December 9, 2010

A look at a Vinson Summit Day. (Photo Eric Remza)

Phil called in last night around Midnight (Antarctica time/7:00pm PST) to report that everybody made it up to High Camp in good form yesterday and will go for the summit today.

The plan today was to wake up with the sun, fire up the stoves for a hot drink then hit the “trail” on what Phil estimates to be  a 12hr. summit day (roundtrip back to High Camp). If all is going as planned, they’re a few hours into their day, but we’ll know more this evening.

Tomorrow, they’ll continue downhill to Vinson Base Camp where they’ll catch a flight (weather permitting) to the new landing area at Union Glacier where the big IL-76 awaits to fly them back to South America.  First thing first – summit Vinson, the rest can wait.

Tye Chapman

December 8, 2010

National Weather Service Windchill Chart

Phil called in last night to report that after a week, their time at C1 is thankfully coming to a close. Winds yesterday were relatively calm with temps around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but while it was nice at C1, the winds were estimated at 50+mph up at High Camp forcing the team to hang tight for another day.

The team will get moving around noon today after the shadows retreat as the sun rises above the ridge making their climb to High Camp a touch warmer. A good 48-hour forecast should give them solid summit window on Thursday.

That’s all for now.

Tye Chapman

December 6, 2010

Phil  called in this morning at 8:00 PST.

All is well at Camp 1, but  the group is still waiting on the winds to die and conditions to improve before moving to high camp.  Currently winds are gusting at 35 mph at Camp.

Guide Aaron Mainer and some of the group descended to Base Camp to bring up additional supplies while the rest of the team built snow walls around camp.  Phil reports that there are no issues with the group and all are doing well.

George Dunn

December 4, 2010

Vinson Camp 1 checked in Saturday afternoon at 12:30

“Looks like we’re going to be sitting again today – weather’s improving but not enough to warrant going up high.  The nice thing is that we have plenty of time and plenty of gas and food here at Camp 1.  We also have the ability to see up to the location of High Camp so we can watch the winds blowing the plumes off the ridge giving us a good indication of when to move up.  Quite pleasant with no wind down here at Camp 1 -  all’s well and we’re just biding our time at picking the best shot.”

Phil Ershler

The weather in Antarctica is like nowhere else (photo: Mike Schiller)

December 3, 2010

What a windy day on the fixed lines looks like. (photo by Eric Remza)

Phil called in from C1 on Vinson to report that they’re in the middle of their first “weather imposed rest day”.  It’s pretty windy where they’re located and extremely windy up high.

They spent the morning building up their wind walls and are currently in the middle of an intense game of Hearts… Assistant Guide Aaron Mainer is currently winning but as Phil said, “nobody keeps stats on who’s winning in the middle of the game”.

The forecast isn’t much better for tomorrow so it looks like they’ll wait it out and see what Sunday brings.

That’s all for now.

Tye Chapman

December 2, 2010

Looking up at the headwall on the way to Camp 2 (Photo: Jason Tanguay)

Phil called in this morning to report that the carry to High Camp went off without a hitch. The weather held out as expected and everybody did great yesterday ascending the 4000 linear feet of fixed lines to High Camp then descending back to C1.

Today they’ll catch up on their sleep and load up on calories before moving to High Camp tomorrow (Friday) with a possible summit day on Saturday.

That’s all for now…

Tye Chapman

December 1, 2010

That's a lot of ice.

Phil called in from Antarctica last night to report that he and his team moved to C1 (9500ft.) yesterday.  Good weather and firm snow made for a great day.

More good weather is expected today for their carry to High Camp (12,500ft.) but the forecast takes a turn for the worse on Thursday which plays right into the team”s scheduled rest day. Only Phil could forecast Antarctic weather months in advance.

That’s all for now.

Tye