Vinson Massif: Your Top Five Questions Answered

To reach Vinson Base Camp, you will take two flights and need a healthy dose of patience and flexibility as flight departure times are not up to us, but up to the weather which needs to be perfect in order to land on the ice. 

Your first flight departs from Punta Arenas, Chile, where the team completes a gear check and attends a required orientation for activities in Antarctica. Once checked through the preflight process, you pack your bags and stay ready to go at the drop of a hat. As soon as we get word that the weather is clear and the flight is running, we board our flight, sometimes within the hour, wearing our Antarctic cold-weather gear.

Flying over Antarctica and landing on the blue ice runway at Union Glacier Camp is an adventure in its own right. But once you step off the plane, your adventure continues in an other-worldly landscape—one of ice, snow, endless sun, and very few people. After your team arrives at Union Glacier Camp, the whole flight process starts again. You pack your bags, stay ready to go at the drop of a hat, and once we get word, it’s off to Vinson Base Camp via a Twin Otter plane.

Extreme cold. You should expect and be prepared for very cold temperatures down to -40°F (-40°C) and the possibility of fierce Antarctic storms. This means it is paramount to have the appropriate clothing and gear. We provide all climbers with a detailed Gear List that includes recommended products tried and tested by our own team. 

Guide Tip: Be very diligent about looking after yourself. Dress appropriately, leave no exposed skin, make sure to manage your layering to not overheat or sweat too much, have your systems dialed and organized, and maintain excellent communication with your guide.

Low barometric pressure. Due to the low barometric pressure at this latitude, you can expect to feel the effects of altitude more than you would on other climbs or expeditions you have done. The equivalent air altitude alone is not a good predictor of how you might feel. Vinson feels higher than it is!

Guide Tip: We employ a conservative schedule to give your body more time to acclimatize and account for this decreased oxygen availability that, when matched with the severe cold and wind, can exacerbate altitude sickness.

24-hour daylight. We will enjoy 24-hour sunlight while in Antarctica, with the sun merely dipping toward the horizon and circling the sky. Direct sunlight and warmth will dictate all of our movement and activities while in Antarctica. Our climbing and summit bid will be timed to give us the best climbing conditions. Rest assured, you will get plenty of time to eat and sleep, and your body will quickly adjust to the unique timetable we create together to suit our goals.

Guide Tip: While we will have a daily itinerary and goal, it is best to suspend the notion of when things “should” happen. For instance, at some camps, you will have to wait until the sun hits your tent and it warms up a bit before it is safe to depart, which might mean getting up at 11am and departing around noon. This also impacts when and how we rest and eat our meals. Understanding and embracing the fluidity will, in turn, make your experience more enjoyable.

CTSS’s Vinson Base Camp is situated at 6,900 feet (2,100 meters) on the Branscomb Glacier. Upon arrival, you are likely to only spend two nights at Vinson Base Camp before heading to Low Camp. Once your team moves to Low Camp, you won’t see Vinson Base Camp again until after your summit bid. Usually, it takes only a day to descend from the summit back to Vinson Base Camp, where you’ll celebrate with a hearty meal and a toast to your team!

Our setup at Vinson Base Camp is one of the best on the mountain. We’ve invested a lot of resources and time to ensure all of our climbers are as comfortable as possible in such an extreme environment. We are proud to offer climbers dome tents with a floor and enough clearance to stand up in—a relative luxury compared to other setups. We also have a dining tent with chairs, and we bring the best quality food we can get our hands on. Why do we care so much about climber comfort? We are firm believers in the Marginal Gains Philosophy, which means we capitalize on every little hidden advantage, 1% here, 1% there, which results in compounding gains and a huge overall improvement for our climbers.

Lightweight Sled Duffel. Thanks to abundant, reliable snow on Vinson Massif, we use sleds to disperse the weight of our loads between Vinson Base Camp and Low Camp. This also means you can’t skimp on your training. Our go-to is dragging a large car tire connected to your harness while wearing a weighted pack to mimic the same motion. Be sure your duffel is waterproof and lightweight. We recommend the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 140L Expedition Duffel.

Expedition Down Pants. These will be worn on summit day and while relaxing at camp. A midweight synthetic pant like the Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pant is not warm enough (but it’s an excellent pant for other mountains). These must be fully zippered on both legs so you can put them on and take them off over your climbing boots and crampons without removing them. We recommend Feathered Friends Volant Down Pants.

Balaclava. Don’t underestimate the cold, and don’t try to cut corners or “make do” with old systems/gear. Polar temperatures are serious, and removing your face covering or a glove can lead to a cold-related injury. Your balaclava must cover your entire face in conjunction with your glacier glasses or goggles to prevent frostbite. Also, don’t forget your neck gaiter! We recommend the Outdoor Research Gorilla Gore-Tex®Infinium™ Balaclava.

-40°F/C Down Sleeping Bag. You might be catching on—having the right gear on Vinson Massif is critical. A down bag is a must, and synthetic bags should be avoided. They are too bulky and heavy when rated below 0°F. When researching and testing sleeping bags, ensure that they are roomy enough to fit your water bottles inside so they don’t freeze. We recommend the Feathered Friends Snow Goose ES -40 Sleeping Bag.

Hand Cream. Antarctica is incredibly cold and dry, which means hands tend to crack and split after repeated exposure to the elements. Using a hand cream or salve will keep your hands in good condition. Although we list this item as “optional” on our Gear List, we could emphasize more how helpful it will be once you are on the mountain. If you’re debating whether to bring it, bring it! You’ll be thankful. We recommend Super Salve.

The Seven Summits Series: Vinson Massif

It’s time to turn our attention to the coldest and arguably the most remote of the Seven Summits—Mount Vinson! During this webinar, CTSS Owner Mike Hamill and Senior Gudie Tomi Ceppi talk about gear, weather, training, travel, and costs to prepare you to climb Antarctica’s highest peak.

This expert-led webinar will not only give you a primer on where Vinson Massif is and why it’s so hard to reach, but it will also talk about all the logistics to help you prepare for your climb. From gear and budget to training and time off, Mike and Tomi will make sure you leave with an understanding of what it takes to climb and succeed in a place of extremes.