Tag Archive for: Antarctic

On up to Low Camp

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:

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Greetings from Union Glacier Camp!

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:

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Another Vinson climb is underway!

Hello, from Vinson Base Camp!

The Madison Mountaineering team is back at it again on the highest peak in Antarctica, Mount Vinson! After some delays due to weather, the team boarded their flight en route to their base camp which presented otherworldly views of the frozen continent. Now ready to begin their climb, the team is psyched and ready to go! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Mount Vinson:

Hello! It’s Saturday, January 4th, 2025. Happy New Year, everyone! This is Garrett Madison calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition team.

We have arrived in Mount Vinson base camp (2140m/7,020ft)! After a delay due to some foggy weather, the twin otter took us from Union Glacier Camp (700m/2,297ft) today over to Mount Vinson base camp. It was a beautiful, scenic flight. We saw many beautiful mountains along the way, many unclimbed peaks, and vast expanses of Antarctic ice.

Upon arriving in base camp, we unloaded the twin otter, set up our camp, moved into our tents, cooked a fun dinner with pepperoni pizza, empanadas, green beans and french fries! We’re just having some hot drinks now before heading to bed.

Tomorrow, our plan is to pack up and move up to low camp (2774m/9,100ft)! It looks like some good weather in the forecast, so we’re excited to get the climb underway. All is well here at Mount Vinson!

Settled into Base Camp!

Settled into Base Camp!

On the flight from Union Glacier Camp to Vinson Base Camp!

On the flight from Union Glacier Camp to Vinson Base Camp!

Blue skies and all smiles for the team in Antarctica!

Blue skies and all smiles for the team in Antarctica!

Biking around Union Glacier Camp a few days back.

Biking around Union Glacier Camp a few days back.

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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Change in weather allows ascent to Camp 1!

With a change in weather, Garrett, Mike, Sam, Iñaki, and Todd have successfully made the ascent to Camp 1 at 9,154 feet! After two days at Vinson Base Camp, the team was very excited to push onward. Garrett and team made the eight hour push through cold and breezy conditions before arriving at Camp 1. Other than the wind, todays weather report on Mount Vinson was clear and sunny. Quickly after arriving the team set up camp and started warming up with a hot dinner prepared by Garrett.

Tomorrow our team will enjoy a rest day and let their bodies recover and continue to acclimatize to todays elevation gain. Garrett, Mike, Sam, Iñaki, and Todd will work together tomorrow to develop a strategy for reaching Camp 2, with factors including weather and overall route conditions. Everyone is doing well and in high spirit!

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Audio Dispatch from Garrett Madison ~ Wednesday, December 2

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Climbing across glaciated slopes on Mount Vinson.

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Looks pretty similar to “The Wall” from Game of Thrones! This gorgeous shot was take during the ascent to Camp 1. Onward!

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Vinson base camp preparation

Antarctica’s Mount Vinson base camp population is beginning to grow as multiple teams wait for the heavy winds and below freezing temperatures to pass. Winds today were recorded at 30 knots, or roughly 35 mph, with the temperature down to -20 degrees fahrenheit. Beyond the weather, the team had a very productive day. Garrett, Mike, Sam, Iñaki, and Todd worked together to fortify their tents by creating snow bricks of sort, then creating a wall to deflect the wind. Afterward, Garrett and team enjoyed an exploratory climb to a local peak in the Ellsworth Mountains. The team is doing well and enjoying the opportunity to spend time on this secluded continent.

Dispatch below from our Expedition Leader ~ Garrett Madison

Note: It appears that the weather conditions or the connection with the satellites breaks up the call for the first 5-10 seconds. After this time the quality improves.

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Tuesday, December 1

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