Tag Archive for: Vinson Low Camp

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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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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Active Rest Day at Low Camp

Near Vinson Low Camp (📷: @johnhorgan73)

Mount Vinson Team Three spent an active rest day at Low Camp today as they prepare to move up tomorrow.  Guide Terray Sylvester provides the details of the day:

Hello, this is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition.  Today is January 12th and this is a third climb of the season.

We all spent the day at Low Camp.  We spent part of the day refreshing the skills we will need higher on the mountain and then we also hiked to col near camp which is located on the original route up that was used on the mountain back in the ’60s.  There were some great views from that col of both the Antarctica landscape and the Mount Epperly.

Tomorrow we’ll move to High Camp, if the weather permits.  So we’re looking forward to that.

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:

– 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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Team Three Moves to Vinson Low Camp

Antarctica 2021! (📷: @johnhorgan73)

Our already speedy Mount Vinson Team Three flew from Union Glacier Camp to the base camp for Mount Vinson and immediately headed up the hill to Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft)!  Guide Terray Sylvester checks in from there with today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello, this is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition.  We’re on our third climb of the season.  It’s January 12th.

Today we flew from Union Glacier Camp to Vinson Base Camp – a beautiful sunny day.  Then we moved directly to Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft).  We just enjoyed a good dinner of hamburgers and tortellini with red sauce and sauted pumpkin.  Now everyone’s heading to sleep.

Tomorrow we’ll take a rest day and then hopefully move on up to High Camp (3536m/11,600ft).

All is well!  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:

– 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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Merry Christmas from the Slopes of Mount Vinson!

Hauling sleds!

Merry Christmas from our team at Mount Vinson Low Camp (2774m/9,100ft)!  Here’s Garrett with holiday wishes and the climbing game plan:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team.  Today is Christmas Day.  Merry Christmas!

We are at Low Camp on Mount Vinson, and our plan is to head up to High Camp (3536m/11,600ft) tomorrow if the weather is good.  We’re about ready to get to bed here for a good night’s rest.  And then, tomorrow, wake up, have breakfast, and take a look at the weather.  If it’s good, we’ll head up to High Camp.

All’s well here on Vinson.  Have a wonderful Christmas 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 guide’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

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Celebrating Christmas at Vinson Low Camp!

Mount Vinson Low Camp

Today our Mount Vinson team one moved into their Christmas location of Low Camp on Mount Vinson.  Meanwhile, in Punta Arenas, Chile, our Mount Vinson team two arrived and will spend the next few days preparing for their flight to Union Glacier, Antarctica.  Here’s Garrett via sat phone with the recap of the day on Mount Vinson:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team.  It’s Christmas Eve, December 24th here and we climbed up from Vinson Base Camp to Low Camp today on Mount Vinson.

We left base camp mid-day after packing up and caching our gear.  We climbed about eight hours up to Low Camp (or Camp 1) on Vinson.  We had nice weather, it was a little blustery and snowy starting out for the first few hours and then the wind let up a little bit and we actually got a little sun up here at Low Camp and had a Christmas Eve dinner.  We had some salmon, some mixed vegetables, some empanadas, and some mangos and chocolates for dessert.  It was a fun evening.  We’re glad to be up here at Low Camp.  It was a long and tiring day but we’re feeling good and we’re looking forward to a rest day tomorrow on Christmas Day.

All’s well here at Low Camp on Mount Vinson.  We’ll check in soon and happy Christmas Eve to everyone out there!

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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