This video features the book The Motivated Amateur’s Guide to Winter Camping:
https://aaronrlinsdau.com/nonfiction/the-motivated-amateurs-guide-to-winter-camping/
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There’s one part of climbing Denali that nobody really wants to talk about, but everyone has to deal with.
The CMC.
Boom, boom, boom.
If you’ve never heard of it, the CMC is the Clean Mountain Can. It’s the official poop can used on Denali, and it’s how the National Park Service keeps the mountain from turning into a biohazard. When you have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of climbers camping in a very small area year after year, waste management becomes a serious issue.
So here are a few lessons I’ve learned over multiple trips on the mountain, along with a perfectly shaped ring indentation I’ve earned as a souvenir.
Bring More Than One Can
If you’re climbing as a team, plan on at least one can per person, though sharing cans between teammates is common. As you move up the mountain, you can cache full cans at lower camps instead of hauling everything to the top. I’ve done that once. It was awful.
In the past, there were deposit caches at camps like 7,800 or Camp 2, marked by bamboo wands. Those are mostly gone now. These days, the only official drop is at 14,000 camp. If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll be carrying everything all the way up.
Test the Lid Before You Need It
This one matters more than people think. I’ve had lids that refused to thread properly. Imagine sitting in the cold, fully exposed, trying to force a frozen lid onto a can while everything is going wrong. That happened to me on my second trip, and it was miserable.
Make sure the lid screws on easily and correctly. Yes, it’s going to smell when you open it, even though the cans are professionally cleaned. Each one costs the Park Service around $40 to clean, so there’s a reason permits aren’t cheap.
Check the Strap System
Not all cans come with full strap setups. I’ve had some with missing or partial rigging, which made it extremely difficult to secure them to my pack or sled.
Before you head out, make sure the can has complete straps: clip straps, hanger straps, the whole system. Don’t assume it’s fine just because it looks okay. Once you’re high on the mountain, missing hardware becomes a real problem.
A Not-So-Secret Trick for Frozen Threads
Even with good threads, these lids can be maddeningly hard to open and close in cold conditions. The plastic tends to seize up.
My workaround is simple: stick sunscreen. Not liquid. The solid kind that looks like deodorant. Rub a small amount onto the threads when everything is clean. No contamination.
The difference is dramatic. The lid threads engage smoothly, and opening and closing becomes much easier. Cold plastic grips itself aggressively. This adds just enough lubrication to fix that.
Other Practical Uses and Storage Tips
The CMC actually makes a decent camp stool, though it’s not exactly pleasant.
Always keep it in the shade. If it’s sunny, bury it in the snow. Heat makes the smell worse and turns the contents more liquid. Remember, it’s full of waste and toilet paper.
Wet wipes do not go in the can. They need to be packed out separately in a sealed bag. It’s gross, but that’s the rule.
After each use, tamp the can down firmly to compress the contents. Done properly, you can fit around ten deposits. I’ve managed more than that when necessary.
High Camp Is Non-Negotiable
You must bring your CMC to high camp. That’s where the designated drop point is, and there’s no alternative.
Make sure your backpack has proper attachment points before you go. Look at how the can is designed to be lashed and plan accordingly. Don’t wait until you’re standing there wondering how to secure it.
If you drop a CMC on the Headwall, you’re going back for it. And if you reach high camp without one, the Park Service will turn you around. They are serious about this.
Final Hygiene Lessons
Don’t bring large packs of tear-out wet wipes. They freeze solid. Separate them ahead of time and keep them warm before use.
Bring at least two full rolls of toilet paper. Don’t skimp.
Hand sanitizer is useful, but it doesn’t remove contamination. On Denali, getting waste on your hands is almost unavoidable.
My solution is nitrile gloves. They allow you to see contamination clearly and clean thoroughly. This reduces the risk of serious gastrointestinal illness, which can end a climb very quickly.
I bring at least two wet wipes per day planned on the mountain. For a 30-day trip, that’s 60 individually packaged wipes.
That’s my system for dealing with one of the least talked-about realities of climbing Denali.
Links are in the description and comments if you want more details. Thanks for reading.
About the Author:
Aaron R. Linsdau is an explorer, speaker, and bestselling author of adventure and survival books, including Antarctic Tears and The Motivated Amateur’s Guide to Winter Camping.
Learn more at https://aaronrlinsdau.com