Happy New Year
Updates from the Mountains
Our Vinson Team moved to High Camp in more perfect weather. Today they are taking a rest day (even though they are all feeling strong and fast - they'll get added benefit of some more acclimatisation time). They will set off for the summit tomorrow local time and the forecast is looking great.
Our Aconcagua team woke to some really tough conditions with heavy snowfall. They came up to Camp 3 today, and all are tucked up in bed to get some rest. Everyone ate well and is feeling good. Tomorrow is summit bid. With the snow and the cold temperatures, it will be a big challenge, but they are well supported & we wish them good luck! The day after tomorrow, it gets a bit windier so the 2nd is definitely their day.
On Kilimanjaro the team did great, climbing through the rainforest to Machame Camp. Today they moved through Heather forests to Shira Camp (3,885m) They had some cloud and sun but no rain which is always good!
We hope you all had a great New Year celebration no matter where in the world you celebrated! here are some pics from the Kili team.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Happy New Year & News from 3 of the Seven
Across 3 continents we have teams working hard and living out their dreams and bucket lists. What a way to wrap 2022 and welcome the New Year!
On Vinson - the team are making record speed. After dinner at Union Glacier last night, they flew to Vinson Base Camp and tucked up for the night. Today they headed out early, being able to travel relatively lightly thanks to pre-cached camps, and have already made it up to Low Camp. They are all feeling strong and moving fast. Their plan is to take advantage of this spell of beautiful weather and move to High Camp tomorrow. They will likely rest and acclimatize there on New Years Day, but this team, being small and fast may surprise us and hit the summit on the 1st, bringing in 2023 in style!
On Aconcagua - After their rest day at Camp 2, the team carried and tagged Camp 3, before a planned retreat back to Camp 2. The forecast is true with considerable snowfall (approx 50cm!) so it is a good time to take a rest day there and let the storm pass. A lovely opportunity to muster their energy for the summit bid in coming days.
On Kilimanjaro - The team have all arrived in Tanzania, completed their gear checks and briefings and today arrived at the Park Gates to begin the first day of their climb. Today they will climb through the lowland rainforest to reach Machame Camp. Everyone very eager and excited to get going. Tendi (14x Everest Summiteer!) & Gerry (over 500+ summits of Kilimanjaro - he stopped counting at 500!) are leading the team.
We wish you, and yours, all the best as we welcome in another year.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Vinson & Aconcagua Updates
An update from South America to see out 2022!
Vinson: Our Dec 15th Vinson Teams with Guides Tomi, Zeb and Robert (Kitt, Priyanka, Saurabh, Holger, Harold, Steffen, Jay, Wilson, Nick, Ben, Aseem, Vlad, Mario, Kevin & Wylie) have just minutes ago landed safely back in Punta Arenas Chile! They are all excited and eager to get home to you all after an epic adventure on the ice. Congratulations team!
Guide Mike Hamill remained on the ice at Union Glacier and welcomed our second team (Bel, Devin, Peter & Sid) who flew in to Union Glacier today. They are having some dinner at Union Glacier and may even fly out to Vinson Base Camp tonight as the weather forecast is good and the 24hour daylight makes flying possible 24/7 when the visibility is clear. We look forward to their ascent over the coming days. They will have a smooth trip with pre cached camps and light loads!
Meanwhile, over in Argentina, our Aconcagua team are doing great. Right on schedule. They had a much deserved rest day today at Camp 2 to help acclimatise and refuel the tanks, they all ate a huge dinner which is always a good sign at altitude!
Tomorrow (the 30th) they will carry a load to Camp 3 (High Camp - Colera) before dropping back to Camp 2 and take another rest day on the 31st to wait out a small weather cycle. From there they will move to High Camp on New Years Day and are looking at a summit bid on the 2nd. They will continue to adapt their schedule to how they are feeling, the weather etc as they have plenty of contingency days up their sleeve to use whenever/however it works best for them at the time.
Happy New Year to everyone at home as we lead into the weekend.
Cheers
CTSS Team
ACONCAGUA
Vinson Climbers Ready to Fly & Team 2 Arrive in Punta
Our successful Vinson team are having their final night at Base Camp on Vinson with hopes the forecast stays true with clear skies for their flight back to Union Glacier and on to Punta Arenas in the coming days. As you know weather is always the deciding factor with polar flights which are held within strict safety margins.
A small handful of that first team - being Guide Tomi, Mario, Vlad & Wilson did sneak out on the last flight before the weather clouded over slightly so they are already back at Union Glacier enjoying the hot showers but the rest of the team, will be hot on their heels in the morning. If all goes to plan, they'll be flying back to Chile tomorrow too.
Everyone safe and well in Antarctica.
Meanwhile, CTSS Liaison & Guest Manager Pedro has welcomed our second team to Punta Arenas, Peter V, Sidharth R, Maria, and Devin.
They have been doing briefings and gear checks as well as undergoing mandatory covid testing. They are scheduled to fly in on the 29th. The plane that drops them will then take the first teams back to Chile. Guide Mike Hamill will remain in Antarctica to lead our next group of Antarctic climbers.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Photos from past seasons.
Aconcagua Team Carries to Camp 2
Our Aconcagua Guides (Quique & Nani) checked in via satellite to report that the team are all doing really well and are right on schedule.
Today they did a big carry load and tagged Camp 2 and returned to Camp 1 for tonight. They are tired but in good, strong spirits.
Tomorrow they will move up to Camp 2 and take a rest/acclimatisation day there before moving further up the mountain.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Christmas Summits on Vinson!
A huge congratulations to our Vinson Teams who both stood on top of the bottom of the world for Christmas! What a special (albeit chilly and cold!) day with winds on the summit.
Everyone well and back to High Camp. Tomorrow they will drop back down to Vinson Base Camp before heading back out on the ski planes when the weather allows to the hot showers and creature comforts at Union Glacier.
So proud of the teams for climbing so strongly and in such great style. The only team on top of Antarctica today.
Congratulations to our summiteers;
Priyanka D
Saurabh B
Holger M
Harold P
Steffen B
Jay B
Wilson K
Nick C
Ben M
Aseem C
Vlad S
Mario V
Kevin Al
Wylie H
& Guides Mike Hamill & Zeb Blaiss and special thank you to Tomi Ceppi and Kitt H for their achievements.
Everyone safe and well.
Photos from a previous season.
Aconcagua Team Carry to C1
The whole team (fully reunited with our Speed Ascender fresh off the South Pole!) have made their first foray up Aconcagua, leaving Base Camp and doing a carry to Camp 1. They cached a load of gear there, and then dropped back to Base Camp for their final night. Tomorrow they will move to Camp 1 and repeat the process as they make their way up the peak. This is part of our 'climb high, sleep low' acclimatisation strategy.
The team set a deliberately slow and steady pace to let their bodies play catch up to the new altitude. It was pretty chilly with some fresh snow, making for a long, hard day which is the norm on a mountain as mighty as Aconcagua.
The team are sending their Christmas wishes back to loved ones at home before they head out of connection for the next little while.
All well and moving along nicely on Aconcagua.
Blue Bird Days for our Vinson Teams
The weather in Antarctica is really delivering for our teams. There has not been a breath of wind since arriving.
The teams are doing a great job and are already getting positioned for their summit bids.
Mike & Robert's team guiding (Harold, Ben, Saurabh, Kevin, Nick C, Jay B, Holger & Steffen) climbed to the top of the fixed lines yesterday and put in a cache. They had a rest day today and are just cooking dinner. They will move up to High Camp tomorrow with the plan to stand on top of the bottom of the world on Christmas Day!!
Meanwhile, Tomi & Zebs team (Kitt, Priyanka,Wilson, Aseem, Vlad, Mario & Wylie) took a rest day yesterday and today are moving up to High Camp. They may even summit tomorrow depending on how the team is feeling but more likely to take a rest day and then summit alongside the others on Christmas Day.
Everyone is strong and enjoying the warm (comparatively!) sunny days.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Photos from previous season
Aconcagua Team at Base Camp
The team have arrived at Plaza Argentina Base Camp and are looking pretty happy to be there. In such good spirits this team is having heaps of fun! Tomorrow they will rest and do an acclimatization day, checking in with the Base Camp doctors before starting their climb in earnest by doing their first carry to Camp 1.
Tom is a day behind because of delayed baggage coming off the plane and is at Casa de Piedra with Guide Quique. They will catch the team tomorrow along with our Speed Ascender Sharon who is fresh off her Last Degree Ski to the South Pole, and will heli in tomorrow and the whole crew will be together for an Aconcagua Christmas!
Weather has been kind to them and everyone is strong. Excited to get the true climbing underway in the next few days.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Low Camp on Vinson
Vinson Teams at Low Camp
A long day yesterday from Vinson Base Camp up to Low Camp. The team finally got to bed at 1:30am (although when we climb in Antarctica the days are more dictated by the sun's position in the sky and whether the team are in shadow or in the sun. They climb in the sun for warmth and rest when the sun circles to the other side of the mountains and temperatures drop)
Today they plan to do a carry load to the top of the fixed lines for acclimatization and then rest. Weather is perfect and supposed to get even better. In all Mike's years 15+ on Vinson he reports that this is the warmest trip he's ever had!
The teams are strong and everyone is climbing well. We expect a sat phone call in today so will keep you updated as we head into Christmas.
Cheers
CTSS Team
