16,067 ft / 4,897m
An expedition to Vinson Massif requires very involved logistics due to the extreme nature of the weather and conditions in Antarctica. With such a long history of successful expeditions to this area, Adventure Consultants has a well established ascent methodology. New Zealand’s close working relationship with Antarctica means our seasoned mountain guide leaders come with considerable experience in this remote and demanding environment.
We begin the adventure in Punta Arenas, Chile, where we board an Ilyushin 76 aircraft and fly to the blue ice runway and tent camp at Union Glacier on the Antarctic continent. As weather allows we move by Twin Otter aircraft to the Base Camp on Vinson Massif and begin the ascent which is usually completed over five or six days.
We carry large packs and tow our laden sleds up a large glacier below the bulky mass of the peak to our first camp. It’s hard work but from here we can split
The climbing on the mountain is not technically difficult but good pack fitness is essential as all members take a share in the load carrying. A solid background of snow and ice techniques is required to be proficient in this ice covered continent and previous snow camping experience will help you enjoy the specifics of Antarctic climbing.
As with all our expeditions, we adhere to a strict environmental code to ensure we leave no human waste in Antarctica’s pristine wilderness.
Expedition members often comment on how this ascent is ideal for fulfilling the desire to experience the breathtaking majesty of the Antarctic interior.
- The most pristine and remote of the "Seven Summits"
- Experience the unbelievable vastness of the Antarctic interior.
- Modern day Antarctic exploration with South Pole and first ascent options with an Adventure Consultants mountain guide
History
Rob Hall and Gary Ball, the founders of Adventure Consultants, ran their first commercial expedition to Vinson Massif in December 1992. They worked together with Adventure Network International (ANI) whom they had established a relationship with in 1990 for the Vinson climb that completed their “Seven Summits in Seven Months” project. Rob had already climbed the mountain in 1989 as a field assistant to geologists Ed Stumps and Paul Fitzgerald; theirs was a United States Antarctic Research Programme expedition that also included Ed’s brother Mugs, an accomplished
Vinson and most of the other high Ellsworth peaks were first climbed in 1967 by American alpinists supported from McMurdo Station by the United Sates government programme.
Giles Kershaw was a veteran polar pilot who during the 1980’s pioneered landing large wheeled aircraft on natural ice runways. He founded ANI and established a tent camp at Patriot Hills, accessed by DC6 aircraft flying direct from Punta Arenas. This made the Ellsworth Mountains accessible to private adventurers.
Adventure Consultants has continued to take advantage of the relative accessibility of Patriot Hills to stage Antarctic expeditions including the ascent of Vinson Massif: Guy Cotter first guided the peak in 1994 for Adventure Consultants.
Vinson Massif Dates: 2012 / 2013 season
Trip # 1: 21 November - 6 December, 2012
Trip # 2: 3 - 18 December, 2012
Trip # 3: 27 December, 2012 - 11 January, 2013
Trip # 4: 8 - 23 January, 2013
Duration: 16 days
Departure: Ex Punta Arenas, Chile
Price: US$37,500
Mount Vinson and Ski The Last Degree: US$67,950
Add on dates for Ski the Last Degree after your Vinson climb with AC;
Vinson Trip # 2 and SLD: 3 - 30 December, 2012
We also have a Ski the Last Degree to South Pole only option US$55,500
Dates: 15 - 30 December, 2012
Please click here to download the trip notes for the Adventure Consultants Vinson Massif Expedition 2012 / 2013:
 | Vinson Massif 2012-2013 Adobe Acrobat Document: 254 KB, 37 seconds @ 56kbps Trip notes for Adventure Consultants' expeditions to Vinson |
Do you have some questions about our Vinson Massif expedition? Check out our Vinson Massif FAQs!
Read the dispatches from previous Adventure Consultants Vinson Massif Expeditions - Vinson 2002, Vinson 2003, Vinson 2004, Vinson 2005, Vinson 2006, Vinson 2007, Vinson 2008, Vinson 2009, Vinson 2010.
Read the dispatches from this season's Antarctic expeditions - Vinson 2011-2012 season
