Come with the IFMGA-certified guides of Mountain Madness to the most southerly of the Seven Summits and climb the Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica, on an expedition from Punta Arenas into the unique wilderness of a seldom seen environment.
Group
21 Days
Jan, Dec
High
Intermediate
Rise to the highest point of Antarctica (16,050 feet) and conquer one of the most elusive Seven Summits! This guided mountaineering program into one of the most intriguing and rewarding locations on Earth gives you the rare chance to practice your climbing and expedition skills while exploring parts of the world that are rarely seen!
Antarctica is steeped in mystery. Located at the southernmost reaches of the planet, it is a continent covered in ice. It is considered the world’s coldest desert – even though it consistently boasts sub-zero temperatures, even in the six-month daylight period, it receives very little snow. It is notably mountainous, reaching its high point on Vinson of the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains.
This is where you come in! With careful planning and our experienced and qualified guiding team, you will see the isolated beauty of this remarkable continent on a safe, satisfying, and memorably fun journey to the top of Antarctica!
Beginning with a quick stop in Punta Arenas, Chile, to cover gear check and last minute preparations, you will head onto the incredible southern continent. You will set up a number of camps on and near glaciers, putting your mettle to the test in severe conditions. The weather is best during December and January, but you can still expect volatile conditions during constant daylight. Please note that this trip can only be done in the dates listed below.
We will be in the midst of Antarctica’s expansive beauty. There is generally less than 18 inches of snow during austral summer, so the temperature and strong winds are our biggest challenges. Our final push to the summit includes rewarding mixed climbing, with unforgettable vistas of icy wilderness and mountains. You will even have the chance to see the incredible Tierra del Fuego as you fly in and out of Punta Arenas.
There are opportunities for a bit of technical climbing, but the most important aspects of your experience will be roped glacier travel and cold weather camping. High mountain experience is also recommended. It is considered comparable to the West Buttress of Denali, but its isolation and extreme weather make it a serious undertaking that warrants your utmost respect.
Appropriate planning, both physical and mental, is vital for your success and enjoyment. You should be physically fit and mentally prepared for the sustained excursion. You should also carefully plan travel accommodations as the itinerary to and from Antarctica is always subject to change.
Book this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica NOW and relish a Vinson expedition from Punta Arenas to scale the tallest mountain on this gorgeous and isolated continent!
We will get into Punta Arenas, Chile.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Return to base camp. Fly to Union Glacier. Reserve day.
Weather permitting, return to Punta Arenas.
Depart Punta Arenas and fly home. Days 18 – 21 are reserve days.
More info
We have a cuisine of local and regional fare that is at times supplemented with items brought from the US. Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions. A cook will ensure we have pleasant meals and dining times throughout our journey in Antarctica. We recommend working with a full-service travel agency to coordinate last-minute flights from Antarctica and commercial flights you book from Punta Arenas and Chile. It is necessary to have a flexible time frame for travel – take this into account when planning your itinerary. You will be unable to change your ticket and reservations while in Antarctica, so you may run the risk of severe financial penalties and the loss of your ticket. LAN Chile is the only major airline that flies to Punta Arenas, and booking through them can ease some of the difficulties (they are the only airline to have an office in Punta Arenas). Please do not hesitate to contact us with more information – properly planning, booking, and timing your flights is very important. An equipment list will be sent to you upon booking, but you should be aware of conditional dangers in Antarctica such as dehydration, sunburn, snowblindness, frostbite, and altitude sickness.
Meeting point
Carrying Gear Sleeping Gear Climbing Gear
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
Mountain Guide
For over 35 years, Mountain Madness has been bringing profound outdoor experiences to trekkers and mountaineers across the globe. We have built a strong foundation of skills and expertise, fueling our passion to impart our wisdom onto other like-minded explorers. Cultivating an enthusiasm for the
outdoors while helping you enjoy the journey and achieve your goals is a dream come true.
Our mission is to provide the best experience possible and to instill a passion for adventure. We value cultural exchange, take pride in facing physical and mental challenges head on, and strive to development wilderness skills that encourage self-discovery without compromising our environment.
Climbing, trekking, and skiing worldwide allows Mountain Madness to guide internationally. Our success and determination have given us worldwide acclaim and reignited our hunger – from Rainier and Baker to Kilimanjaro and Everest, no adventure is too big or too small.
Our guides have extensive training and are AMGA and/or IFMGA-certified guides. We enjoy assisting in all aspects of your trip, from the first conversation to the last goodbye. The collection of activities are endless, with alpinists, trekkers, explorers, mountaineers, and ski tourers on our team. To assist first time explorers and grizzled veterans in finding hidden, everyday wonder is our pleasure.
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Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
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