...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
...Blue Skies on Aconcagua...
Our Aconcagua teams are enjoying the picture perfect blue sky weather.
Asma and Nani are now at Base Camp - Plaza de Mulas - having trekked in via Confluencia.
They will rest there tomorrow and start making their way up the peak the following day. They are feeling strong and moving really well.
Meanwhile our team climbers, Scott and Karin have begun their first day of trekking today, it's about 5hrs, gaining about 1000ft and will camp by the river at the picturesque Pampa de Lenas campsite.
Tomorrow they head further up the valley to the turn off the Relinchos Valley and camp at Casa de Pierda.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Aconcagua Update...
A brief update from our Aconcagua teams;
Asma and Guide Nani begin their trek in today to Confluencia in beautiful weather and our guided team have been undertaking the serious business by doing some wine tasting in Mendoza as well as finalising their permits and gear checks!
They'll head out tomorrow for Penitentes.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Vinson Team playing the Wait Game...
Our first Vinson team are hanging tight and playing the waiting game over in Punta Arenas as we wait for a good weather window to fly onto the ice and get the adventure truly started.
Delays like this are very common and not a concern as we plan the contingency days into the itinerary.
Let's keep our prayers going to the weather Gods.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Aconcagua Underway...
It's all systems go down in Mendoza for our end of year Aconcagua teams.
Our private team of Asma and Nani have permit in hand and are headed for the trail head and our team climb are just shaking off the jet lag and will start their official program tomorrow morning with gear checks, team briefings, permits and a team dinner.
Weather looking good and the Mate is hot and flowing (a traditional caffeine rich South American tea pronounced Mar-tay)
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Vinson Season Underway...
Our Vinson season is well underway with our first team heading down to the ice any day.
Gear has been checked, team jackets have been donned and the bags have been weighed.
Soon they'll step aboard the Ilyushin - a massive specialist plane and land on an incredible blue ice runway at Union Glacier before transferring to a Twin Otter on skis out to Vinson Base Camp.
Getting to the mountain is an incredible, once in a lifetime event as it is!
Cheers
CTSS Team
