December 7, 2015

Vinson Team on the summit

Unbelievable trip!  Can you believe this summit shot?!  After their 100% successful summit, the crew descended on Sunday from high camp to Vinson base camp.  Almost immediately, they flew back to camp at the Union Glacier where the big plane was waiting to get them back to Punta Arenas.  It does not get any better than that.  They took off for Punta Arenas late Sunday evening and were back in Punta about 3 am Monday morning, their time.  Amazing.

Agenda today is to get some sleep, get cleaned up and packed up and gets flights arranged to get home.  Masha and Neil are staying on the Ice to ski the last degree to the South Pole.  Everyone else is heading straight home.  What an amazing Christmas present for all our climbers and their families.

Greg Vernovage, Austin Shannon and their team are next.  Their scheduled flight to the Ice is 29 December.  Mike gets home from this trip and heads right back to Argentina to lead our first Aconcagua expedition of the season.  And, Josh will be making a quick turnaround, too, heading to Argentina at Christmas to lead the second Aconcagua program of the 2015/16 season.

A huge congratulations to all!!!

Phil Ershler

December 5, 2015

Heading to the summit

100% on the summit of Vinson Massif on Saturday, 5 December. Everyone is safe and sound and back at high camp. Pretty much perfect conditions. Back to Vinson base camp tomorrow. (Sunday, the 6th).

What’s that saying……”luck is when opportunity meets preparedness”. I think it’s true. Congratulations to Mike, Josh, Viki, Marty, Brooks, Alina, Masha, Zac, Neil, and John. Hell of a job!

Phil Ershler

December 5, 2015

Mt. Shinn – 3rd highest peak on the continent

Mike’s report from the Ice on Friday was that the team made the big push up to C2 (high camp). Heck of a job by everyone. The route from C1 to C2 involves a couple thousand linear feet of fixed rope. It’s not an easy day but all made the trip up in good style. Weather remains clear, seriously cold (-40F) but relatively calm. We’ll wait to hear whether they decided to take a rest day today or tried to make their summit push. Mike, Josh and the team will try to make honest evaluations regarding how they’re feeling, consider the current weather and forecast and make the best decision possible.

Let’s keep wishing them luck. They’re right where they should be and ready to go when the time’s right.

Phil Ershler

December 4, 2015

Looking up from C1

Heard from Mike at 6 pm, Seattle time, Thursday.  They made a carry today in ‘somewhat improving’ weather.  They couldn’t make it to C2 today but did cache part way up.  Back at C1 for the night with a now greatly improving forecast.  Team is quite strong, capable and raring to go.  Mountaineering is always about making decisions and the team will be looking closely at weather tomorrow.  They may well head up.  Let’s see what the weather brings.  Either way, they’re in a good position with a healthy team.

Phil Ershler

December 2, 2015

The path less traveled.

Patience is a virtue. After one ‘weather day’ at base camp, things have changed. Weather has improved. Mike called this morning to let us know the team’s roped up and ready to walk. C1 in about 5-6 hrs. They’ll have lots of work when they arrive, as camp needs to be set up, but that’s part of climbing and this crew is chomping at the bit to get at it.

Phil Ershler

November 29, 2015

Waiting for the weather

Mike called to check in Sunday. As planned, the team was able to fly to Vinson base camp on Saturday. They got camp set up and prepped loads for a carry up towards Camp One on Sunday, weather permitting. Weather wasn’t perfect, or exactly good, but did allow the team to get in their first carry. Plan now is to move up to C1 as soon as weather allows. Forecast isn’t the best but they’re ready when the mountain says yes.

Phil Ershler

November 28, 2015

C1

Can you believe they flew 1900 miles, to 80 degrees S. latitude, in a Boeing 757 with wheels (not skis) and then landed on a couple mile long strip of hard ice? Blows you away.

The first flights in the early 80’s were in a DC3 with a third engine. I first flew down in 1988 in a DC 4. The plane and I were about the same age. That evolved to a DC6 for a bit. They called her the “Ice Princess”. The big leap was to C 130’s which came from South Africa. Mind you, we were always landing on the Ice with wheels. The Russian military cargo jet, the IL 76 was next in the progression. Now – the Boeing 757. Almost enough to get me to go back to Antarctica. All I can say is – pretty wild.

So, the team arrived later Thanksgiving Day and did their celebrating at the Union Glacier camp. Friday was bit of a rest/organization/wait day. They retrieved all the equipment we leave on the Ice between seasons, sorted and checked it all out. Plan was to fly that last hour over to Vinson base camp today in DeHaviland Twin Otters. Great airplane. If they get in today, they’ll be pulling sleds up to C1 tomorrow. Vinson base is, in general terms, around 7K feet with C1 around 10K ft. They’ll be totally stoked to get the packs on, strap on a sled and walk uphill. To say the views are impressive is a bit of an understatement.

Phil Ershler

November 26, 2015

First Vinson Team of the Season!

Right on schedule and just in time for Thanksgiving, our first Vinson team of the season is on their way to the Ice. Led by IMG Senior Guide, Mike Hamill, the team was up early, to the airport and are ‘winging their way’ to 80 degrees S. latitude, to a spot called the Union Glacier. Looks like turkey dinner will be in Antarctica. Is that fairly amazing, or what? Mike is working with IMG Senior Guide, Josh McDowell, and just a super group of climbers. We know the entire team from past climbs and are quite pleased to have them all with us again.

Next stop will be Vinson base camp, but they need to stay at the Union Glacier long enough to have that turkey. I think we’re off to a good start for what will be a very busy season for IMG on Vinson Massif.

Happy Thanksgiving to the crew heading for the Ice and to all our friends.

Phil Ershler