Oh the Gear, All the Gear!

When I stop for a minute and look at how fast time has gone by since I decided I was going to climb Denali it is then I realize how quickly all the days roll into one. As fast as the venture approaches the same can be said about the speed that our gear list grows. With the finalizing of our climbing party and the settings of the exact dates, now comes the time where we start checking off the list of gear we have and gear we are going to buy or rent. Once this is out of the way we can get back to focusing on our training and the logistics of the climb.

And while I have you here I would like to take a moment to say thank you to someone who without knowing reenergized me. As routinely as my nights end, this week one thing was said amongst friends that made me feel great. To hear someone reference what your doing as something great and something they want for themselves or for their kids, it just makes this whole thing worth while. As I said before climbing mountains can be a selfish pleasure but its whats beyond the feet print left behind and the signature in the summit log that counts. Its the undeniable ability for the places we have been to speak through us and inspire others to go out and see what the world has to offer and more importantly what we can offer it.

And now back to all that gear....
DENALI, EQUIPMENT LIST -
Sleeping bag
Inner bag ( optional)
Gore-Tex biwy bag
1 thermarest
1 foam mattress (karrimat), crazy creek chair.
1 pair plastic mountain boots
1 pair over boots gaiter or super gaiter
1 windproof jacket with good hood
1 pair windproof bib
1 pile jacket (fleece)
1 pile trousers
1 pullover (fleece or wool)
1 down jacket
4 pairs of socks
2 sets polypro underwear
1 neck warmer
1 facemask
2 pair Mitts / 2 pairs inner gloves
1 pair booties or mutluks
1 set of ski poles
1 pair of snowshoe


1 large backpack
1 pair of crampons
1 ice axe
1 harness
3 screw gates carabiner
1 short and 1 long sling
18 ft 6mm cordelette
1 jumar
2 pairs of sunglasses / plus goggles
1 water bottle wide neck with insulation
1 thermos
1 pee bottle
1 pocket knife
1 spoon, fork, plastic bowl, insulated cup.

1 small personal first aid kit with blister kit, aspirins, throat lozenges, foot powder.
Toothbrush / toothpaste /
Heat pads
Camera + film
Notebook, pencil
Walkman, disk man
Sun cream ( sunblock at least spf 25)
Lip balm 2 tubes
Wash-n-dries
1 course of antibiotics, multi-vitamins, 1-10 course Diamox,

Group gear:
Tents Wands Stoves fuel Pots and utensils Plastic bags Sleds Shovels Snow saw Rope Pickets Ice screws Extra carabiners, webbing, cordelettes, prusiks. Maps GPS, compass
(so if you have any of this gear you want to loan to our climbing party we will gladly except with open hands and thankful hearts)

Now that may seem like a lot of gear but here is a little more for you to wrap your head around!
All of this must weigh equal or less than 125lbs per person and food for 21 days has not been listed yet!
I think packing might prove to be harder than once thought but its all part of the challenge and it is one we gladly except on our journey NORTH.