December 5, 2014

Close.

And that’s why they call them ‘forecasts’ and not ‘guarantees’.  The team took a serious shot yesterday but the weather worsened and closed them down.  Great effort but it was not to be.

The team returned to high camp and is now in a waiting pattern until they see that ‘weather window’ which will give them another shot at the summit.  Everyone’s well.  A bit bummed but ready to rally for the next attempt.

Stay tuned.

Phil Ershler

December 4, 2014

Panorama at High Camp showing Mt. Shinn on the right. (Photo by Rob Marshall)

Spoke with Mike last evening.  Remember, even though Vinson teams normally operate on Chile time, which is East Coast plus 2, it’s light 24 hours a day there and they can climb at any time.

All’s good with the team.  They made the big move yesterday to high camp, close to 13,000 ft.  Everyone’s doing well.  Forecast remains good so the group will likely take a summit shot today.  If weather permits, it’ll be a full day for the crew so we won’t likely be posting summit news until tomorrow morning.  Keep your fingers crossed and wish everyone luck.

Phil Ershler

December 3, 2014

Fixed ropes on vinson. (Photo by Rob Marshall)

Satellite phones are great.  Mike Hamill called last evening to let us know the team had a good day making a carry up the ‘fixed ropes’ towards high camp.  There is a long section of rope, anchored to the mountain, which is strung over a long section from C1 to C2.  You clip in with an ascender for safety.

Weather remains clear, calm and cold.  Forecast is still good.  The team may try to move up to C2 today.  Hard not to make use of such good weather when the team is doing well.  If they can move up, they’ll be in position to make a summit attempt at any time.

Phil Ershler

December 1, 2014

Looking up from C1

Mike Hamill just called to confirm that they moved into C1 today, at about 10,000 ft.  Everyone is doing well.  Forecast calls for clear, calm and cold for at least the next 3 days.  Oh yeah, it is Antarctica!

Plan is to make a carry up a long line of fixed ropes to high camp, C2, tomorrow.  The ropes are long – about 4,000 linear feet.  C2 is located just under 13,000 ft.  Getting a good carry into high camp is one of the most important days of the expedition.

Phil Ershler

November 26, 2014

Pre-trip briefing

Team left Punta, exactly on schedule, early this morning.  They boarded the IL 76 and are heading to the Ice.  Flight to Union Glacier will take about 4 hours.  If their luck continues, they might even be at Vinson base camp before day’s end.  Great start.  The team will definitely be spending Thanksgiving in the middle of Antarctica.

Phil Ershler

November 25, 2014

You’ve heard it from us before – it’s always great to start an expedition with all climbers arriving as scheduled and with all their luggage.  It’s simply huge.  Mike Hamill’s team did just that – all in, all luggage in and everyone ready to go.

The guides worked with the team as a whole and individually to check and double check everyone’s gear yesterday.  On a Vinson expedition, there’s the best and there’s all the rest.  All climbers are packed and ready.  Group gear and food is packed and ready to be loaded on the plane.

That first dinner, together as a team, is always exciting.  Climbers are getting to know one another, sizing each other up and ratcheting up the excitement level.  Like that night before the big game.  A bit nervous but excited.  This is, after all, a trip to Antarctica.

First Dinner (Mike Hamill)

Briefing this morning and then final touching on the packs and then nothing to do but wait for the call.  As soon as the weather says yes, the first Vinson expedition for the 2014/15 will be flying South for almost 2000 miles, to the Union Glacier at approx. 80 S. latitude.  If that isn’t cool, I don’t know what is.  Maybe Thanksgiving dinner at Vinson Base Camp!

Phil Ershler