Climbing Mount Everest: Current Mt. Everest… - Mountain Madness
Obviously, good physical conditioning is essential to be successful at high altitude. ... One full set of ascenders with handles for fixed lines. Examples: Petzl ...
Vin­son
The prepa­ra­tion itself for the climb of Mount Ever­est may include expe­di­tions to Aconcagua, Nun, <anchor>Vin­son</anchor> and oth­er adven­tures that are wor­thy on their own. The com­mit­ment, train­ing, focus and prepa­ra­tion climbs make this one of the world’s most incred­i­ble and reward­ing life­time journeys.
Mount Vinson Massif | Mountain Madness
Mount Vinson Massif \| Mountain Madness

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# Mount Vinson Massif

Otherworldly Seven Summit Expedition on Antarctica

The expe­di­tion to climb to the sum­mit of the Vin­son Mas­sif is arguably one of our most intrigu­ing jour­neys! The 16,050-foot / 4892-meter moun­tain is the high­est point on the con­ti­nent of Antarc­ti­ca. For most that have the unique oppor­tu­ni­ty to join us on this [Sev­en Sum­mit](https://mountainmadness.com/location/seven-summits) expe­di­tion, their def­i­n­i­tion of wilder­ness will be rede­fined. Iso­lat­ed and stark­ly beau­ti­ful, the icy con­ti­nent of Antarc­ti­ca is beyond descrip­tion and offers an adven­ture of a life­time for team members.

- ### Trip Perks







There is no oth­er place like this in the world — that’s all there is to it.

- ### Description







We leave Pun­ta Are­nas, Chile for the six-hour flight to Union Glac­i­er. Our flight takes us over Tier­ra del Fuego, past the Antarc­tic Cir­cle and on to Union Glac­i­er. Your camp at Union Glac­i­er near the south­ern end of the range is like no oth­er place on Earth; a remote place to be sure, some 1078 km (670 miles) from the near­est habi­ta­tion — the dis­tance from New York to Chica­go — and our clos­est neigh­bors are at the South Pole! For almost 2880 km (1,800 miles) in any direc­tion there is not a city or town. When the air­craft leaves to return to Chile you will be struck by the awe­some expanse of the area, its beau­ty, and your iso­la­tion from home. You have now land­ed on the most souther­ly run­way in the world.



From Union Glac­i­er we make a one-hour flight to base camp. With sleds loaded we move up the moun­tain, estab­lish­ing two or three camps before our sum­mit attempt. From high camp the final climb con­sists of mod­er­ate snow and ice climbing.



In tech­ni­cal terms our climb is con­sid­ered mod­er­ate, but cold tem­per­a­tures (minus 20 – 30 degrees Fahren­heit are not uncom­mon) and strong winds often increase the chal­lenge. How­ev­er, dur­ing the aus­tral sum­mer there are usu­al­ly less than 18 inch­es of snow and 24 hours of day­light con­tributes to our suc­cess on the climb.



After our climb we return to base camp and make arrange­ments for the return flight to Union Glac­i­er and home. With fre­quent delays due to poor con­di­tions for air­craft land­ings and take off, expect delays dur­ing the trip. For this rea­son we have added sev­er­al days to the itin­er­ary. It is nonethe­less strong­ly advised that you have an addi­tion­al week beyond our sched­uled dates cleared of appoint­ments and work should lengthy delays occur. Trip insur­ance is required for this trip.

- ### Qualifications







Giv­en the rig­ors of this expe­di­tion, we require that you have proven high alti­tude expe­ri­ence, tech­ni­cal pro­fi­cien­cy, and excel­lent phys­i­cal fit­ness. You should be famil­iar with extreme cold, tent liv­ing, expo­sure to steep ter­rain, and more. Mem­bers should be able to ascend and descend fixed lines inde­pen­dent­ly and be pro­fi­cient with cram­pon­ing on steep ice/​snow slopes.



**For those with min­i­mal moun­taineer­ing and/​or any high alti­tude expe­ri­ence a log­i­cal pro­gres­sion might look like this:**





- Par­tic­i­pate in a moun­taineer­ing course in [Bolivia](https://mountainmadness.com/classes/bolivia-mountaineering-school) or [Ecuador](https://mountainmadness.com/classes/ecuador-mountaineering-school)
- [Aconcagua](https://mountainmadness.com/trips/aconcagua-climb-expedition) ascent
- [Nun Peak](https://mountainmadness.com/trips/nun-peak) or [Pik Lenin](https://mountainmadness.com/trips/pik-lenin) ascent

- ### Antarctica's Vinson Massif - The Cold Hard Facts About The Continent







- Antarc­ti­ca is the Earth­’s 5th largest con­ti­nent, mea­sur­ing 14 mil­lion square kilo­me­ters (5.4 mil­lion square miles).
- The ice sheet that cov­ers almost all of Antarc­ti­ca is the largest body of fresh­wa­ter on Earth, con­tain­ing about 90% of the world’s ice and 68% of the freshwater.
- If Antarc­ti­ca’s ice sheet were to melt, it would raise the lev­el of the world’s oceans about 60 meters (200 feet).
- The thick­est part of the ice sheet extends about 4800km (2980m) (15,700 feet) into sub­merged basins in the rock.
- Antarc­ti­ca has the great­est aver­age ele­va­tion of any con­ti­nent at 1860 meters (6,100 feet). The aver­age ele­va­tion of North Amer­i­ca is 720 meters (2,300 feet).
- The high­est moun­tain on the con­ti­nent is Vin­son Mas­sif, 4898 meters (16,077 feet), sit­u­at­ed in the Ellsworth Mountains.
- The snow­fall in Antarc­ti­ca is so min­i­mal that the con­ti­nent has been called ​“the world’s cold­est desert.” The inte­ri­or receives less than 3 cm (1 inch) of pre­cip­i­ta­tion a year, mak­ing it the dri­est con­ti­nent on Earth.
- The Antarc­tic dry val­leys in Vic­to­ria Land are among the dri­est places on Earth. Some sci­en­tists believe that no rain has fall­en there for two mil­lion years. Astro­nauts have vis­it­ed the dry val­leys because of their sim­i­lar­i­ty to lunar landscapes.
- Dur­ing win­ter months, low tem­per­a­tures cause much of the seas around Antarc­ti­ca to freeze. At max­i­mum, sea ice cov­ers an area larg­er than the con­ti­nent itself.
- The South Pole expe­ri­ences a six month peri­od of dark­ness in win­ter and a six month peri­od of sun­light in summer.
- Antarc­ti­ca is the only con­ti­nent in the world with no per­ma­nent or indige­nous human inhab­i­tants. Larg­er than the Unit­ed States, the frozen land is pop­u­lat­ed by approx­i­mate­ly 2,500 peo­ple dur­ing the sum­mer and few­er than 1,000 in the winter.

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## Price

- ### Vin­son Massif



$49,000
    – 20-21 Days

/ Includes trav­el time from Pun­ta Are­nas and con­tin­gency days



- ### Price Includes







- Guide
- Air­fare from Pun­ta Are­nas to Union Glac­i­er and to Base Camp
- Wel­come din­ner in Pun­ta Arenas
- All meals while in Antarctica
- All team climb­ing gear, tents, cook­ing gear and sleds
- All expe­di­tion sup­port staff

- ### Price does not Include







- Inter­na­tion­al airfare
- Chili entry visa and air­port fees
- Meals and lodg­ing while in Pun­ta Arenas
- Per­son­al climb­ing gear and clothing
- Per­son­al expens­es (phone calls, laun­dry, room ser­vice, extra hotel nights, extra meals, etc.)
- Trav­el insur­ance with trip can­cel­la­tion, med­ical and evac­u­a­tion policy
- All expens­es asso­ci­at­ed with non-sched­uled departure
- Alco­holic and bot­tled beverages
- Addi­tion­al costs incurred due to cir­cum­stances beyond the con­trol of Moun­tain Madness
- Guide gra­tu­ities

- ### Payment Schedule







- $8,000 non-refund­able deposit upon con­fir­ma­tion of your eli­gi­bil­i­ty to join the expedition
- Bal­ance due 120 days pri­or to departure
- The bal­ance may be paid by check, wire trans­fer, ACH or cred­it card with a 3% con­ve­nience fee

## Dates

**Space is lim­it­ed. We strong­ly sug­gest Vin­son climbers reg­is­ter as soon as pos­si­ble in order to reserve a spot on our expedition.**

- ### Vinson Massif 2024-2025





1. Dec 14, 2024 — Jan 3, 2024

2. Dec 26, 2024 — Jan 14, 2025


Flights to and from Antarc­ti­ca are sub­ject to change based on weath­er. We strong­ly encour­age you to buy change­able return flights home to accom­mo­date the nec­es­sary con­tin­gency days.

## Policies

### Cancellation / Refund Policy

- **MMI strong­ly rec­om­mends trip cancellation/​interruption and evac­u­a­tion insur­ance for all trips**. Our insur­ance part­ner, **[Rip­cord](https://www.ripcordrescuetravelinsurance.com/?mountainmadness)**, offers com­pre­hen­sive trav­el insur­ance includ­ing trip can­cel­la­tion, as well as rescue/​evacuation poli­cies and can assist in answer­ing any ques­tions. In addi­tion, Par­tic­i­pant is expect­ed to have suf­fi­cient med­ical insur­ance as pre­scribed by their coun­try of ori­gin. Par­tic­i­pant under­stands that MMI does not include any type of insur­ance with the cost of the trip.
- If you decide to can­cel your trip or change your itin­er­ary, MMI must be noti­fied in writ­ing. Your trip will be can­celled from the date writ­ten notice is received. If prop­er writ­ten can­cel­la­tion notice is not received, amounts paid and reser­va­tions made will be forfeited.
- Non-refund­able fees may apply for cer­tain trips in order to secure per­mits and oth­er ser­vices. MMI must strict­ly adhere to can­cel­la­tion poli­cies out­side MMI’s control.
- Due to the per­son­al­ized ser­vice we offer on our trips, MMI reserves the right to waive any fees. We will attempt to accom­mo­date changes and can­cel­la­tions, waiv­ing cer­tain fees when feasible.
- Cir­cum­stances out­side the con­trol of MMI and its part­ners, may require amend­ed cancellation/​refund poli­cies. Such cir­cum­stances may include, but are not lim­it­ed to COVID-19, nat­ur­al dis­as­ters, ter­ror­ism and so forth.


**Trips with Spe­cial Con­sid­er­a­tion (Carsten­sz, Cho Oyu, Denali, Logan and Vinson):**

- Full refund, less the non-refund­able deposit/​registration fee, will be pro­vid­ed 121 days or more before the depar­ture date
- No refunds will be pro­vid­ed 120 days or less before the depar­ture date

### Trip Insurance

**We strong­ly rec­om­mend the pur­chase of trav­el can­cel­la­tion insur­ance to pro­tect you from the unex­pect­ed.** You aren’t like­ly to think of it now, but peo­ple do get ill, break a bone, have a fam­i­ly emer­gency or get assigned to a last-minute busi­ness trip. If you are in remote areas, please note that emer­gency res­cue & evac­u­a­tion can be very expen­sive.

**We also strong­ly urge you to con­sid­er res­cue and evac­u­a­tion insur­ance** if your own pol­i­cy does not pro­vide the cov­er­age need­ed. Ser­vices avail­able may include, but are not lim­it­ed to, heli­copter evac­u­a­tion, med­ical care, etc.

**If you choose not to pur­chase insur­ance, you assume full respon­si­bil­i­ty** for any expens­es incurred in the event of a med­ical emer­gency and/​or evac­u­a­tion, as well as for trip can­cel­la­tion, inter­rup­tion, lost lug­gage, etc. We are not the experts and there­fore ask that you please con­sult our trav­el insur­ance part­ner direct­ly with any spe­cif­ic questions.

To pro­tect against loss­es due to ill­ness, acci­dent, or oth­er unfore­seen cir­cum­stances, Moun­tain Mad­ness strong­ly rec­om­mends the pur­chase of trav­el insur­ance as soon as pos­si­ble after mak­ing a deposit. Moun­tain Mad­ness has part­nered with Red­point Res­o­lu­tions as our pre­ferred trav­el insur­ance provider. Redpoint’s **Rip­cord Res­cue Trav­el Insur­ance™** is designed for adventurers.

For a quote, or to pur­chase trav­el insur­ance, please click this link **[Rip­cord Res­cue Trav­el Insur­ance™](http://www.ripcordrescuetravelinsurance.com/mountainmadness)** or call +1 – 415-481‑0600. Pric­ing varies based on age, trip cost, trip length, and lev­el of coverage.

Crit­i­cal ben­e­fits of Rip­cord Res­cue Trav­el Insur­ance include:

- A com­plete­ly inte­grat­ed pro­gram with a sin­gle point of con­tact for emer­gency ser­vices, trav­el assis­tance, and insur­ance claims
- Evac­u­a­tion and res­cue ser­vices from your point of injury or ill­ness to your hos­pi­tal of choice

- Com­pre­hen­sive trav­el insur­ance for trip cancellation/​interruption, pri­ma­ry med­ical expense cov­er­age, bag­gage loss or delay, emer­gency acci­dent and emer­gency sick­ness med­ical expense, emer­gency den­tal, acci­den­tal death and dis­mem­ber­ment, and more
- Option­al secu­ri­ty evac­u­a­tion cov­er­age in case of an unplanned nat­ur­al dis­as­ter or oth­er secu­ri­ty events
- **Waiv­er for pre-exist­ing con­di­tions (must be pur­chased with­in 14 days of tour deposit)**
- **Option­al ​“Can­cel for Any Rea­son” cov­er­age (must be pur­chased with­in 14 days of tour deposit)**

## Itinerary

#### Flight Information

Antarc­ti­ca is a unique des­ti­na­tion, which presents trav­ellers with many chal­lenges. Coor­di­nat­ing a flex­i­ble return date from Antarc­ti­ca with fixed reser­va­tions on com­mer­cial air­lines is one of these chal­lenges. Flights to and from the con­ti­nent may be delayed due to weath­er con­di­tions. It is impor­tant to allow for extra time at the end of the trip. Since all flights to and from Antarc­ti­ca are weath­er depen­dent, it is prob­a­ble that you will need to make changes to your return flight reser­va­tions on short notice (about 4 hours). Please con­sult with our office regard­ing flights and your best options.

Dates include inter­na­tion­al trav­el and include some extra days. Trip dura­tion will be short­er with no delays.

Please con­tact our office for any help need­ed with flight schedule

### Vinson Massif Day to Day

- #### Day 1-2


Trav­el



Fly to Pun­ta Are­nas, Chile. Hotel night on day two.

- #### Day 3-4


Pun­ta Arenas



Make final prepa­ra­tions, includ­ing equip­ment check with MM guides. Ori­en­ta­tion with ALE, for the flight to Union Glac­i­er We will also have time to explore the inter­est­ing port city of Pun­ta Are­nas. Hotel overnight.

- #### Day 5-6


Base Camp



**Ele­va­tion: 7,000 ft / 2134 m**



Weath­er per­mit­ting, we make the 4.5 hour flight to Union Glac­i­er and con­tin­ue to base camp locat­ed on the Branscomb Glac­i­er. The flight from Union Glac­i­er to base camp will be on a Twin Otter. Once at base camp we orga­nize our camp and pre­pare for our ascent.

- #### Day 7


Car­ry To Camp 1



**Ele­va­tion: 9,600 ft / 2920 m**





Our first day on the trail, we leave sup­plies at a major bend in the glac­i­er, at 9,600 feet / 2920 meters. Return to base camp.

- #### Day 8


Move To Camp 1



**Ele­va­tion: 9,600 ft / 2920 m**



We set-up camp and begin prepa­ra­tions for mov­ing up the moun­tain when the team is ready and weath­er con­di­tions are good.

- #### Day 9


Climb the Head­wall for Car­ry to Camp 2 (High Camp)



**Ele­va­tion: 12,400 ft / 3780 m**



From camp we move up the steep head­wall that ris­es above camp uti­liz­ing fixed lines. Mod­er­ate slopes lead to the broad col between Vin­son and Mount Shinn where we drop a load of gear at 12,400 feet / 3780 meters and then return to Camp 1. Due to the thin­ning of the atmos­phere at Polar Regions, the ele­va­tion here will feel high­er and may result in some moun­tain sick­ness among team members.

- #### Day 10-14


Rest Day /​Move to High Camp/​Sum­mit Day Dur­ing this period



**Ele­va­tion: 16,077 ft / 4898 m**





From high camp we tra­verse about 3 miles and gain about 3,600 feet / 1100 meters on our way to the sum­mit. From the sum­mit we are greet­ed with out­stand­ing views of the Ellsworth Range, the Ronne Ice Shelf and the vast hori­zons of the icy con­ti­nent. We spend the night again at high camp. There are four reserve days built into the itin­er­ary in the event of bad weath­er or a rest is needed.

- #### Day 15-16


Base Camp



Return to base camp. Fly to Union Glac­i­er. Reserve day.

- #### Day 17


Pun­tas Arenas



Weath­er per­mit­ting, return to Pun­ta Arenas.

- #### Day 18-21


Fly Home



Depart Pun­ta Are­nas and fly home. Days 18 – 21 are reserve days.



**Note on Itin­er­ary: Although we do our very best to fol­low the sched­ule list­ed, this itin­er­ary is sub­ject to change due to inclement weath­er, unsafe route con­di­tions, or oth­er rea­sons beyond our con­trol and in the guide’s best judgement.**


## Equipment for Mount Vinson Massif

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- ### Carrying Gear



- #### Large capacity climbing pack (85-105L)




Lightweight as possible with a volume of 5,000 – 6,500 cubic inches (85-105 liters)





Examples:





Osprey Aether 85, Osprey Zenith 105

- #### Large duffel bag (150L)




One at least 7,000 cubic inch capacity (150 liters). Must be durable and waterproof





Examples:





Patagonia Black Hole

- #### Small duffel bag




Large enough to hold everything you’re not taking on the mountain. Will be stored at hotel, to be used after trip





Examples:





Patagonia Black Hole

- #### Small padlock for duffel bags




Extra security

- #### Baggage tags




Makes identifying your bags easy at airports or hotels


- ### Sleeping Gear



- #### Expedition quality sleeping bag (-40F Down or Synthetic)




One down or synthetic bag rated from -40°F / -40°C





Examples:





Feathered Friends Snow Goose EX, Marmot Cwm

- #### Sleeping pad (inflatable or closed cell foam)




A foam pad will be provided but a supplemental pad is recommended. This can be an inflatable or closed cell foam pad. Make sure to purchase a pad rated for cold conditions.





Examples:





Therm-a-Rest NeoAir & Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol

- #### Sleeping pad (foam)




A foam pad will be provided but a supplemental sleeping pad is advised for warmth and comfort. Closed cell foam 3/4 or full length. This pad is used in conjunction with the first pad





Examples:





Therm-a-rest Ridgerest


- ### Climbing Gear



- #### Alpine climbing harness




Must have adjustable leg loops and fit over all clothing





Examples:





Black Diamond Couloir, Petzl Altitude, Petzl Hirundos

- #### Mountaineering ice axe




under 5’7” use 60cm, 5’7”-6’2” use 60 or 65cm, over 6’2” use 70cm





Examples:





Black Diamond Raven, Petzl Glacier

- #### Crampons w/ anti-balling plate




Steel 12-pont. Must be fit to climbing boots prior to trip, new-matic/hybrid type





Examples:





Black Diamond Sabretooth, Petzl Vasak

- #### Locking carabiners (3)




Three large, pear-shaped carabiners are best





Examples:





Black Diamond Rock Lock, Petzl William, Petzl Attache

- #### Non-locking carabiners (6)




6 non-locking carabiners. wired straight-gates are recommended





Examples:





Black Diamond HotWire

- #### Ascender (single)




One full-sized ascender with handle for fixed lines (left handed for right handed climbers, or vice-versa)





Examples:





Petzl Ascension

- #### Belay device (plaquette)




Tube style





Examples:





Black Diamond ATC Guide, Petzl Reverso

- #### Climbing helmet




Lightweight





Examples:





Black Diamond Half Dome, Petzl Elios

- #### 50’ of perlon accessory cord




Accessory cord, made of nylon, is useful for many purposes on an expedition. You should bring 50 feet of 6mm cord





Examples:





Sterling

- #### Adjustable trekking poles




Three piece poles recommended





Examples:





Black Diamond Trail Back Pole


- ### Head and Face



- #### Fleece or wool hat




It must cover the ears

- #### Shade hat or baseball cap




A visor hat with a good brim is essential for protection from the sun





Examples:





Mountain Madness trucker hat

- #### Bandanas or neck gaiter




Various uses, i.e. cleaning glasses, sun protection when tied around the neck, etc. We have our own Mountain Madness neck gaiter available for purchase!





Examples:





Mountain Madness neck gaiter

- #### Balaclava or Buff




A thin balaclava will add significant warmth on that cold summit day





Examples:





Outdoor Research, Marmot

- #### Facemask




Neoprene or microfleece ski type

- #### Nose guard




To protect you from the wind and sun





Examples:





Beko

- #### Glacier glasses




100% UV protection with side shields and a hard-sided storage case





Examples:





Julbo

- #### Ski goggles




To fit over glacier glasses in high wind. Rose or amber lenses





Examples:





Smith, Oakley


- ### Hands



- #### Liner gloves




Two pairs thin fleece or synthetic

- #### Softshell gloves




One pair medium-weight for daily wear when it’s not too cold





Examples:





Black Diamond Arc, Arcteryx Zenta LT Glove

- #### Expedition gloves




Insulated, water resistant shell with leather palms





Examples:





Black Diamond Guide

- #### Expedition mitts




One pair Gore-Tex or equivalent, with textured palms and taped seams. Synthetic or down filled. Warm, heavy duty for cold temperatures





Examples:





Outdoor Research Altimitt


- ### Feet



- #### Thin socks (6 pair)




Six pairs of synthetic or wool socks to wear under heavy wool socks to help prevent blisters and keep feet dry





Examples:





Smartwool or Cool Max

- #### Thick socks (6 pair)




Six pairs of synthetic or wool socks, medium to heavyweight. Check boot fit with thin and thick socks on





Examples:





Smartwool or Thorlo

- #### Booties




Synthetic or down to keep feet warm while in tent

- #### High-altitude double mountaineering boots (8000m)




Insulated boots rated for 8,000-meter peak climbs with a warm removable liner and built in, insulated overboot





Examples:





La Sportiva Olympus Mons, Scarpa Phantom 8000

- #### Light hiking boots or trail shoes




For acclimatization hikes





Examples:





Salomon X-Ultra 3 Mid, Merrell Moab, La Sportiva Boulder Ex


- ### Upper Body



- #### Synthetic t-shirts




Two synthetic or merino wool t-shirts. No cotton!

- #### Long-sleeved Base Layer




Two lightweight to mediumweight, pull-over is best





Examples:





Patagonia Capilene

- #### Sports bras




Two, synthetic, no cotton!

- #### Light fleece hoodie




Light or medium-weight fleece (or wool) top with a hood. You will wear this over your light weight base layer





Examples:





Mountain Equipment Eclipse Half-Zip Hoodie

- #### Down or synthetic jacket w/hood




This is your most important piece of warm gear and will mean the difference between an enjoyable climb or a miserable one. A warm, full zip jacket with hood is ideal.





Examples:





Helly Hansen Vanir, Feathered Friends Volant, Marmot Guide’s Down Hoody, Outdoor Research Virtuoso Hoody

- #### Softshell Jacket w/ hood




This is what you will be wearing while hiking at higher altitudes or while kicking around camps at lower altitude. This jacket should be full-zip





Examples:





Outdoor Research Ferrosi

- #### Hardshell jacket w/ hood




A good jacket made of Gore-Tex (recommended) or waterproof nylon, roomy enough to fit over multiple layers





Examples:





Outdoor Research Foray, Patagonia Triolet

- #### Expedition down parka w/ hood (Feathered Friends Rock and Ice Parka, Marmot 8000 Meter Parka)




This is your most important piece of warm gear and will mean the difference between an enjoyable climb or a miserable one. A warm, full zip jacket with hood is mandatory. It’s important that you jacket is 700+ fill down, baffle construction (not sewn through seams) and as a thick, insulated hood





Examples:





Feathered Friends Rock and Ice Parka, Marmot 8000 Meter Parka

- #### Sun hoody




This piece with a high SPF rating and lightweight fabric offers protection from high altitude sun





Examples:





Outdoor Research


- ### Lower Body



- #### Undergarments




Adequate supply for the entire trip

- #### Long base layer




Two pairs light or mediumweight





Examples:





Patagonia Capilene

- #### Softshell pants




Softshell pants are water resistant, yet highly breathable and durable. Great for colder conditions over a pair of long underwear or tights higher on the mountain or summit day





Examples:





Outdoor Research Voodoo, Mountain Hardwear Touren, Patagonia Guide

- #### Hardshell pants




waterproof and breathable with side zips (minimum of ¾ zips recommended) Gore-Tex or equivalent





Examples:





Outdoor Research Furio, Arcteryx Beta AR

- #### Insulated pants




Synthetic or down with full side zip. Warm insulation for upper mountain





Examples:





Mountain Hardwear Compressor


- ### Miscellaneous



- #### Stuff sacks/ditty bags/plastic bags




To organize gear in your duffle and pack. **_All clothing should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large heavyweight plastic bags (trash compactor bags work great)_**

- #### Toiletries




Toothbrush and paste, comb, tampons, biodegradable soap (small amount), etc. Bring enough for the entire trip

- #### Toilet paper




1 – 2 rolls stored in a plastic bag

- #### Sunscreen




Bring plenty of sun block with SPF of 40 or more. It's easy to underestimate the amount necessary for your trip!

- #### Lip balm




Must have SPF rating of 20 or more. Bring two just in case!

- #### Ear plugs




To block out snoring and other noise to ensure a good night's sleep

- #### Water bottles with insulators




Two one-liter wide-mouthed plastic bottles

- #### Small stainless-steel thermos (optional)




For hot beverages on summit day

- #### Water purification




Steri Pen, Potable Aqua, Polar Pure crystal iodine. Purifies drinking water while on the trip.

- #### Water flavoring




Powdered additives like **Gatorade** or **NUUN** are a nice change of pace to water and help replenish much needed electrolytes.

- #### Large plastic bowl




Bring a 2-4 cup camping bowl or a plastic "Rubbermaid" style container for your mountain dining

- #### Insulated cup (12-16oz)




A 12-16 oz (350-500 ml) mug with an attached lid will help keep you hydrated

- #### Lexan spoon or spork




Lightweight and strong

- #### Headlamp




Bring extra batteries!

- #### Pocket knife or multitool




Simple Swiss Army type with scissors. Make sure you transport in checked bag, not carry-on!

- #### Personal first aid and drug kit




small personal first aid kit with ample bandaids and moleskin

- #### Nausea medications




_Pepto Bismol tablets; Maalox, Gelusil M or Mylanta antacid tablets. Donnatal for stomach cramps. Probiotic capsules taken daily may help keep your gastro-intestinal system working smoothly_

- #### Towel




For wash up in camp

- #### Handi-Wipes




A small pack or two anti-bacterial are great for general hygiene

- #### Spare contacts and glasses




Contacts can be a problem in dusty conditions, so make sure you have your back-up glasses with you. Glasses wearers should have a spare set

- #### Snacks (general)




Bring your favorite snacks and power/energy bars or if there is something else you particularly like to eat while hiking and climbing

- #### Spare bottle for a pee bottle, and a pee funnel (Lady J or Freshette) for women




It can be a cold walk to the toilet at night

- #### Insect repellent




A must!

- #### Personal electronics




Phone with camera, and/or separate camera. Bring extra batteries and memory!

- #### Electronics charging




If you want to charge your electronics along the way, a small, lightweight solar panel to charge batteries or portable charging device may be a good addition

- #### Travel power adapter




Most come in kits with all the plugs you need. Double-check to make sure you’re taking the correct adapter/plugs

- #### Travel clothing




Comfortable clothing for travel before and after the expedition


- ###### Vin­son Massif




$49,000





20-21 Days

/ Includes trav­el time from Pun­ta Are­nas and con­tin­gency days



[Book Trip](/trip-registration?trip=11214&block=11222)

### Mount Vinson Elevation

16,050 ft / 4892 m

### Route

Nor­mal Route

### Client to Guide Ratio

4:1

### Difficulty

Intermediate

Climbers should be com­fort­able on steep­er snow/​ice slopes. Expe­ri­ence with ascend­ing fixed ropes sug­gest­ed, but not required. Some high alti­tude and arc­tic envi­ron­ment expe­ri­ence also rec­om­mend­ed- call our office for details. 800−328−5925

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![nearing Mount Vinson summit on Seven Summit climb with Mountain Madness](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27133%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![Vinson3](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27133%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![Unspecified](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27133%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![Vinson7](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27133%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![P1030177](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![Vinson8](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![LEE0314 R1 027 12 1](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27135%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![ANTARTICAVINSON 2004 074](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![252](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

![18 basler bt67 at intermediate runway](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

### Climbs to do before vinson

- [![nun peak in india with mountain madness](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27200%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)\
\
AsiaIndia\
\
**Nun Peak**\
\
- 27 Days\
- Difficulty Intermediate](https://mountainmadness.com/trips/nun-peak)
- [![20170421 104141](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27200%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)\
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AsiaNepal\
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**Khumbu Icefall**\
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- 29 Days\
- Difficulty Intermediate](https://mountainmadness.com/trips/khumbu-icefall)
- [![Aconcagua guided climb and expedition seven summit peak with Mountain Madness](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27200%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)\
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Climbing the Seven SummitsSouth AmericaArgentina\
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**Aconcagua Normal Route Expedition**\
\
- 21 Days\
- Difficulty Intermediate](https://mountainmadness.com/trips/aconcagua-climb-expedition)

![Mt Vinson 077 XL](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

### Words from the trail

![Mt Vinson 077 XL](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)[Expeditions\
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**Vinson expedition update!**](https://mountainmadness.com/blog/vinson-expedition-update)

![IMG 17911](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)[Trips\
\
**Team of four climbers are preparing for Vinson ascent**](https://mountainmadness.com/blog/team-of-four-climbers-are-preparing-for-vinson-ascent)

![Vinson Massif with Mountain Madness](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)[Expeditions\
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**Vinson Massif Expedition — January 2 – 25, 2015**](https://mountainmadness.com/blog/vinson-massif-expedition-january-2-25-2015)

![20150115 181314 XL](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)[Expeditions\
\
**Madness Team Summits Vinson!**](https://mountainmadness.com/blog/madness-team-summits-vinson)

![Summit push](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)[Expeditions\
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**Vinson Massif Summit Push!**](https://mountainmadness.com/blog/vinson-massif-summit-push)

![Skiingfromcamp2headwallabove2](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27200%27%20height%3D%27267%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)[Expeditions\
\
**Skiing from Camp 2 on Vinson**](https://mountainmadness.com/blog/skiing-from-camp-2-on-vinson)

[View All Posts](/blog)

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