...Updates from the Mountains...
Wishing you all a Happy New Year full of lofty summits and celebrations with family and friends.
A quick update for you all.
- Our Aconcagua team are now at Camp 3 (Colera) and are positioned to make their summit bid tomorrow.
- Private client Asma is back in Mendoza for a celebration dinner and will fly home tomorrow.
- Mike's private Vinson team are at Low Camp and I expect them to call in today.
Best wishes,
CTSS Team
...Antarctic Switch...
Our first team have arrived back in Punta Arenas and are on their way home to bring in the New Year,
Meanwhile Mike and the Jones' have arrived in Antarctica and have already made it to Vinson Base Camp on the Twin Otter. Today they did a carry to Low Camp and came back to Base Camp. The weather is great so they are going to move up tomorrow.
Here are a few picture highlights of our VINS3 trip care of Guide Ossy:
...Asma Summits & Updates from Aconcagua...
Wonderful news from Aconcagua this morning with Asma and Guide Nani topping out and making their way back to Camp 3.
Our team climbers are on the other side of the peak and will carry to Camp 3 today and return to Camp 2 tonight where they'll take a rest/acclimatization day. Everyone climbing strongly.
What a way to bring in the New Year,
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Forward Motion on Aconcagua...
All our teams are moving on Aconcagua.
Private team Asma and Nani took a rest/acclimatization day at Camp 2 today (Nest of Condors) and tomorrow they will move to Camp 3 (Colera) they are moving fantastically well.
Meanwhile our team climbers, Karin and Scott have moved up to Camp 1 today with Fideo and will move up to Camp 2 tomorrow.
Speed Ascent climber Len and Guide Capi had a wonderful flight into BC and arrived with all their gear and took an acclimatization day at Base Camp. Tomorrow they are on the chase of the main team and will move to Camp 1. They should catch up with them at Camp 2.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Vinson Team Back at UG...
Our first Vinson team is safely back at Union Glacier and enjoying some hot showers. They're scheduled to fly off the ice tomorrow morning back to Punta Arenas and then onward home to you all.
Meanwhile Mike's private team - The Jones' will catch that plane back down to the ice to begin their adventure.
They certainly did some shopping whilst in town...
Cheers
CTSS Team
...100% on Top in Antarctica...
Always a joy to report a successful team summit! This morning 100% of our first Vinson team stood on top including Ilina and Roxanne who with this ascent have now completed their 7 Summits journey!
Congratulations all!
They enjoyed fantastic weather, cold but clear with no wind and climbed very strongly throughout.
They are currently fed, watered and safely snuggled in for a good nights sleep back at high camp and will drop back down to Vinson Base Camp tomorrow.
They sounded in great spirits on the sat phone.
Cheers
CTSS Team
..A bit chilly in Antarctica!!..
Well it was a little bit cold today - haha yes we know, it is Antarctica but it was a bit too cold for comfortable climbing - so the team played it conservatively and safely today and retreated back to Camp. They will go again for the summit.
Ossy said they are climbing incredibly strongly and making great time and the forecast is improving tomorrow so we expect they'll be on top before we know it.
Meanwhile our private team - The Jones' led by Mike are arriving in Punta Arenas ready for gear checks and will fly onto the ice in coming days.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Upward on Aconcagua...
An update from our three teams on Aconcagua;
- Private team Asma and Nani are doing great, they took a rest/acclimatization day at Canada Square today and will move to Camp 2 tomorrow Nido de Condores. They are climbing strongly and making great time.
- On the other side of the peak our team climbers Karin, Scott and Fideo did a carry to Camp 1 in perfect weather taking 4 hours. Tonight they will rest at BC before moving up tomorrow. Scenery stunning!
- Our speed ascent climber Len is now at Penitentes and will arrive to Base Camp tomorrow in the chopper weather permitting.
All is well on Aconcagua. Blue skies and strong legs!
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Vinson Team at Low Camp & Aconcagua on Schedule...
Lead guide Ossy called in today (Christmas Eve) to let us know the team are settled in at Low Camp having made excellent time in perfect weather. A really strong team.
The plan is to take a rest day tomorrow (and have a truly white Christmas!) and then the following day they'll move up onto the fixed lines. They'll more than likely check in again in a few days time to save those satellite phone batteries.
Meanwhile our Aconcagua teams are doing well and are nicely on schedule with our Speed Ascent climber due to land in Mendoza on Boxing Day and fly directly to Base Camp.
We're wishing all our climbers, and you all at home following along - a very Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Vinson Team on the Mountain...
The team are on the continent and have made their way out to the mountain from Union Glacier on the Twin Otters on Ski and to begin their ascent.
Union Glacier is the main operational base with semi permanent facilities. The flight from UG out to Vinson Base Camp is absolutely stunning and reminder of just how remote this expedition is.
First step is a load carry to Camp 1 and retreat back to Base before moving up.
Just a reminder that communication on Vinson can be a few and far between but remember no news is good news. The team will call in on the sat phone sporadically to let us know how they are going.
Cheers
CTSS Team
