2025/2026 season Mount Vinson expedition dispatches

Mount Vinson Low Camp

And they’re on the move! The Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team wasted no time moving from Base Camp to Low Camp. After a good day climbing up the valley towards Low Camp, we settled in, fueled up with tasty meals, and took a rest day here with plans to continue up the route soon! The team reviewed fixed-line training and is feeling sharp and ready for what lies ahead in the coming days. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Mount Vinson Low Camp:

Hey, this is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering first Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) climb of the season. We are up at Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft)!

We flew into Vinson Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft) a couple nights ago, had a great night there. And then yesterday moved up to Low Camp here, settled in, and taken a rest day today. Team’s doing great! We did some fixed line training, had a couple of good meals and got organized. We’re planning to move up to High Camp (3536m/11,600ft) tomorrow if the weather’s good, and see what lies in store.

So all is well here on Mount Vinson, highest peak on the continent of Antarctica here, bottom of the world! I’ll check in soon.

The team together in Union Glacier Camp before their flight to the mountain!

The team together in Union Glacier Camp before their flight to the mountain!

Excellent views while flying to Base Camp!

Excellent views while flying to Base Camp!

Mount Vinson Base Camp

Mount Vinson Base Camp

Our Mountain Hardwear Trango tents set up in Vinson Base Camp.

Our Mountain Hardwear Trango tents set up in Vinson Base Camp.


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:

The team together after touching down in Union Glacier Camp!

The Antarctic season is officially underway! The first of our Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expeditions teams went wheels up out of Punta Arenas and have settled in on the ice. After a scenic flight, the team took their first steps onto the frozen continent, breathing in the cold air while welcoming excellent views of Union Glacier Camp and the surrounding areas. We look to move to Mount Vinson Base Camp tomorrow. Fingers crossed for clear and sunny skies! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Antarctica:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the first Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) climb of the season.

Today is December 4th and we made it to Union Glacier Camp (700m/2,297ft) in Antarctica! We flew in from Punta Arenas (34m/112ft) on the Boeing 757, landed at Union Glacier, and settled into our camp here. We’re hoping to fly over to Mount Vinson Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft) tomorrow, so fingers crossed for good weather.

And we’re just enjoying Union Glacier Camp here! It’s bright and sunny, beautiful scenery, great food, nice people, and really magical to be here.

So all’s well in Antarctica! We’ll check in soon.

Looking out the plane window over the frozen continent.

Looking out the plane window over the frozen continent.


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: