2022/2023 season Mount Vinson expedition dispatches

See You Soon, Vinson!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

The Madison Mountaineering Antarctica season has come to a close after another safe and successful season on the ice! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with one final dispatch from Antarctica:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team.

Welp, the teams have all concluded their expeditions on Vinson, reaching the summit in great weather! I am back at Union Glacier Camp (700m/2,297ft) just waiting for the next flight out to Punta Arenas, Chile (34m/112ft) on the 757 scheduled for January 14.

It’s nice to be here and wrap up our season! It was a great season here in Antarctica – thanks so much to ALE for all the support. We’re looking forward to returning next year!

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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Departure from Antarctica

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

After another successful expedition, our team has packed their bags, loaded the plane, and said their ‘farewells’ to Antarctica! The team had a great time experiencing the remote and pristine nature that comes with this special place, all in while creating lasting memories that we will not soon forget! We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off 2023 than on the ice with friends, new and old. The excitement for the next Antarctica season has already started to build! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with this departing dispatch from Mount Vinson:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the second Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) team with Conrad Anker – today is Wednesday, January 11th.

The team got down from Mount Vinson High Camp (3536m/11,600ft) yesterday all the way back down to Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft), flew from Base Camp to Union Glacier (700m/2,297ft), and then flew from Union Glacier back to Chile (34m/112ft) – all the way home! So, it was a big day for the team after having summited Mount Vinson the day before, coming all the way down and heading out all in one day!

I’m back at Union Glacier Camp here for a few days sorting gear and equipment, and wrapping up our season here in Antarctica! It’s been a great season and looking forward to coming back to Antarctica next year.

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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Perfect Season on Vinson!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

We’ve just received word that the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team has safely and successfully reached the summit of Mount Vinson, the tallest point in Antarctica! After some winds in the days prior while ascending to High Camp, the team made their final few steps to the summit under blue skies, calm winds, and great views all around in a truly magical place. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with todays dispatch from Mount Vinson:

Hey! This is Garrett calling in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team number two.

Today we summited Mount Vinson! We had a beautiful day, great weather, looked around, amazing views, calm winds, and just a really special experience up there. We had the summit all to ourselves and really had a great day!

So, wonderful summit day. Now we’re back in High Camp (3536m/11,600ft), just had dinner, going to bed and we’ll make our plan to go down to Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft) tomorrow or the next day!

So all is well here on 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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Arrived in High Camp!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team made strong work today, ascending from their Low Camp to High Camp and battling some winds along the way. Everyone is comfortably settled into their tents and looking forward to a rest day tomorrow as they look for a window to make their summit push! 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 with Conrad Anker and friends Bill Dyer, Chris Figenshau, Wes, Elizabeth and Woody! We are up at High Camp (3536m/11,600ft).

We had a great day climbing from Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft) to High Camp on the eighth of January. It ended up turning a little windy once we got to the top of the fixed ropes, so we really had to batten down the hatches, put on our big puffy jackets, and gloves, and mitts, and hand warmers. We made it into our High Camp here and fired up our stoves, sat in our tents, had dinner, and now we’re just getting ready for bed.

So tomorrow we’ll take a rest day after that big effort coming up to High Camp on Mount Vinson! Hopefully there’s some good weather – blowing pretty hard up here earlier today, cold (garbled) wind, some moisture coming off the sea, but hopefully that’ll subside and we’ll get some favorable conditions for a summit in the next few days.

Everybody’s up here and doing well, although we’re tired – it was a tough day. 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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Training Day on Mount Vinson

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team took a rest day today in Low Camp and prepared to continue their ascent in the coming days! The team took some time today to train and review ascending fixed lines, and with some good weather in the future, they will move up to High Camp and be one step closer to making their summit push! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with todays dispatch from Low Camp:

Hey, this is Garrett calling in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team (garbled). We are at Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft) on Mount Vinson – today is January seventh and took a rest day today, did some training, got prepared for the fixed lines, and had a restful time here in camp.

Tomorrow, we’re looking forward to heading up to High Camp (3536m/11,600ft), whether pending. So we’ll get up and take a look at the weather and see what the forecast is for High Camp, but hopefully we’ll move up there tomorrow and go for the Summit shortly thereafter.

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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Good Times in Antarctica!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The second of the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expeditions is underway in Antarctica! The team wasted no time going out to play after they settled into their camp, dawning their skis and going out for a tour of the surrounding area. The team is strong, and is enjoying blue skies and delicious food as they continue their ascent of Mount Vinson. Guide, Conrad Anker, checks in with this dispatch from Low Camp:

Greetings folks! Conrad Anker checking in from Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft) on Vinson (4892m/16,050ft).

Garrett and I are having a great time. Our team is moving up with strength and confidence! The weather seems to be good. We’re eating lots of yummy food. It doesn’t get dark, so we don’t have head lamps!

We’re thinking of you – join us for a trip! Take care.

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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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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