January 4th, 2025
Max Bond reports, “The cache was found and uncovered, the tents are set up, and the cook tent is on its way. All is good at Vinson Basecamp!”
January 4th, 2025
Max reports that the Vinson BC is still socked in, so the team are unable to fly over there from Union Glacier camp. They remain on standby waiting for the fog to lift at VBC. Yesterday the team did some training, including a review of how to use the fixed ropes. Then, they did a 10k hike on a marked trail around the Union Glacier BC to stretch out their legs. The Union Glacier camp is a pretty unique place to spend a few days, but it would be easier to get stuck there on the way out, rather than the way in! Rest assured, when the mountain says “yes” the team will be on their way. Until then, they bide their time.
January 4, 2025
Stu reports that the team had a nice rest day yesterday at the 13,800 ft Plaza Argentina BC and everyone is doing well. Today the team will “climb high, sleep low” with a carry up to Camp 1 (16,372 ft) and then returning for another night at Base Camp. This is a great way to build some acclimatization before the team moves up to Camp 1 tomorrow. All’s well in Argentina!
January 2nd, 2025
IMG Leader Max Bond reports that the team had a smooth flight last “night” (its 24 hour daylight!) into the Union Glacier Base Camp (79°46’05″S 83°15’42’W) in the Ellsworth Land area of Antarctica. The team were not able to continue on to the Vinson Base camp, so they erected their tents and spent the night there, enjoying the ALE facilities for dining and hanging out. Today the team loaded up the Twin Otter ski plane with their duffels and they have been waiting to fly to Vinson BC, but a persistent fog on the Branscomb Glacier has so far made that impossible. Oh well, they made it to The Ice and are in a perfect position for the next move over to the base of Mt Vinson!
January 2nd, 2025
Stu Johnson reports that the team had another nice day of hiking today, climbing 3500 feet to the Plaza Argentina Base Camp at about 13,800 ft. There were some scattered clouds and a mild breeze that kept the temperatures comfortable as they ascended the Relinchos River valley from the Casa de Piedra camp. Now the team is all set up at the comfortable Base Camp and are looking forward to a well-deserved rest day tomorrow. Well done team!
January 1, 2025
IMG leader Stu Johnson reports that the team is doing well and the weather has been great for the first two days of trekking on their way to Base Camp.
Trekking along the Vacas River on day 1 (Stu Johnson)
Yesterday the team followed the Vacas River to the Pampa de Leñas camp at about 9,700 ft.
Today they started the New Year with another nice day of hiking up to the Casa de Piedras camp at about 10,600 feet. From here they got their first good views of Aconcagua, looking up the Relinchos Valley.
First views of Aconcagua from the Casa de Piedras camp on day 2 (Stu Johnson)
Tomorrow they will ascend this valley to the Plaza Argentina Base Camp.
January 1, 2025
Happy New Year! The weather cleared and the Vinson climbers are on the way!
Waiting for the flight to The Ice (Max Bond)
The flight in the 757 takes about 4.5 hours to Union Glacier, where they will land with rubber tires on a blue ice runway. Then, with any luck, they will change planes to the Twin Otter on skis, for the flight over to Vinson Base Camp on the Branscomb Glacier.
Boarding the flight to The Ice (Max Bond)
So far so good!
December 31st, 2024
The Magellen Strait view from the lookout above Punta Arenas (Max Bond)
Max reports the team had a nice Punta Arenas hike today, as they wait for flyable weather. The team went to the “Mirador (lookout) Zapador Austral” in the Reserva Nacional Magallanes. Max says “ it was about 4 miles with 750’ of gain but a fun way to make use of the day! We hiked up into the subalpine meadows above Punta Arenas with good views of the Magellan Strait, and we could even see Magdalena Island (where we went to the penguin colony yesterday)”.
December 31st, 2024
IMG leader Stu Johnson reports that the team had a good day yesterday putting the finishing touches on packing up the mule loads, and then driving west from Mendoza up to Penitentes, near to the border with Chile. They are planning for 8 mules to carry the food, fuel and gear on the three day approach to the Plaza Argentina Base Camp. The first two days they will follow the Vacas River valley, spending tonight at Lenas and tomorrow night at Casa de Piedra. Then, they turn west and ascend up the Relinchos River Valley to the Base Camp. Coming from North America in the winter, the team will be slathering on the sunscreen for the high altitude summer sunshine in Argentina (which sounds pretty good right now!).
December 30, 2024
We always say the hardest part of some expeditions is just getting started. Despite the bad weather for air travel over the last few days, our Aconcagua and Vinson climbers have navigated the challenges of cancelled and delayed flights, and made it to their respective destinations. Well done teams!
IMG Aconcagua leaders Stuart Johnson and Martin “Tincho” Lucero report from Mendoza, Argentina that the team are all together and doing well. Yesterday they did their gear checks and wrapped getting the permits squared away. Today they are doing the final packing before they head for the mountains. The plan is to drive up to Penitentes (about 9000 ft)) where they will weigh the duffels and deliver them to the mule drivers. Then, they will drop down to the village of Las Cuevas for the night. All’s well in Argentina!
Meanwhile, 1500 miles further south of Aconcagua, IMG Mt Vinson leader Max Bond reports that his team is all together in Punta Arenas, Chile, at the very southern tip of South America. Yesterday the team wrapped up their gear checks and got all checked in with ALE for the flights to Union Glacier (complete with drinks with Antarctic ice!). While they wait for favorable conditions for the 4.5 hour flight down to The Ice they have been seeing the sights around town. This included the obligatory visit to kiss the foot of Magellan (for good luck!) and visiting a local penguin rookery. The weather is currently not looking great for flying tomorrow, so they will likely be waiting a bit longer. So far so good!
