Vinson Massif: Team arrives at Vinson Base Camp
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Elevation: 7,200
Another important milestone, easily achieved. We woke at Union Glacier in perfect weather, ate our breakfast and boarded two ski equipped Twin Otter airplanes bound for Vinson Basecamp. Our flight through the Ellsworth Mountains was memorable as we passed hundreds of sharp and dramatic glaciated peaks. A big right turn brought us into the valley of the Branscomb Glacier at the foot of Mount Vinson. We landed while flying up a hill at a little over 7000 ft elevation. The entire team set to work dragging duffels and building Basecamp. We spent this perfect weather day reviewing roped climbing techniques and getting settled in. An afternoon hike served to stretch legs and jog memories of mountaineering difficulties and pleasures. We ate dinner in our newly built dining tent under the blazing evening sun, forgetting that the air temperature was likely hovering around zero degrees Fahrenheit. We enjoyed seeing the climbers from the previous round on Vinson come into camp pleased with their summit of the mountain just yesterday and relieved to find airplanes waiting to take them away today.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
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Comments (9)
Sterling..Another try..go bro..we know you can do it!
XO..Nadine and Dan
Posted by: Nadine Douke on
Go Dr. James and Team!
Posted by: The Texadas on
Best of luck guys, give me 3 years and I will have a team down there with you guys.
Posted by: Patrick (Climb For Five) on
Warmest wishes to James Choo and the whole team from the Alkhazraji Family. We love the beautiful pictures and Dave Hahn’s blog. It’s almost like being there . . . minus the hardships and the adrenalin rushes, of course. :-) Wishing James and the entire team a safe, successful climb. P.S. This news pales next to your exciting events, but thought some people might like to know that U-T finally has a football coach. Butch Jones from Cincinnati.
Posted by: Patricia and Karim Alkhazraji on
I am so in awe of you brave people! Wishing you loads of exciting good times as you continue your journey. Most importantly, be careful up there (“where the wind rages through your hair”) and come back home safely! :)
Posted by: K. Imma on
So happy to get these blog updates! Hope the next few days are uneventful (in terms of weather). Take loads of pictures!
Love Steph and Oz!
Posted by: Stephanie on
This is to let James know that people in Knoxville and from Children’s Hospital are wishing him a safe and fun climb!
Posted by: Millie Shelton on
HW: Great to know that you are now at Vinson base camp. Too bad I missed your call since I was at dinner with HZ and Katherine. I did hear your message which was great. How often do people get a call from Antarctica? If they have a post office, can I get a post card too ;-)? Kids are great. I showed everyone the pictures and told them where you are. Hope the weather holds up. Wish you and the entire team a safe and successful expedition! Please tell Dave and Seth – we love their blog postings! Love, -Fan
Posted by: Fan on
Best wishes to Julie Smith and the entire team. It sounds like conditions are holding well and excitement for your successful climb is high here at home as well. God bless and safe return home. Gotta go, it’s a chilly 70 degrees here in the living room and I need to go turn the heater up a notch.
Posted by: Nick Bozarth on