Mount Vinson Massif Expedition -- January 1997
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Update #1 via FAX from Mount Vinson
Team Arrives at Patriot Hills
Monday, January 6, 1997 -- 8am PST

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The Alpine Ascents International Mount Vinson Expedition, lead by Todd Burleson, had arrived safely at the Patriot Hills permanent camp on Friday, January 3, 1997, said Gordon Janow, program director of Alpine Ascents International in Seattle. The Patriot Hills base is located approximately 120 km from the Vinson Massif. Burleson's on-scene report described the landing as scary -- the ice runway at Patriot Hills makes for terrible noises as the C-130 Hercules touches down after the six hour flight from Punta Arenas Chile -- but safe. The weather was sunny and 15 degrees F at touchdown.

Burleson reports that all team members -- Wally Berg, Lee Meyers, Richard Harper, Paul Morrow, and Geoff Acolia -- are healthy and ready to climb. From the Patriot Hills base, the team will fly in a ski-equipped Twin Otter aircraft to a point near the mountain, then ski and snowshoe to base camp at approximately 7,000 feet on the Branscomb Glacier, using sleds to haul their gear.

Burleson reports that a climbing team from Slovenia will be attempting the mountain at the same time as the Alpine Ascents International team. Check this page frequently for live satellite-phone updates as Todd Burleson checks in with The Mountain Zone as his team and the Slovenian climbers move higher on Mount Vinson.


Archived Updates
Review past updates from the Mount Vinson Expedition by clicking on the links below.

Latest Update
Fri, 1/10/97, 8pm PST

Expedition team is back in South America; guide Todd Burleson talks about the fast ascent and extreme cold.

Update #3
Thurs, 1/9/97, 11am PST

After returning from the summit, the team waits to see if their plane can get to them through the building storm.

Update #2
Mon, 1/6/97, 3pm PST

All climbers are at Camp III and are poised for a summit bid on Tuesday.

Update #1
Mon, 1/6/97, 8am PST

The team has a hair-raising but safe arrival at Patriot Hills.


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