December 14th, 2023–

Vinson Basecamp (Eric Simonson)

IMG lead guide Porter McMichael reported that the team has safely descended from High Camp back to Vinson Base Camp.  Everyone is doing well, tired and happy!  It sounds like the summit day was clear and very cold, with air temps about -38C  (recall that the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales cross at -40 so the temp was basically the same using either scale!).  On the summit they had no wind, so it was perfect, but down lower they encountered 10mph winds that made for a bitter wind chill (estimated at minus 66 F).  That’s why climbers bring all that warm gear!

They are now waiting to fly back over to Union Glacier Camp.  Their flight from Union Glacier back to Punta Arenas is scheduled for December 18.

Eric Simonson

December 13th, 2023–

Porter sent us an Inreach on their descent from the summit:  “100% on Top”.  Congrats, team!

Last steps to the summit of Mt. Vinson (Eric Simonson)

They made it back to High Camp last “night” (actually it is 24 hour daylight) after their big summit day.   After a good rest, their next goal will be to get back down the fixed ropes to Low Camp, and then continue down Branscomb Glacier to Base Camp.  We’ll keep you posted!

Eric Simonson

December 10th, 2023–

IMG lead guide Porter McMichael let us know that the team had a smooth trip up to the “Low Camp” area (9100 ft) where they are now dug into a Denali style camp.  They hauled sleds with them on this move, ascending the Branscomb Glacier which turns to the left up onto a shelf below the mountain.

Looking down the Branscomb Glacier towards VBC (Porter McMichael)

They are taking a rest day currently and then it’s just a waiting game to pick the best weather window for the move up to the “High Camp” (12400 ft).  We’ll keep you posted!

View down the Branscomb Glacier below Low Camp (Porter McMichael)

December 6th, 2023–

Porter McMichael reports that the team wrapped up their preparations yesterday in Punta Arenas with a chilly walk on the waterfront.

The IMG Vinson team in Punta Arenas (Porter McMichael)

This morning they were transferred to the PUQ airport where they loaded up into the Icelandair 757-200.  Parked next to it is the Ilyushin Il-76 which is still used for cargo flights to Union Glacier (this plane was used for passenger flights too, for many years, prior to 2015).

The Icelandair 757 and IL 76 at Punta Arenas airport (Porter McMichael)

Now they are on the way to Union Glacier, about 4.5 hours of flying!

On the way to Antarctica (Flightaware)

December 5th, 2023–

IMG 2023 Mt. Vinson team (Porter McMichael)

IMG senior guide Porter McMichael reports from Punta Arenas, Chile at the southern tip of South America, that the Mt Vinson team have all arrived with their bags, and are doing well!  Yesterday they did their gear checks and today they are doing their final packing and weighing of their duffel bags, in preparation for the ALE flight tomorrow to Union Glacier.  The Union Glacier Base Camp set up at about 79 degrees south, barely 600 nautical miles from the South Pole, and is distinguished by a large area of blue ice which allows for wheeled airplanes to land.  After the team gets to Union Glacier, they will fly by a smaller ski plane to the Mt Vinson Base Camp. So far so good from way down south!

Union Glacier Camp location

Eric Simonson