Vinson Massif: Team Reaches High Camp
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Elevation: 12,400'
The clouds fled Low Camp around 1:30 this morning and we woke to sparkling skies about ten hours later. Moving day! Breakfast got us set for a flurry of gearing up, knocking tents down, and roping up for the big climb to high camp. We are old hands at climbing the steep fixed rope sections now, but most were startled at the scenery (which eluded us on our cloudy climb the other day). We had unimpaired views of hundreds of square miles of the Antarctic interior today, including the big jagged, crazy peaks just north of Vinson (Shinn and Epperly). As we worked our way higher, our "Low" Camp began to seem low indeed, reduced to a collection of specks on the big Branscomb Glacier. We pulled into high camp six hours after setting out, at a quarter to Eight PM. As usual, it was a fair amount of work getting tents up and stoves burning and snow melting for dinner, but the entire team is well practiced now at such chores and it went quickly. One by one our climbers wandered over to the edge of camp to peer out over the edge of the world. At least the big drop-off back down to the Branscomb seems that way now. Precipitous to the tune of more than three thousand vertical feet. A physical cliff, as it were. Tell congress we've found it.
Tomorrow, relatively bright and early, we'll get up and see if the weather will work for a summit day. It is forecast to be -28 degrees Celsius on top tomorrow. Which is normal. By the way, that converts to minus brrrrrrrr degrees Fahrenheit.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
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Comments (20)
Bruce, been enjoying reading the blogs. Good luck, be safe and stay warm!
Posted by: Tara Zier on
Wow…the photos are incredible and reading the blog brings chills. You guys are amazing! Sending good wishes for an awesome day tomorrow.
Paula Selland
Posted by: Paula Selland on
Gina, eres increible, no importa el resultado estamos con tigo, Animo Campeona,eres nuestra héroe, haces lo que muchas personas juntas nunca lograrÃan, Te Queremos, Tu familia.
Posted by: Graciela Carmona Soto on
Julie THIS IS IT…LAST ONE!! BEST WISHES tO yOU…YOU WILL BE READY TO MAKE TURNS IN THE POWDER AND WARM TEMPS WHEN YOU GET HOME!!
Posted by: mary goodfellow on
Dad, you are a BEAST! We are all cheering for you back at home! Be safe and good luck on summit day! xo
Posted by: Katie Freedman on
Dave, thanks for sending the great,informative blogs!
Julie, I think today is a summit bid. God speed!
And don’t forget “what’s hard to endure is sweet to remember!”
Posted by: linda stretz on
James Choo:
PCET Surgery Center has been issued license number 216 pending final approval at next board meeting January 16-17.
Posted by: darla sorah on
James Choo:
Clarksville CON was denied 11-0. Dr. B got 2 minutes to talk. Please be careful. Don’t hang off any cliffs!!
Posted by: Darla Sorah on
D.G.
Good luck on the summit. I’ll be saying a little prayer for a safe climb “up and down”
Fingers crossed you will make it home by Christmas.
Love U, Mom
Posted by: Caroline on
GREAT TO SEE YOUR PROGRESS, WE REALLY ENJOY READING DAILY UPDATES AND PICTURES. BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR SUMMIT, STAY SAFE.. LOVE YOU
Posted by: dad and fran on
Absolutely terrific!
Posted by: Fred Klingbeil on
Good luck Gineth, Dave and the team :)
Posted by: Quazi Shahriar Rahman on
Beautiful! Can’t wait to hear all about it in person - I’ll bring the coconut flakes. :)
Posted by: K.P. on
Vamos Gineth Soto estamos contigo
Posted by: Alberto Fonseca on
HW: Terrific you have moved to high camp yesterday. Best of luck on the summit day! We eagerly await blog posting from Dave in the morning. Stay safe! Love, -Fan
Posted by: Fan on
Go Julie Go! Hoping we can raise a pint for you tomorrow!
Posted by: Allen Hall on
DG,
Good luck on your summit day! Oz was super excited this morning when we checked the blog and saw that you had all made it to high camp. Good luck and stay safe!
Love,
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie on
I wish you all the best! I’m hoping for good weather. Good luck Julie!
Posted by: Eric Jackson on
Thank you, Dave and Seth, for daily update and pictures that relieve our fear of unknown. We love the scenery of the mountain covered with snow!
James, proud of you.
Posted by: Soonja Choo on
Gina, espero que estés super bien, CAMPEONA, aqui cruzando los dedos para que hoy les valla super bien en la cima, que increible hazaña, mucha fuerza, tu puedes , te queremos y esperamos.
Posted by: Graciela Carmona Soto on