As the most remote and coldest of the Earth's "seven summits," the Vinson Massif has long beckoned mountaineers. Situated on the southern main ridge of the Sentinal Range, it lies 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) from the South Pole. At its base it measures 21 kilometers (13 miles) long, 13 kilometers (8 miles) wide and rises 4,897 meters (16,067 feet) above sea level. Everything about this climb is remarkable; from the extremely low temperatures that can occur at any time to the incredible views of Mt. Gardiner, Mt. Shinn, and the Antarctic landscape from the summit.

Though the main route is not considered especially technical, the extreme temperatures, high winds, and remote location demand high performance and sound judgment. Previous mountaineering experience is a must (we can help you make arrangements to acquire such experience if necessary).

As with all of our other expeditions this is a "hands-on" experience. You'll be participating in all aspects of the expedition, including setting up camp, cooking, tracking our progress, etc. Give us a call and let us tell you more about what skills you should have prior to the expedition, and what skills we will be teaching you prior to our departure.

To ensure that you have the best possible experience, we'll help you with all aspects of your pre-expedition preparations, from choosing the right clothing to learning how to pack your sled. Back to top

The following itinerary begins in Punta Arenas. (Participants on the South Pole/Vinson combination will meet up with the group on day 3)

Day 1: Upon arriving in Punta Arenas you'll shuttle to your lodge and have time to unpack and get comfortable. A welcome reception and dinner is scheduled for the evening. This may be your first opportunity to try the Chilean national drink, the Pisco Sour! At this time you'll have the opportunity to meet with your NWP guides and the other members of your team to review the schedule for the upcoming days, and the flight to Antarctica.

Day 2: After breakfast you'll meet again with your NWP guide who will review your clothing and equipment to ensure that you have all the necessary items. Punta Arenas has a few outdoor stores and it is possible that you may be able to find any last minute necessities in town. In the afternoon your luggage will be weighed and collected for the flight to Antarctica. The rest of the afternoon can be spent exploring Punta Arenas and the surrounding areas. Time permitted, your NWP guide may organize a tour to one of the local Penguin colonies (cost not included).

Day 3: From Punta Arenas (generally in the early morning) you will travel by charter aircraft across the historic Drake Passage to the Antarctic continent, and on to the Patriot Hills basecamp. Total flight time is approximately 5 hours. This flight is very weather dependent. It is not uncommon to be grounded in Punta Arenas due to the weather, or have to return to Punta Arenas if conditions near Patriot Hills deteriorate. Weather permitting, we will land on the blue ice runway at Patriot Hills and make our way to the basecamp. After setting up our camp, we'll have a chance to explore this unique basecamp and meet the staff who call it home for the season. There is a possibility that we will set off immediately for Vinson Massif, a flight of approximately 1 hour. Make sure your cameras are out and your film is loaded! This is an incredible flight with outstanding views of the Sentinel Range as we approach Vinson.

Day 4: Upon reaching Vinson basecamp we will set up camp and make ourselves at home, giving ourselves time to acclimatize. Vinson basecamp is positioned on the west side of Vinson, on the Branscomb Glacier. It lies at about 7,000 feet (2,133 m). At basecamp we will reorganize our gear, review the route, and make last minute preparations for our ascent.

Day 5-12: For the next seven days we'll ascend & descend theVinson Massif. Though we rate the climb as "moderately difficult", the extreme temperatures (-10°F to -40°F), and the likelihood of strong winds combine to make this a potentially very difficult climb. Given the remote location of the mountain, caution is the order of the day! The route we will take to the summit is as follows:

Basecamp to camp I
Following the Branscomb Glacier we'll make our way up a gradual incline to approximately 9,100 ft (2770 m). The 6 mile ascent will be made with sleds and backpacks. (There is a possibility that we will have a double load carry on this leg.)

Camp I to camp II
Our route continues up the Branscomb Glacier to the headwall that guards the col of Vinson and its neighbor Mt. Shinn. We'll make camp at the base of the headwall, at approximately 10,200 ft (3100 m). In the shadow of the mountain this camp can be chilly, even in the 24-hour sunlight of the Austral summer. We'll stay hydrated and pack on the calories with plenty of hot drinks and warm soups.

Camp II to camp III
Leaving our sleds behind, we'll ascend the headwall. The headwall reaches a pitch of 40°-45°, with a serac towards the top. Beyond the serac, the incline becomes more gradual. Camp three will be made in the broad col beneath Vinson Massif's summit, at approximately 12,200 ft (3700 m). We may spend two nights at camp III to acclimatize to the altitude (which can feel much higher than 12,200 feet, due to the thin atmosphere of the high latitudes).

Summit Day
From Camp III we'll begin our push for the summit by ascending the gradual valley for approximately 3 miles. From here we'll head to the East Ridge for the final ascent to Vinson's summit. From the summit, views are outstanding. Mt. Shinn and Mt. Gardner stand out like proud brothers to Vinson, and the Antarctic plateau extends out as far as the eye can see. We'll have a summit celebration and then begin our descent back to camp III. Temperatures and wind can combine to make the summit a very inhospitable place (-100° F temperatures can be common if conditions are right). Therefore, the length of our summit celebration will be dictated by conditions to ensure a safe descent.

Day 13: Back at Vinson basecamp, we'll ready ourselves for our flight back to Patriot Hills.

This itinerary is highly dependent on weather and group abilities and is subject to change. Contact us for a more detailed itinerary!
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What's Included:

• Welcome reception in Punta Arenas
• All charter flights from Punta Arenas and return
• Guides
• Accommodations and meals in Antarctica for duration of expedition (as detailed by the itinerary)
• Expedition patch
• Vinson Massif celebration including champagne, framed certificate, patch and one "call home" (battery permitting)
• Baggage allowance up to 50lbs (22.5 kg)
  

What's Not Included:

• Round-trip transportation to Punta Arenas, Chile
• Meals and accommodations in Punta Arenas
• Personal clothing and accessories
• Trip cancellation and baggage insurance (mandatory)
• Medical/ evacuation insurance (mandatory)
• Excess baggage costs
• Additional phone calls from Antarctica
• Extended stay fees associated with weather delays.
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Please contact us for our Vinson equipment list!

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Vinson is not a technically demanding mountain, but what it lacks in technical difficulty it more than makes up for with extreme conditions and a very remote location. To be a good candidate for Vinson, you should have previous mountaineering experience (contact us if you'd like help getting this experience). You should be familiar with basic rope work, general mountaineering equipment and general mountaineering skills including self arrests. Please contact us for more details. Back to top

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