December 15th, 2017

IL 76

Good news from the Ice.  The Team is literally making their last walk on the Ice right now.  Heading to the ice runway to meet the incoming IL76, their ride back to Punta Arenas and home.  Time to do some last minute shopping for the holidays.  Congratulations, once more, to Justin, Emily and our entire team of climbers for keeping priorities straight, contributing, being patient and simply getting the job done.  Their reward was, of course, a summit on pretty much the best possible day.  That’s the way it’s supposed to work.

Members will be heading in different directions once they reach Punta but we thank them all for climbing with IMG and wish them the best of holiday seasons.  This one is a wrap.

Phil Ershler

December 13th, 2017

Vinson from the Air

The team was able to fly from Vinson base camp to Union Glacier camp today.  A small step but an important one.  They are now totally comfortable in the big ALE base camp, with all meals prepared for them and served in a large, heated mess tent with tables and chairs and 24 hour hot water.  Life is good.

Flight to Punta Arenas is scheduled now for the 15^th, at the earliest.  Weather still is the determining factor.  Time to read, talk, play cards and eat, with a cup of coffee or tea in your hand the entire time.  No one is suffering.  In a couple of days they’ll all be home and missing the beauty that is Antarctica.  We’ll let you know when they fly.

Phil Ershler

December 12th, 2017

Twin Otter at Vinson Base Camp

Best laid plans……as they say.  Weather did not permit a flight off the Ice for the team on the 12^th.  Team is still at Vinson base camp.  If the weather says ‘no’, no one flies.  Earliest flight now is scheduled for 15 or 16 December.  Not the ideal scenario but it is what it is.  80 degrees S latitude is one of the most isolated and difficult places to reach on earth.  ALE, our flight service, has a perfect safety record because they’re conservative.  We rely on their expertise to say when it’s safe to fly.  No limit to the food and fuel available on the Ice so no issue other than waiting gets hard but no nearly as hard as climbing Vinson and the team’s already done that!!

They’ll get off as soon as it’s safe to fly.

Phil Ershler

December 11th, 2017

Vinson in the Rear View Mirror

The IMG team is sitting pretty at Vinson base camp.  Everyone made the big descent yesterday in good form.  Now it’s again up to the Vinson weather gods to allow the team off the Ice and get back home.  Best case scenario now is for a flight off the Ice on the 12^th.  Send your good thoughts their way.  Everyone gets anxious/excited about getting off the Ice but safety always comes first and weather simply has to be good to fly.  But hey, summit’s in the rear view mirror, camps are comfortable, plenty of food and no one’s heading back to Antarctica any time soon so let’s enjoy every minute of being on the most remote continent in the world.

All’s good on the Ice, other than it’s time to come home.  Soon.

Phil Ershler

December 10, 2017

Justin checked in first thing Sunday morning to let us know the team was up, had broken camp and already was working their way down the 1200 m of fixed rope between high camp and C1. By the time you read this post, they should already be down the ropes. From the bottom of the ropes, it’s a short walk to C1. Nice break there. They’ll dig out their cache, repack everything into the sleds and then move down to Vinson base camp later today. If weather permits, the team may even fly back to Union Glacier this evening.

Vinson summit ridge (photo: Eric Simonson)

Within the next couple of days, the IL 76 will come back into Union Glacier and pick all the climbers up and get them back to Punta. We’ll let you know when we have a better idea of timing for that all-important flight.

Bottom line — huge success yesterday on Vinson. Patience and persistence paid off and IMG had another safe, successful and enjoyable climb. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Phil Ershler

December 9, 2017 (4pm PST)

Goods news from the summit of Vinson. IMG members on top now. Basically no wind. Descending shortly. Big congratulations to Justin, Emily and the entire team for a super job. “Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” Great quote.

Three old guides on a previous expedition

Hope to have the team off the Ice on December 12th.

Phil Ershler

December 9, 2017

Headed toward summit (photo: Jason Tanguay)

The IMG Vinson team in Antarctica is on their way to the summit. The weather is quite good and wind low. They departed HC at 6 am, Seattle time. 5 hrs later on Vinson time.

Phil Ershler

December 8th, 2017

Approaching high camp with Shinn in the background (from previous expedition)

Forecast is reasonably good and the winds have decreased down on the Ice.  Justin reported this morning that the team was packing up at C1 and going to attempt their move to high camp today.  No news is typically good news so we’re hoping the team is continuing with that plan and will be able to reach high camp today.

We likely won’t have that news until late today.  As always, fingers are crossed and weather will continue to play a large role in the team’s climbing plans.

A successful trip to high camp today could mean a shot at the summit tomorrow.  Entirely speculation but we’re hopeful.

Check back tomorrow and we’ll get updates on the site as soon as we can.

Phil Ershler

December 7th, 2017

Good day for drying liners and socks.

Skies are clear but winds still too high to justify making the move to high camp.  Infinitely more pleasant to wait out weather concerns at C1 rather than at high camp.  First day they wake up and don’t see plumes of snow coming off the ridge at high camp, they’ll be packing and moving up.

Phil Ershler

December 6th, 2017

“Another hot drink, please.” (from a previous expedition)

At least windier than we really want right now.  That’s the word from the Justin, Emily and team down on the Ice.  C1 is super comfortable (relatively speaking) and reasonably protected.  When you see snow plumes coming off the ridge near high camp, you think — maybe it’s not the right day to move up higher.  Team made that decision today.  Better to wait out the wind at C1 rather than sit at high camp where it’s only going to be colder and windier, still.  Seems like a smart to decision to us!

Phil Ershler