RMI and Whittaker Mountaineering Gear Guides Mount McKinley Expedition | Page 24

Lower Body Layering We recommend a system of 4 layers, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other. Products which combine several layers into one garment, such as traditional ski pants, don’t work well as they don’t offer the versatility of a layering system. Temperatures on Denali It can be boiling hot in the tent during afternoons lower on the mountain and bone-chilling on summit day. As a result, you want your lower layers to be versatile. In general, shoot for mid-weight long underwear, climbing pants, and insulated pants. A thick pair of climbing pants can make things uncomfortable on hot days hiking between camps. And of course, make sure that you can move comfortably while wearing all of the layers together. Underwear (Layer 1) One to three pairs of non-cotton briefs or boxers. Women should have at least one non-cotton sports bra. Baselayer (Layer 2) A light to medium weight pair of baselayer bottoms provides added insulation when worn with climbing pants. It is difficult to remove baselayer bottoms mid-climb, so err on the lighter side if you can\'t decide between two pairs.