17K??? Just go from 14K and back. No reason to go and camp at "Capm Misery"

[griz]

Send a PM I made a list.

 

14-17K??? Just go from 14K and back. No reason to go and camp at "Capm Misery"

 

acclimatizing at 17 for a couple days is not a bad idea, dude

[cj001f]

Mountaineers have published a new book with the title "Expedition Planning."

I'm not sure there's much that would be applicable. It's a pretty crappy book IMHO - I'm planning some long distance trips and it didn't tell me anything I didn't know (which doesn't say much!) Check your local library for a copy before you invest.

[Figger_Eight]

I found a lot of good stuff on the web...including the thread from last year on this site.

 

Check some of the Denali guides' sites for a decent gear checklist.

[Bronco]

Did you already see this:

 

http://www.nps.gov/dena/home/mountaineering/englishbooklet.htm

 

I have a slightly used EXPEDITION PACK for sale in the Yard sale forum that would be perfect for Denali.

[Pencil_Pusher]

14-17K??? Just go from 14K and back. No reason to go and camp at "Capm Misery"

 

Uh, you had the benefit of the fixed rap line down Rescue Gully Still a good push, I'm not knockin' that, especially for the weather conditions you had.

[Jens]

After climbing Denali, my beta is:

Go late in the season and don't bring hardly any fuel or food. Instead, people will be giving it away left and right on their mad dash back to KIA. Also, bring a carton of Cigarettes- you'll be able to use them to barter with to all the Euros and you'll get tons of food and gear. One friend traded and got an altimeter watch for about $20 worth of goods. Don't laugh- this beta will work and cut WAY down on your pack size and weight. Also- bring skis.

[Bug]

After climbing Denali, my beta is:

Go late in the season and don't bring hardly any fuel or food. Instead, people will be giving it away left and right on their mad dash back to KIA. Also, bring a carton of Cigarettes- you'll be able to use them to barter with to all the Euros and you'll get tons of food and gear. One friend traded and got an altimeter watch for about $20 worth of goods. Don't laugh- this beta will work and cut WAY down on your pack size and weight. Also- bring skis.

 

I went in late May and still could have taken half or less of what I had. Any time in June and you can count on doing people the favor of taking their extra weight.

You will get tons of gas, cookables, and 2nd rate munchies. Bring your own chocolate and booze.

[ivan]

i went late in the season and found the only good place for bartering was 14k; any lower and they'd already ditched what they didn't want, any higher and they were hoarding.

[genepires]

If you rely on getting free food on the way, remember that you are getting the stuff they didn't want to eat to that point. Bring good strong spices to make whatever you get palatable or at least edible. Bring big piles of cous cous in case you can't score free food. Would suck to fail cause you didn't feed yourself well enough.

[Bug]

i went late in the season and found the only good place for bartering was 14k; any lower and they'd already ditched what they didn't want, any higher and they were hoarding.

 

True.