December, 28 2016
Greg with his crew in Punta
Time to check in with Vinson Trip #2. IMG Senior Guide, Greg Vernovage, is again leading our ‘holiday trip’. The team has arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile. Punta is the jumping off point for our trips to Vinson Massif, the highest mountain on the Antarctic continent. Gear checks have already been conducted. You can imagine, those are fairly important when heading to Antarctica. Group and personal gear gets picked up tomorrow and the IL 76 (big Russian cargo jet) gets loaded for the trip to the Union Glacier at about 80 degrees S. latitude. The team will also participate in an orientation tomorrow, where they’ll learn about safety, ecology, logistics, etc. for their trip to the Ice.
A trip to Antarctica is one ‘heck’ of a way to start the new year. With any luck, Vinson base camp is exactly where they’ll be come New Year’s Eve.
Phil Ershler