Mount Vinson dispatches for the 2017 – 2018 season

Mount Vinson Expeditions Summary

Our Mount Vinson Expeditions concluded yesterday when our second team made it back to Punta Arenas, Chile, after a successful climb of the highest peak on the continent of Antarctica.  We are thrilled to announce that Madison Mountaineering was the only company leading multiple Mount Vinson Expeditions with 100% climber success overall, this is unmatched by the other guide companies on the mountain this year.  We credit this high level of achievement and safety to our commitment of thorough climber screening and preparation beforehand, our leadership on the mountain, and building cohesive teams of climbers that are very powerful.  Our first team of Mount Vinson climbers comprised of Garrett, Peter, Richard, and Sharon reached the summit of Mount Vinson on January 7th, and our second team of Mount Vinson climbers comprised of Garrett, Keith, Annie, Mei, Jeff, Tamas, and Maria reached the summit of Mount Vinson on January 17th after first having skied to the South Pole!

Each of our Mount Vinson expeditions were very fortunate to reach the top of the mountain with fantastic weather, clear skies and only a little wind, very pleasant summit days indeed!  We now will head home to our families and friends, and for some of us begin preparing for our next big expedition, Mount Everest beginning in early April!  Please enjoy the photos below of our recent climbs in Antarctica!  For climbers looking to climb Mount Vinson or other peaks in Antarctica for the upcoming season (December 2018), its important to start planning soon!

–Garrett Madison

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Mount Vinson Expeditions

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Mount Vinson Expeditions

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Mount Vinson Expeditions

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Mount Vinson Expeditions

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Mount Vinson Expeditions

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Madison Mountaineering Polar Explorer’s team back to Union Glacier Camp

The Madison Mountaineering Polar Explorer’s Mount Vinson expedition team have now arrived back to Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica. With foggy conditions at Vinson base camp it took a couple days to safely land the inbound plane and pick up our climbers. Plan is to enjoy the next couple days at Union Glacier Camp with very comfortable accommodations, hot showers, three hot meals a day and many fun outdoor activities. The Union Glacier Camp is the only private seasonally occupied camp site located in Ellsworth Land in Antarctica. The camp is located in the Heritage Range, below the Ellsworth Mountains, on Union Glacier. All is well and our team will check in once back in Punta Arenas, Chile!

Stay tuned as we gear up for the 2018 Everest and Lhotse expedition! We are excited to return to the Nepalese Himalayas in early June with a strong team of international climbers this season.

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Audio dispatch from Garrett Madison

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Mountaineering Polar

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Madison Mountaineering – Polar Explorers team arrived to base camp

The Madison Mountaineering – Polar Explorers team arrived safely to Mount Vinson base camp after a successful summit yesterday. Everyone is happy that they made the summit with the upper mountain to themselves on a beautiful sunny day. Today the clouds have moved in and it has started to snow. Now back at base camp the team will wait for a flight back to Union Glacier. All is well and we will check in soon!

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Audio dispatch from Garrett Madison

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Polar Explorers team

 

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Madison Mountaineering Polar Explorer’s team reached the summit!

The Madison Mountaineering Polar Explorer’s team reached the summit of Mount Vinson today! Climbers are now safely back at high camp after a wonderful summit day with hardly any wind and clouds beneath. Headed down to Vinson base camp tomorrow and will check in soon!

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Audio dispatch from Garrett Madison

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Mountaineering Polar Explorer

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Expedition team in place for Mount Vinson summit push!

Our climbers enjoyed a rest day at high camp while preparing for their Mount Vinson summit push. Plan is to head off around 9am after breakfast, summit mid afternoon and be back by dinner time. Team is looking forward to begin their ascent and hope to all stand on the tallest point in Antarctica together. Fingers crossed for good weather! Everyone is doing well and we will check in soon.

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Vinson summit push

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Polar Explorers Mount Vinson team at high camp

Garrett Madison checks in with the Polar Explorers Mount Vinson expedition team. Our team climbed up to high camp in a single push and had a nice dinner before bunkering down for the night. The weather is holding good and the team will probably take rest day tomorrow before their summit attempt the following day. The team is doing well and everyone is enjoying their time in magical Antarctica.

Madison Mountaineering is a partner with Polar Explorer’s for this expedition.

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Explorers Mount Vinson

 

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Second Vinson team departs to Vinson after skiing to South Pole

After completing a ski trip to the South Pole, our second Vinson team departed Union Glacier Camp for the Ellsworth Mountains. After arriving at Vinson the team quickly moved up to low camp. Tomorrow our team will enjoy a rest day while reviewing technical climbing skills for the upper mountain ascent. All is well on Vinson and fingers crossed for the beautiful weather to continue!

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Audio dispatch by Garrett Madison

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Second Vinson team

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Vinson team returns to Punta Arenas, Chile

After a quick Twin Otter flight back to Union Glacier Camp, the Mount Vinson team took off on the Russian Ilushyn 76 for Punta Arenas, Chile. Congratulations to our climbers for reaching the highest point in Antarctica at 4,892m / 16,050ft!

Garrett will remain at Union Glacier Camp until the following team arrives from a ski trip to the South Pole. All is well on the ice and we will check in soon!

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Audio dispatch from Garrett Madison

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punta arenas

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punta arenas

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Expedition team summited Mount Vinson!!

On January 7th at around 3pm our Antarctica expedition team summited Mount Vinson! Garrett reported clear skies, hardly any wind and nice temperatures. The whole team had the summit to themselves on this special summit day. Now our team will rest and recover at high camp before making the descent to base camp. Everyone is doing well and looking forward to their return flight back to Union Glacier Camp. Team photos and video will be shared soon!

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Audio dispatch from Garrett Madison

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Looking out over the Ellsworth Mountains 🙂

Team summited Mount Vinson

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Expedition team summited Mount Vinson!

On January 7th at around 3pm our Antarctica expedition team summited Mount Vinson! Garrett reported clear skies, hardly any wind and nice temperatures. The whole team had the summit to themselves on this special summit day. Now our team will rest and recover at high camp before making the descent to base camp. Everyone is doing well and looking forward to their return flight back to Union Glacier Camp. Team photos and video will be shared soon!

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Audio dispatch from Garrett Madison

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Looking out over the Ellsworth Mountains 🙂

Team summited Mount Vinson

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