...Chill Days on the Ice...
Just had a brief call with the team who had a relaxed day down there on the ice at Low Camp on Vinson.
While they had reasonably good weather in camp, it was windier higher on the mountain so they made a good call to use the day as a rest day to recharge themselves and eat some great food. Burgers last night for dinner and pancakes for breakfast so while it may be cold, I don't know if we can say they are roughing it when the menu sounds that good! No rehydrated sachets in sight, just epic Antarctic views.
It sounds as though the weather is supposed to get better so they will either make a carry or even move up to high camp tomorrow.
They're doing great and I'll continue to keep you in the loop.
...Hunkered in at Low Camp on Vinson...
Fresh news straight from Antarctica,
The team are at currently at Low Camp and spent a rest day building camp walls and cutting blocks so they are well dug in and protected from the slightly unpleasant Antarctic weather. Tough work on a cold, windy day.
The forecast is much the same for tomorrow so they're likely stay put and keep warm in their tents, enjoying the shelter of their newly constructed walls.
If it is clear in the morning then they'll do a carry load of gear up to the top of the fixed line enroute to High Camp before returning to Low Camp.
Here's a little graphic map we made up to give you a better idea. It's by no means perfect but outlines the route our team are on, and where they currently are.
Everyone happy and sounded cheery on the satellite phone. I know it sometimes feels like updates are few and far between for all of us at home, but the team will be conserving batteries (which don't like the extreme cold too much) so keep in mind that no news is good news and I promise to keep you as up to date as I am.
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Vinson Base Camp...
The whole team are nicely settled into Vinson Base Camp (6,900ft or 2,100m)
They came in on two separate flights (twin otters on skis) and have already taken advantage of the day and done a carry up to Low Camp further along the glacier at about 9,200ft or 2,800m taking advantage of the warmer afternoon.
As expected, it's nice and cold down there, with a rough guess of about -20 Fahrenheit.
They're currently snuggled up after a long day and will be back on the move tomorrow where they will climb to Low Camp and settle in.
It's been good weather, but there may be a little something brewing so they're planning to get in and set up in the event well in advance of any more challenging weather.
Everyone in great spirits, and we'll keep you updated as they go. Enjoy being warm while you are reading this :P
-CTSS Team
(Twin Otter on Skis) Photo wikicommons
...Off to Antarctica...
The team have flown out today on the amazing Ilyushin landing on a naturally occurring blue-ice runway at Union Glacier Camp.
The camp is located in the spectacular and remote southern Ellsworth Mountains and is only accessible by air. They'll be 1,859 miles (2991 km) from the southern tip of Chile and a short flight to Mount Vinson base camp. The South Pole is just over 600 nautical miles (1138 km) away.
Even though it is summer, (and therefore 24hr daylight!) generally it's below freezing, dry, and windy with temperatures ranging between -12° to 30°F (-24° to -1°C). They will be on the same time zone as Punta Arenas in Chile.
They had a total of 450kg between them, (which is actually quite light considering their baggage allowance was 550kg or so!) Nice packing team. They have everything they will need to stay safe, well fed and warm on the journey ahead.
Usually the team spend a night at the Union Glacier camp, which is amazingly well equipped with full facilities including showers and toilets that are erected and dismantled every season (including all human waste being completely removed from the ice) - it's a very impressive operation considering how remote they are and they'll be mingling with adventurers from all over the world, some who are skiing to the South Pole, climbing Vinson or visiting the Emperor Penguin colonies.
After a night in relative luxury, they'll be boarding twin otter planes on skis in the morning to set out to Vinson Base Camp.
Stay tuned
CTSS Team
...Patagonia Rendezvous...
Our CTSS team are currently rendezvousing in Punta Arenas readying for their Vinson Expedition.
Punta Arenas is the southernmost town in Chile in the Patagonia region. Located on the Strait of Magellan which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it, along with Ushuaia in Argentina are the most common bases for excursions to Antarctica.
The team will undertake final preparations, gear checks and briefings before heading off to Antarctica in the coming days on an ilyushin aircraft. It's a funny little town, full of character and tales from the wilderness.
We'll be looking to the weather gods to give them a nice window to fly out. When they are on the ice, communication can be a little tricker, so remember no news is good news but we'll be posting regular updates here on the blog.
If you do need to get hold of an expedition member urgently, please email us: info@climbingthesevensummits.com
Cheers
CTSS Team
...Chimborazo Summits
Our Chimborazo team summited yesterday morning and is now safe and sound back in Quito. Anyone that has climbed in Ecuador knows that Chimborazo is a big daddy summit! It's a long, technical day and is never easy. Curtis and Edgar made easy work of the peak and did it in great style with perfect weather. No doubt they are tired though.
This brings our Ecuador expedition to a close. We thank all the climbers and guides that joined us this year and look forward to climbing with a new crew next year. If you have interest in joining us please email me directly at Mike@climbingthesevensummits.com and we'll see you in the mountains!
Cheers,
Mike Hamill
CTSS Owner
...Cayembe Summits and on to Hot springs...
The team battled high winds, some moisture, and cold temps to stand on top of Cayembe. This climb took a lot of heart by the entire crew and they all did very well adapting to the changing conditions. Cayembe is a challenging climb that demands respect.
The team made good time up and back down to the hut before packing up and descending into the jungle to Thermas Papallacta, a hot spring resort. There's nothing like resting and soaking weary bones after a long climb. This luxury resort is built around dozens of natural hot spring pools in the lush forests of Ecuador. Despite the other amazing accommodations we had throughout the climbs, Papallacta seems to be a crowd favorite.
We're now back in Quito safe and sound. Some of our team is headed on to climb Chimborazo, Ecuador's giant, in the coming days. Some are being joined by their significant others for a live-aboard tour of the Galapagos Islands. Others are headed home. No matter the destination over the next few days, a nice celebration dinner and a beer will be a welcome luxury tonight.
Cheers,
Mike Hamill
CTSS Owner
...Onto Cayambe...
After their successful ascent of Cotopaxi, Our CTSS Ecuador team have moved successfully to the hut on Cayambe which is a volcano in the Cordillera Central, a range of the Ecuadorian Andes. It's about 70 km northeast of Quito and the third-highest mountain in Ecuador standing at 5,790 m.
Tomorrow they will do an acclimatization hike before getting some well-earned rest and then leaving early the next morning for their summit bid the next day.
Everyone is doing well & the climbing is excellent. We've got eagle eyes on the weather as being on the equator naturally leads to some fluctuations - all to be expected.
Cheers CTSS Team
...Cotopaxi Summits...
The team had an amazing day on Cotopaxi today! The weather was absolutely perfect with sun, warm temps, and a fresh layer of snow which made for safe cramponing. The crew made great time to the top and back.
The views with the good weather were absolutely phenomenal as you can see from the photos. Clear skies and the other Ecuadorean giants were peaking through the clouds. Below is a pic of the sunset the night of the summit bid.
We're now safely down at the luxurious 400 year old Hacienda La Cienega enjoying hot showers and fine cuisine. Tomorrow we make the drive north to Cayembe for a summit attempt in a few days.
Cheers,
Mike Hamill
CTSS Owner
...Training Day...
We're following up our acclimatization hike of Pasachoa yesterday with more acclimatization and training on the mighty glaciers of Cotopaxi today. We've moved from our Boutique hotel in Quito city center to the Tambopaxi Hacienda right at the foot of Cotopaxi itself. In fact, if you look closely enough you can probably see our accommodations in the lush, green valley in the photo below. We are in the high alpine now and out bodies are working hard to acclimate to the thin air.
We'll train at roughly 16,500ft/5,000m today, dusting off the cobwebs and refreshing skills. This team of veterans hardly needs much training but it's a great excuse to get a little altitude. Our client's experience ranges from the summit of Everest, to the slopes of Vinson Massif, to technical ascents in the Pacific Northwest, and to the heights of Aconcagua. It's rare to have such an experienced crew!
We almost escaped the rain yesterday on Pasachoa but with the ominous sound of thunder we decided to pass on the summit and get down to avoid any chance of lightning. Today, Cotopaxi appeared almost in full with a fresh coat of snow before benign clouds again descended to 15,000ft/4,600m. Fresh snow bodes well for good climbing on Cotopaxi in a few days time after the direr conditions over the last few weeks.
Cheers,
Mike Hamill
CTSS Owner
