Mount Vinson Massif Expedition — January 1998

Carrying Loads to Camp III
Watching the Weather for a Summit Day
Click to hear the call

Thursday, January 15, 1998 — 10am PST
photo
Ascent to Camp III
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(photo: AAI)
Doug Rich of Adventure Network International called from Patriot Hills (a sort of base camp on Antarctica) to say that Wally Berg's Alpine Ascents expedition on Mount Vinson is currently stocking their camps and watching the weather for a summit bid.

Today they climbed 2,000' from Camp I (9,100') to about two thirds of the way to Camp III (12,300'), left some gear there and descended to Camp II (10,100') for the night. They climbed in "moderate, 20 knot winds", and tomorrow, if the weather holds out, they will climb to Camp III. The forecast is for an increase in winds tomorrow with an area of low-pressure moving in over the South Pole.

They are hoping for a high-pressure system to build for a good summit bid the following day.

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