Alpine Ascents had 100% climber success on Vinson this year and our South Pole team successfully skied the Last Degree on 12/12/11. Congrats to Todd, Michael, Vern, and the climbing teams!
Why Climb Vinson with Alpine Ascents?
The recent allure of summiting the highest point on each continent, has brought a great number of climbers to the seven summits. Yet, even with this popularity, Vinson has seen a little more than 1,000 people stand atop its pyramid. The praises of the climb and its nearby surroundings have spread quickly throughout the mountaineering community. Alpine Ascents International is generally considered the premier Vinson guide service. The climb utilizes multiple methods of air transportation including a Ilyushin 76 and a ski–equipped Twin Otter.
Alpine Ascents on Vinson
Beginning our commercial expeditions in 1992 (yup there were some commercial flights back then) Alpine Ascents had led and cultivated climbing practices along with our flight service partners. With nearly 100% success over these past 20 years, we have developed logistics, climbing routes, camps and communication protocols that have help facilitate our high summit and excellent safety record. While items such as extra days on the mountain and satellite phones have become standard practice our experience in number of seasons of operation and trip logistics is unsurpassed. Our ability to lead multiple trips per season puts us in position to adjust to changing conditions and have the resources available that a "one guide, single expedition" does not. As always we encourage you to ask many questions of Alpine Ascents and other guide services before embarking on an expedition of this magnitude and expense, on our end we promise you a quick and honest response to your questions.
Key Elements of our Climb and Success
Experience. We have been guiding Vinson since 1990. Scheduled guides for 2012-2013 include Himalayan and Antarctic experts Vern Tejas and Garrett Madison. We have likely put more climbers on Vinson than any other guide service.
Personnel. Highly experienced lead guides stationed on the continent allowing for flexibility and an understanding of current mountain conditions. Alpine Ascents is known worldwide for the unparalleled quality of its guide staff. While many other outfitters are little more than a "one man show," all of our trips are led by professional mountaineers with great flexibility in guide staff, full-time office support, logistics and access and information for other great climbs around the world. Our guides are teachers and always willing to share their breadth of knowledge.
Success. Typically we have 100% expedition success with over 90% personal success. 2011- 2012: 100% of all 3 Expeditions reach the summit, and our Ski the Last Degree Team reached the South Pole. 2010-2011: 4 of 4 teams reach the summit. 2009-2010, saw 100% expedition success. 2008: Another stellar year on Vinson with 3 full teams and 100% success and 33 climbers (plus our fabulous guides). 2007: two trips with 100%. 2006: Typical 100% summit success with 41 climbers spread out over 7 expeditions. Since 1990, we have had over a 95% success rate on our Mount Vinson Expeditions.
Office Support. We offer 24 hour contact with our office and a staff who has been working with climbers in arctic environments for 20 years and we promise you a quick and honest response to your questions.
Cybercasts. Regular dispatches posted to our website by satellite phone so friends and families can follow the expeditions.
Precise Logistics.
• Small climber-to-guide ratios of 5:1 or less.
• A full time Alpine Ascents staff member/guide assisting climbers in Punta Arenas.
• Carefully composed menus based on over 15 years of experience.
• Proactive method of dealing with flight changes and the ability to change flights while still in Antarctica.
• Climbers from all over the globe seek out our assistance on Vinson.
Mountain Caches. Alpine Ascents is one of the few outfitters that is allowed to cache at Vinson Base Camp, Low Camp and High Camp and thus we have a full set of cookwear, stoves, tents and climbing equipment. This greatly reduces the pack weight climbers need to carry (now 30lbs). This substantially changes the climb in that much less weight is now needed to be carried by Alpine Ascents groups.
Multiple Departures: We offer multiple departures each season allowing us the ability to adjust to changing situation on the mountain, as we often have guides stationed in the Antarctic for multiple trips.
Cybercasts: Alpine Ascents provides family and friends the opportunity to follow our climbs as they proceed. Utilizing state-of-the art technology, we receive regular dispatches from the climbers and post them on our web site. Not only does one feel the excitement of watching a team as it moves up the mountain, the archived cybercasts provide an excellent resource and learning tool when researching expeditions. Enjoy the show! We send along 2 Iridium phones with each expedition to facilitate communications.
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