RMI and Whittaker Mountaineering Gear Guides Mount McKinley Expedition | Page 5

Duffel Bag A 100+ liter bag made of tough material with rugged zippers. This duffel will be used on the mountain to transport gear. Carrying Your Gear The duffel bag will ride on a sled behind you as you climb the lower portions of the mountain and then be used to store gear in caches or camps along the way. When choosing a duffel, look for one with a single large compartment and go for more volume - it’s easier to pack bulky items like food bags with more space and you can always compress the bag if there is extra room. Lashing extra items to the outside of the bag is not ideal when traveling on a glacier in case there is a crevasse fall. Also, remember to take into account the weight of the bag. Fully rubberized duffels are a nice way to help keep things dry but add several pounds to the weight of the bag itself. Many climbers choose to go with a simple heavy duty nylon bag and line the duffel with a garbage bag when packing - you get the same waterproofing without the added weight. If the bag gets wet it’s easy to shake out the moisture once it freezes overnight.