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- Scale the "top of the bottom of the world" - the highest mountain in Antarctica and one of the most remote mountains on earth.
- Fly across the Drake Passage and over the sprawling icy interior of Antarctica to reach Vinson Base Camp.
- Climb Vinson with Dave Hahn, the most experienced and widely regarded Vinson guide in the world.
- Improve your chances of reaching the summit with an itinerary that includes proper acclimatization and the flexibility to accommodate for the uncertainties of Antarctica’s weather.
- Benefit from RMI’s excellent organization, support, and carefully planned and outfitted Vinson expedition: all the small advantages that add up to a more enjoyable experience.
- Take part in an RMI adventure to Antarctica and see why we continue to set the standard in guiding excellence.
Climbed for the first time in 1966, Vinson still sees very few visitors and remains a pristine and majestic peak. To reach this remote area of the world, we fly from Punta Arenas, Chile and land on the blue ice runway of Union Glacier. A short flight then brings us to Vinson Base Camp at the foot of the Branscomb Glacier in the Ellsworth Mountains. From here we ascend the Branscomb Glacier and climb the headwall on Vinson, setting up two camps along the way. Summit Day is one of the most spectacular of any big climb in the world: as we ascend from our High Camp (12,400') the views of the immense ice sheets which surround the Massif gradually come into view, the final steep push up the summit ridge is exhilarating but not technically difficult, and standing atop this remote summit a climber looks for miles in all directions onto a landscape virtually untouched by humans.
When your goal is the highest peak on the Antarctic continent, experience matters. Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. was established in 1969 and is one of America’s oldest and most-trusted guide services. We are the largest guide service on Mt. Rainier and Denali and leaders in guiding climbs and treks around the globe. Our years of leading mountain adventures give us the experience and knowledge to create the best possible trips and we work hard to live up to our reputation as an industry leader. Nowhere is this more important than for an expedition to Vinson where the remote and inhospitable landscape necessitate that all the finer points are addressed. Our trip preparation before departure and when you return takes care of the details for you, from hotels to airport transfers, so that you can focus on preparing for the climb instead of the distraction that comes with coordinating logistics.
Day 1 - TRAVEL DAY
Depart U.S.
Day 2 - TRAVEL DAY: SANTIAGO TO PUNTA ARENAS
Arrive in Santiago, Chile and connect with flights to Punta Arenas, Chile (PUQ). Upon arrival in Punta Arenas take a taxi from the airport to our hotel. Night spent at Diego de Almagro in Punta Arenas.
Day 3 - EQUIPMENT CHECK
After breakfast we have our first team meeting. Afterwards, we conduct a detailed personal equipment discussion and gear check. The night is spent at the Diego de Almagro. (B)
Day 4 - FINAL PREPARATIONS
Today we make our final preparations for the flight to Union Glacier with a pre-flight briefing, weighing baggage, etc. During the afternoon we have time to explore the interesting port city of Punta Arenas. The night is spent at the Diego de Almagro. (B)
Day 5 - BASE CAMP • 7,200' | 2,195M
Flight to Union Glacier, Antarctica. This flight is approximately five hours long, crossing the Drake Passage and the Antarctic Circle before landing on a blue ice runway. If the weather allows we will continue on via Twin Otter aircraft to Vinson Base Camp located on the Branscomb Glacier. The flight is approximately 1 hour. (B, D)
Day 6 - CARRY TO CAMP 1 (9,100') • 7,200' | 2,195M
The climb begins! We carry food and fuel to Low Camp, make our cache and descend to Vinson Base Camp for the night. (B, D)
Day 7 - ACCLIMATIZATION • 7,200' | 2,195M
We take a rest and acclimatization day at Vinson Base Camp. (B, D)
Day 8 - MOVE TO CAMP 1 • 9,100' | 2,774M
We leave Vinson Base Camp and ascend back to our cache at Low Camp with our remaining gear. We establish our camp on the Branscomb Glacier. (B, D)
Day 9 - CACHE AT HIGH CAMP (12,400') • 9,100' | 2,774M
Weather and health permitting we carry to High Camp located near the crest of Vinson's dramatic western escarpment. We cache gear at High Camp and descend to our camp on the Branscomb for the night. (B, D)
Day 10 - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY • 9,100' | 2,774M
We take a rest and accilmatization day at Camp 1 in preparation for our move to High Camp. (B, D)
Day 11 - MOVE TO HIGH CAMP • 12,400' | 3,780M
We break down our camp on the Branscomb Glacier and move up the fixed lines to our High Camp. We establish our High Camp and settle in in preparation for summit day. (B, D)
Day 12 - SUMMIT DAY (16,067') • 12,400' | 3,780M
On the climb from High Camp to the top of Mt. Vinson we gain 3,600'. From the summit we have unparalleled views of the Ellsworth Range, the Ronne Ice Shelf and seemingly the whole continent of Antarctica. We spend the night at high camp. (B, D)
Day 13 - RETURN TO BASE CAMP • 7,200' | 2,195M
We break camp and descend to Vinson Base Camp, where we spend the night. (B, D)
Day 14 - RETURN TO PUNTA ARENAS
Return flight to Union Glacier and connect with the transport plane for our return flight to Punta Arenas. We spend the night at the Diego de Almagro in Punta Arenas. (B)
Day 15 - 18 - CONTINGENCY DAYS
Days fifteen through eighteen are contingency days should we experience delays due to weather or other unforeseen events. Days of delay are a normal part of Antarctic travel and maybe used on the mountain or for travel. (B, D)
Day 19 - TRAVEL DAY
Fly from Punta Arenas to Santiago and connect with flights to the United States. (B)
Day 20 - TRAVEL DAY
Arrive home.
Key: B, L, D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.
- RMI Leadership
- Flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Vinson Base Camp and return with 50 lbs of baggage allowance per person.
- Hotel accommodations as stated in the itinerary: three hotel nights in Punta Arenas prior to the flight to Antarctica and one upon our return, based on double occupancy*
- All breakfast and dinner meals on the mountain and other meals as stated in the itinerary
- All group cooking, climbing and camping equipment
- International roundtrip airfare to Punta Arenas
- Accommodations and meals in Punta Arenas not included in itinerary
- Medical evacuation insurance of $500,000 (required)
- Travel insurance
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Excess baggage fees on flights to and from Punta Arenas
- Excess baggage fees on flight to Union Glacier (50 lbs per person included in price, additional charge of $66 per kilogram)
- Airport taxes and Chilean entry visa
- Tips for RMI Guides
- Rescue costs or costs associated with early departure from the expedition
- Helicopter or charter flight
- Personal communications (Satellite phone, phone, fax, email)
- Bottled water and personal drinks
- Support Staff Tip Pool (we suggest $40 per person)
- Additional room charges including laundry service and other personal expenses
- Costs incurred as a result of delays or events beyond the control of RMI
- Transfers between the Punta Arenas airport and hotel for arrival and departure flights
- Medical, hospitalization and evacuation costs (by any means)
- The cost of delays due to weather, road or trail conditions, flight delays, government intervention, illness, medical issues, hospitalization, evacuation costs (by helicopter or any other means), or any other contingency which we or our agents cannot control are not included.
* Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A Single Supplement Fee will be charged to those occupying single accommodations by choice or circumstance. The single supplement is not available in huts, tents, or in all hotels.
- $44,300
- November 20 Days
- Mountaineering
- $44,300
- November 20 Days
- Mountaineering
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