All Antarctica expedition dispatches

Back in Vinson Base Camp!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Ted Hesser

The team has arrived back in the comforts of Vinson Base Camp! After another safe and successful climb on the tallest mountain in Antarctica, the team is looking forward to their flight back to Union Glacier and the celebration ahead. As the sun sets on this expedition, another one is on the horizon! Stay tuned for more… Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with todays dispatch from Antarctica:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team – today is January 4th and we have arrived back in Vinson Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft).

We had a great climb of Mount Vinson yesterday – perfect weather, great views all around, the whole team made it to the summit! Today, we’ve arrived back down in Vinson Base Camp and the team is just looking forward to a flight tomorrow or the next day back to Union Glacier Camp (700m/2,297ft), and onwards back home. It’s been a wonderful expedition and I’m very happy that we had great weather and route conditions, and a great team all around!

We’re looking forward to the next climb – should be starting soon! Another trip on Mount Vinson coming up shortly… Stay tuned!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Ted Hesser

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Ted Hesser

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Summit Success on Mount Vinson!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

We’ve received word from the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team that everyone has reached the summit! After taking in the views and some sunshine from the roof of Antarctica, the team safely descended to High Camp for the night, and plans to continue their descent to Vinson Base Camp tomorrow. Congratulations to the entire team! Here’s expedition leader, Garrett Madison, with todays dispatch from High Camp:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition climb – today’s January third  and we reach the summit of Mount Vinson today! It was a beautiful day, couldn’t have asked for better weather – clear skies, calm winds, warm temperatures, and just great views all around! The whole team made it to the summit this afternoon and we made our way back down to High Camp (3536m/11,600ft), just had dinner, and tucking in for bed!

Tomorrow, we’re going to pack up High Camp and head down to Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft). All is well here and we’ll check in soon!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Summit Push on the Way!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Ted Hesser

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team arrived in High Camp today under more beautiful weather. The team ascended the fixed ropes between Low Camp and where they currently are settled into camp, primed to make their summit push! With good weather in the forecast, the team plans to go for the summit in the next few days. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with todays dispatch from High Camp on Mount Vinson:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team – we are up at High Camp (3536m/11,600ft) on Mount Vinson. Today we left Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft) and ascended up fixed ropes. It was a beautiful day – great views all around, the team did awesome. We got up to High Camp here late in the day, set up our camp, started cooking, had dinner and now we’re tucked in and heading to bed.

We’re gonna see how it looks tomorrow – potentially we could go for the summit or maybe wait for the next day! But, everyone’s doing great and the weather looks good. So, we’re happy to be up here and all is well on Mount Vinson. We’ll check in soon!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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New Years on Mount Vinson!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Ted Hesser

Happy New Year from the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson team! The team brought in the New Year by ascending to Low Camp under blue-bird conditions, followed by a celebration with other teams and climbers on the mountain. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this update from Antarctica:

Hello and happy New Year from Mount Vinson! This is Garrett calling in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team and we are up at Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft). We moved up from Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft) today to Low Camp – perfect weather today, beautiful views in all directions! We set up our camp, had dinner, and had a New Year celebration with some of the other teams up here; it was a really fun occasion and we’re so happy to be up here and on schedule!

We’re gonna take a rest day tomorrow, do some fix line training, organize gear, and then get ready to move to High Camp (3536m/11,600ft) the following day.

So, all is well here on Mount Vinson! The team’s doing great, everyone’s feeling strong and healthy, and just so happy to be here in Antarctica – it’s a very magical place! We’re looking forward to some good times ahead.

We’ll check in soon and happy New Year! What a way to bring in 2023.

 

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Onward to Low Camp!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Under beautiful, clear-blue skies our team is moving up to Low Camp today at 9,100 feet! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with a brief message before the teams departure from Vinson Base Camp:

Heading up to low camp (2774m/9,100ft) today, nice weather here!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Primed to Start the Climb!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

After settling into Vinson Base Camp in the day prior, the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team wasted no time as they continue their preparation to move higher up Antarctica’s tallest peak! The team spent today sorting gear, resting up, and reviewing rope travel, ice axe arrest, and crevasse rescue techniques. Everyone is in good spirits and is itching to start the climb tomorrow! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in via Garmin inReach Mini with a brief update from Vinson Base Camp:

Nice day resting, sorting gear, and training in Vinson base camp (2140m/7,020ft)..

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Arrived in Vinson Base Camp!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. (Photo: Ted Hesser)

After a week full of travel, our team has finally arrived in Mount Vinson Base Camp (VBC)! With the team settled into their camp, expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this brief update from VBC:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team. We made it to Vinson base camp (2140m/7,020ft) and are all settled in! The team is doing great!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Pre-Departure Day!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

Our bags are packed and we’re jonesing to get this expedition going! With good weather tomorrow, our team expects to depart from Chile en route to Union Glacier, Antarctica. The team plans to spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying a nice dinner this evening, before their expedition begins on the ice! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with todays pre-departure dispatch from Punta Arenas:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition. We are in Punta Arenas (34m/112ft); just got all of our luggage checked in for our flight to Antarctica and fingers crossed we’ll be flying out tomorrow morning from Chile to Antarctica! So, we’re really excited to go out and have a nice dinner tonight and the expectation of a flight tomorrow.

So, we’re ready to go! Can’t wait to get down there and start our climb soon!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Mount Vinson Expedition Kickoff!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

The 2022 / 2023 Mount Vinson season is underway for the first of two, Madison Mountaineering teams! Our team has arrived in Chile where they’ll spend the coming days preparing to depart on their expedition to one of the most remote and pristine places on Earth. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with todays dispatch from Punta Arenas, Chile:

Hello, this is Garrett checking in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team! We are in Punta Arenas (34m/112ft), Chile and we are preparing to head to Antarctica the day after tomorrow. We’ve been doing our gear checks, packing up last minute items, and I’m very excited! Fingers crossed for good weather. Hopefully we will get to fly to Antarctica on Thursday, and start our expedition to the highest peak in an Antarctica!

Please follow along on the dispatch page, I’ll check in soon. Thanks!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Vinson: 3rd Expedition Recap

Ed Viesturs and Garrett Madison on the summit of Mount Vinson, Antarctica

We were honored to have Ed Viesturs co-guiding our third successful Mount Vinson expedition of the season!  And here, from Punta Arenas, is Ed with an expedition recap:

Hi, this is Ed Viesturs reporting from Punta Arenas, Chile.  It’s Sunday (January 23rd).

Yesterday, very early in the morning, at around 4 AM we managed to leave Union Glacier on the 757 which flew us here to Punta Arenas.  It was the end of a pretty interesting expedition and in the end we made the summit of Vinson!

After arriving at High Camp on January 12th, the next day in a window of weather, we made an attempt for the summit which failed due to high winds and very challenging conditions.  We came back to High Camp and made the decision to wait several more days for another opportunity period.

Our patience paid off after five nights of waiting in quite a challenging storm – high winds and snow.  Eventually, we reached the summit on January 18th.  So all-in-all our patience paid off.

It was a great trip, we had a lot of fun, and I look forward to doing more guided expeditions alongside Garrett Madison and Madison Mountaineering.

Ed Viesturs signing out from Punta Arenas.

2022.01.05 Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team

2022.01.05 Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our guide’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

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