21 days
Sustained
Jan, Dec
Group
We will get into Punta Arenas, Chile.
Our final day in Chile includes an equipment check and exploration of the city. We will finalize our plans and get a good night sleep before the adventure.
We will fly four and a half hours to Union Glacier before continuing to Branscomb Glacier and base camp. Upon arrival, we will begin preparations for the ascent. Camp is at 7,000 feet.
Our plan is to establish Camp I at a bend in the glacier, roughly 9,600 feet in altitude. If necessary, we can camp near a steep head wall at 10,000 feet.
Depending on our progress, we can move to the headwall or proceed to carry gear to the high camp at 12,400 feet.
Battling the thinning atmosphere, we will climb the headwall and reach the col between Vinson and Mt. Shinn where our high camp is located (12,400 feet).
After a three hour and 3,600-foot climb, we will reach our tantalizing summit. Take in the views of the Ellsworth and Antarctica’s immense beauty.
The following days are for carefully returning to our base camp.
Once we have acceptable weather, we will return to Chile and Punta Arenas.
With extra days built into the itinerary, you will be able to fly home as necessary.
Next dates | Info |
---|---|
26/12/2019 to 09/01/2020 | We only run this trip on scheduled dates. |
Intermediate
Fit
We generally meet in Punta Arenas, Chile. Contact us upon booking to confirm our meeting location.
We have a cuisine of local and regional fare that is at times supplemented with items brought from the US. Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions. A cook will ensure we have pleasant meals and dining times throughout our journey in Antarctica. We recommend working with a full-service travel agency to coordinate last-minute flights from Antarctica and commercial flights you book from Punta Arenas and Chile. It is necessary to have a flexible time frame for travel – take this into account when planning your itinerary. You will be unable to change your ticket and reservations while in Antarctica, so you may run the risk of severe financial penalties and the loss of your ticket. LAN Chile is the only major airline that flies to Punta Arenas, and booking through them can ease some of the difficulties (they are the only airline to have an office in Punta Arenas). Please do not hesitate to contact us with more information – properly planning, booking, and timing your flights is very important. An equipment list will be sent to you upon booking, but you should be aware of conditional dangers in Antarctica such as dehydration, sunburn, snowblindness, frostbite, and altitude sickness.
For over 35 years, Mountain Madness has been bringing profound outdoor experiences to trekkers and mountaineers across the globe. We have built a strong foundation of skills and expertise, fueling our passion to impart our wisdom onto other like-minded explorers. Cultivating an enthusiasm for the
outdoors while helping you enjoy the journey and achieve your goals is a dream come true.
Our mission is to provide the best experience possible and to instill a passion for adventure. We value cultural exchange, take pride in facing physical and mental challenges head on, and strive to development wilderness skills that encourage self-discovery without compromising our environment.
Climbing, trekking, and skiing worldwide allows Mountain Madness to guide internationally. Our success and determination have given us worldwide acclaim and reignited our hunger – from Rainier and Baker to Kilimanjaro and Everest, no adventure is too big or too small.
Our guides have extensive training and are AMGA and/or IFMGA-certified guides. We enjoy assisting in all aspects of your trip, from the first conversation to the last goodbye. The collection of activities are endless, with alpinists, trekkers, explorers, mountaineers, and ski tourers on our team. To assist first time explorers and grizzled veterans in finding hidden, everyday wonder is our pleasure.
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