After settling into Vinson Base Camp in the day prior, the Madison MountaineeringMount 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)..
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https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220101_MountVinson_TerraySylvester_000900.jpg8001200Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-31 03:55:032022-12-31 19:38:31Primed to Start the Climb!
The team spent today acclimatizing around Confluencia Camp as they prepare to continue their trek into base camp tomorrow. Some light snow made for magical conditions during their acclimatization efforts, spent moving around the valley and looking up at the towering peaks above them. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch from the Horcones Valley:
Today we acclimatized by hiking from our camp here at Confluencia (3436m/11,273ft) to Plaza Francia (4228m/13,871ft) at the base of the dramatic South Face of Aconcagua! It was a beautiful hike, we had some light snow which just made for really scenic and atmospheric conditions on the peaks above us. We took a break at Plaza Francia and checked out the hanging glaciers on the South Face, and then returned back to our camp where we had a late lunch of bruschetta with fresh veggies and prosciutto, plus some great-fresh melon! So now we’re just resting before dinner.
All is well and we’re looking forward to moving to base camp tomorrow!
Checking out the view of Aconcagua’s famous South Face! Photo: Terray Sylvester
Hiking toward the South Face. Photo: Terray Sylvester
Down the Lower Horcones Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester
The team returning to Confluencia Camp from Plaza Francia. Photo: Terray Sylvester
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PHOTO-2022-12-30-12-31-57.jpg6831024Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-30 20:57:592022-12-31 00:01:51Acclimatizing in the Horcones Valley
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 MountaineeringMount 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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Z6T_0148-scaled.jpg17032560Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-30 05:50:302022-12-30 18:01:47Arrived in Vinson Base Camp!
Today, our Aconcagua team hit the trail and has begun their journey towards the summit of South America’s tallest peak! Fueled by several good meals throughout the day, the team has arrived in Confluencia Camp where they’ll spend the remainder of the day. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch:
Today we had a nice breakfast in Mendoza (746m/2,449ft) and drove up to our trailhead in Horcones, then we had a nice three hour walk here to Confluencia Camp (3436m/11,273ft). It’s a beautiful day, there’s fresh snow high on the mountains, so that’s a scenic change! We got here to Confluencia and had a nice lunch – pizza, and fresh juice, and some nice apple bread and other items. Now we’re just resting until dinner!
So, tomorrow we’ll take an acclimatization hike up toward a nice viewpoint for the south face of Aconcagua.
All is well here, really pleasant, and we’ll be in touch!
Our climber, TJ, at the Horcones Valley Trailhead with guide, Laucha. Photo: Terray Sylvester
Our team in the Horcones Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PHOTO-2022-12-29-14-36-27-1.jpg6831024Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-29 21:00:592022-12-29 23:20:34Trek to Base Camp has Begun!
The Madison MountaineeringAconcagua season is underway in Argentina! Our team has arrived in Mendoza and is primed to kickoff the expedition tomorrow after a gear check, orientation and welcome dinner today. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with the expeditions first dispatch from Mendoza:
Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison MountaineeringAconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expedition – it’s Wednesday, December 28th. This is the first climb of our season; we’ll have a couple of more expeditions up Aconcagua after this one.
But, yeah today was the first day of this climb. Our climber, TJ, arrived here in Mendoza (746m/2,449ft) this afternoon, then we had a gear check and orientation at our hotel, and we just wrapped up dinner at one of Mendoza’s many sidewalk restaurants. It’s just a beautiful evening here in Mendoza – perfect temperature, people are out listening to music and having dinner. It’s really pleasant!
Tomorrow the plan is to wake up, not too early, and then drive up to the Andes – drive into the mountains. We’ll hike up to our camp at Confluencia (3436m/11,273ft). So, tomorrow will be our first night in this famous mountain range. I’m really looking forward to it! I think we’re going to have a great trip as we make our way to the highest peak outside of Asia, and the highest peak in the Americas.
So, all is well and we’ll be in touch tomorrow.
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PHOTO-2022-12-28-18-00-22.jpg12001600Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-29 01:58:012022-12-29 03:13:05Aconcagua Season is Underway!
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 MountaineeringMount 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:
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.“
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:
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.“
Our Ojos del Salado expedition is nearing its conclusion, complete with multiple summits, amazing food, incredible views and many memories to take away! The team is all safely off of Ojos del Salado and will return to Copiapó shortly. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with one final dispatch before the team departs back home in the coming days:
Yesterday was our summit attempt on Ojos! The day started windy and pretty cold actually, but conditions improved quite a bit as we climbed higher and we had just spectacular views of the surrounding Atacama and all the volcanoes near us here. We made it to the summit crater at about 6,700 meters, and at that point we made the difficult, but I think correct decision to turn around to ensure our climbers safety on the descent. It was a tough decision, but the wise one.
Now we’re back in base camp! Our team is all happy and healthy, and we’re packing up and preparing to drive back to Copiapó. That will wrap up our itinerary! Right now, our climbers are deciding whether they’ll fly directly home, or whether they’ll head over to the coast nearby and spend a few days relaxing on the beach.
All in all, it was a great expedition! Beautiful scenery, great food and we got to soak in hot springs as well. We summited two other volcanoes: Cerro Doña Inés at about 5,000 meters and Cerro San Francisco at over 6,000 meters. And, all over our climbers set new personal altitude records which was gratifying too.
So, that’s a wrap and can’t wait for the next one!
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:
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.“
The Madison MountaineeringOjos del Salado team took an active rest day today, going for a hike above base camp and preparing for their summit push ahead! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with a brief update from base camp:
Hello from Ojos Base Camp (5251m/17,227ft)! Today we went for an acclimatization hike above camp, then spent the afternoon resting and packing for tomorrow’s summit push. Since the “road” is passable to Camp 1, we’ll begin our ascent by driving that high. The forecast looks good and the team is excited for tomorrow’s climb. We’ll be in touch!
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Z62_1694-scaled.jpg17032560Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-17 20:02:072022-12-18 22:10:41Primed for the Summit Push!
The Madison MountaineeringOjos del Salado expedition team completed their first carry up to camp 1 today, touching 20,000 feet and returning to their base camp. Tomorrow, the team plans to move up to Camp 1, and hopefully make their summit push the following day! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with another brief update from Atacama Camp:
Hello from Ojos del Salado Base Camp (5251m/17,227ft)! Today we hiked above Tejos Hut (Camp 1) while acclimatizing for our summit push. Since we’re currently able to drive to about 19,000′, we touched 20,000′ during our hike today then returned to our base camp at the Atacama Hut. We had a lunch of seafood soup and are relaxing until dinner.
All is well here. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/1280px-Refugio_Atacama_on_the_Ojos_del_Salado_4320232477.jpg9601280Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2022-12-16 19:15:512022-12-16 19:39:47Carry to Camp 1 is Complete!
