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Introduction
Located deep within the frozen Antarctic continent in the Ellsworth Mountains, Vinson was the last of the Seven Summits to be discovered and climbed, in 1957. The normal route to the summit is a technically moderate climb with a few steep 40° sections. However, Vinson should not be underestimated, as the combination of isolation and potentially extreme conditions, means you need considerable mountaineering experience to take part. As an overall experience, climbing Vinson can be likened to the top 3,000m of a major 8,000m Himalayan peak, with the cold and commitment, but without the altitude.
The expedition begins with a flight in a Russian jet-powered Ilyushin-76 from Punta Arenas in Chile, to a blue ice runway at Union Glacier. From Union Glacier you take a Twin Otter aircraft to base camp on the Branscomb Glacier, to the south of the Ellsworth Mountains. From base camp you follow the glacier easily to a headwall two hours from Camp 1. Steeper climbing through this leads to high camp on a col between Vinson and Mount Shinn, a prominent mountain to the north. Summit day is long, climbing fixed lines above the col to reach the summit pyramid of Vinson, which can be traverses from right to left.
Vinson can be combined with The South Pole - The Last Degree. Following the ascent of Vinson, you return to Union Glacier before being flown to 89° south. This 100Km ski journey normally takes between 6 - 9 days. Please contact us for a quote.
Join us on Vinson
- Departures to Vinson in late November - January
- 3 days set aside for a summit attempt in case of bad weather
- Flights arranged from the UK if required
- Advice from Jagged Globe staff who have climbed the mountain
- Benefit from our ATOL protection
Experience Required
Although comparatively modest in terms of altitude and technical difficulty, Vinson offers a major challenge due to the harshness of its climate and its extremely remote location. Climbers wishing to join the expedition and have a good chance of success must be able to:
- Demonstrate good mountaineering skills with no less than 20 previous Alpine, or winter mountaineering days
- Be well organised and self-reliant
- Show previous expedition experience
- Carry a 20Kg pack and pull a 25Kg sled at the same time
- Perform self-rescue from a crevasse and participate actively in a crevasse rescue
Important Note: Delays. Delays of 1 - 3 days are likely for the flights between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier in either direction. In exceptional circumstances these delays may extend to a week or more. We recommend that you do not book any essential work or travel commitments in the two weeks following your scheduled return to Chile.
Day -1: Arrive Punta Arenas, Chile
Day 0: Pre-departure day: luggage pick up and briefing
Day 1: Depart for Union Glacier
Day 2 - 3: Vinson Base Camp (2,140m)
Day 4 - 5: Base Camp to Low Camp (2,780m)
Day 6: Low Camp to High Camp (3,780m)
Day 7 - 8: High Camp to Summit
Day 9: Descent to Base Camp
Day 10 - 11: Return to Union Glacier
Day 12: Return to Chile
- Bonding via ATOL or ABTOT
- Airport transfers in Punta Arenas, Chile.
- Round trip flight to Antarctica from Punta Arenas.
- Round trip flight to Vinson Base Camp from Union Glacier.
- Meals and tented accommodation in Antarctica.
- Group camping and climbing equipment.
- Mountain Guide.
- Celebration dinner and Certificate of Achievement.
- Checked luggage up to 25Kg.
- Jagged Globe kitbag.
- Economy class return airfares from the UK (Can be arranged on request.)
- Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
- Airport transfers outside of Punta Arenas.
- Hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas (Can be arranged on request.)
- Meals in Punta Arenas.
- Excess baggage over 25Kg.
- Personal equipment and clothing.
- Charges incurred as a result of flight delays (including additional hotel nights).
- Additional flights within Antarctica.
- Bar bills and laundry.
- Travel insurance.
- Tips.
- $47,826
- January, December 12 - 20 Days
- Mountaineering
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