Climbing Denali

How much would it cost to climb Denali?

How much would it cost for gear (I want to buy my own gear. Not rent it.), classes (I have no experience mountaineering), a guide, fees… etc. I live in Anchorage so getting near the mountain shouldn’t be to hard.

Guides usually charge around $5000-$6000 per person. You will need all the gear, and like Beach Bum said, that will easily run you several thousand…my best guess would be between $3000-$4000 if you have nothing and want to get some good equipment. You will also need food and fuel for the climb, which is usually a couple weeks long, so that will probably cost a couple hundred dollars. Most guides include airfare from Talkeetna to basecamp in their fee, but you should check. You also need to pay the $200 climbing fee for the park and other details like that.

Another big expense is going to be when you realize they won’t take you up the mountain if you have no experience. I think Beach Bum is mistaken, as REI doesn’t tackle big climb like Denali, and the link he posted is for a Denali National Park tour. They will require you to do at least a few training courses (the big guiding companies offer these as well) and/or to show you have high altitude experience (over 14k feet) as well as glacier travel, basic mountaineering, and winter camping skills and experience. Alpine Ascents offers a 6-day Denali prep course for $1700 but it is in Seattle so you would need to fly there.

Check out this page for a good guiding company and the requirements they have. It seems daunting and expensive, but it is just something that may take a few years to make a reality. That will give you time to prepare, save up, build your skills and experience, and really understand what you are getting into. Best of luck.

http://www.alpineascents.com/denali-faq.asp

Here is a rundown of costs from another source (very general, but may be helpful):

http://outdoors.whatitcosts.com/denali.htm

Climbing Denali – 2009

Red squirrel (spruce squirrel) (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in a spruce tree, Photo Mugs Red squirrel (spruce squirrel) (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in a spruce tree, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, United States of America, North America….

In Pursuit of Denali: Climbing Alaska’s Mt. McKinley …

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