Vinson Update!

(all pho­tos from pre­vi­ous expeditions)

We just got off the phone with Willie, who was excit­ed to report that after sev­er­al days of strong winds, the weath­er has final­ly cleared enough for the Mad­ness team to leave the main­land! After a beau­ti­ful flight, Willie, Shawn, Suzanne, John­ny, and Mike arrived on the ice at 3AM this morn­ing. The land­ing strip here is unlike any oth­er on the plan­et- it’s sheet of ice and capa­ble of han­dling huge car­go planes (think C‑130) that have been mod­ifed to car­ry climbers and gear. Camp here is known as Patri­ot Hills and is the nerve cen­ter for all expe­di­tions going to Vin­son or the South Pole. 

Vin­son from the air. MM Collection

Willie reports that every­one in the group is doing very well. It’s very warm on the ice today, with almost no wind, and the group is excit­ed to leave for Vin­son Base Camp at 4PM today on about an hour flight in a small plane that is based in Patri­ot Hills.

Stay tuned for more Vin­son dispatches! 

Vin­son from Base Camp. Moun­tain Mad­ness photo