January 11, 2010

As soon as I get one dispatch completed, my partner, George, calls again from the Patriot Hills.  Seems as though the meteorologist likes what he’s seeing and the plan now is for the IL 76 to arrive at 80 degrees south at 2:15 am on the morning of the 12th.  Sweet!.  By the time the crew gets back to South America, to the hotel, showered and cleaned it, it’s going to be too late to fly home on the 12th but that’s not such a bad thing.  They’ll be able to relax, enjoy dinner together tomorrow evening and then start the trek home on the 13th.

This brings to conclusion another incredible season on the Ice.  100% on the summit.  16 customers and guides on top!  Best of all is that everyone was able to climb safely and hopefully had some fun in the process.  so, this wraps up our ‘coverage’ until November 2010.

Phil

January 11, 2010

Just spoke with George down at 80 degrees south.  Amazing what you can do with technology these days.  Weather is nice at the Patriot Hills.  The trick is for the meteorologist working for ALE to ‘predict’ when the weather window looks like it’s going to hold.  And, it needs to hold long enough to get people in Punta rounded up and to the airport there.  Maybe a couple of hours.  Then another 4 for the flight and a couple of hours ‘on deck’ at the Patriot Hills, getting the new crew off loaded and those flying north on board with luggage.  Probably as much art as science but ALE does a good job.  Short answer is that they’re not quite there yet.  And this is a great example of the old adage, “when in doubt, don’t”.  A great Denali bush pilot named Doug Geeting had that plastered on his Cessna 185.  Makes a ton of sense.

So, it’s more card playing and more hot drinks.  But that’s easy with already have climbed Vinson Massif.  We’ll let you know when it’s wheels up.

Phil

January 11, 2010

Vinson leader, George Dunn, called in Sunday, Jan 10, and reported that while weather was quite good, winds weren’t quite low enough to bring in the IL 76.  The ice runway at Patriot Hills runs pretty much east/west.  To fly in or out, we need a combination of reasonable visibility, reasonably low winds and not too much snow on the runway.  We’re close,but when it comes to safety, close isn’t quite good enough.  The flight service, ALE, is quite conservative and rightfully so.  They have decades of experience at running a safe operation in Antarctica and we know they’ll pull the trigger when conditions are right.  George reported that the team is perfectly content snacking, having a hot drink and playing cards.  They’re waiting for good flying weather inside a big WeatherPort tent with a floor, stove, water melt system and heater.  Tables and chairs complete the picture.

Of course the team is anxious to get home to family and friends but they’re safe, successful and patient.  They’ve taken care of the things they could control and got up and down Vinson without a scratch.  Now it’s time to enjoy the wait and let mother nature tell them when it’s time to fly.

They’ll get out soon and we’ll let you know when it happens.  I just wonder who’s winning the card game??

Phil Ershler

January 8, 2010

Must be beginner’s luck but, regardless, George and his crew are certainly having a run of good luck.  After a 100% successful summit, they were able to descend to Vinson base camp on the 7th in good weather.  And there was no stopping there.  An hour flight and everyone was back at the Patriot Hills.  The game is pretty much over.  Now, it’s all up to ALE, the flight service, to get the gang off the Ice and back to Punta Arenas.  They certainly have done a great job for IMG this year.  Our November climb was in and out within 24 hours of schedule.  If the good luck continues, the team will be flying north on the 10th.  And ALE is hoping to make flights to and off the Ice even more predictable next year.  The Patriot Hills camp is being moved to the Union Glacier.  The ice runway at that location is orientated more north/south which everyone expects to make the flying easier.  This new development has us excited about next season’s Vinson programs.

We’ll post one final blog for the Vinson season when George, Eric, Helena and crew head to Punta aboard ALE’s IL76.  George and team made Vinson look easy.  It’s not.  A little luck combined with lots of planning and good people just made it look that way.  Super, super job!!

Phil Ershler