Vinson


  
16,067 ft.


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Antarctica

 After 8 hours of climbing we scale the summit ridge, hooked into a lifeline of protective ropes, which anchor us to the steep and slippery slope.  A dramatic beam of light shone down upon us, seemingly guiding us to the summit.

Mt. Vinson journal entry:
Nov. 30, 2008
Low temp. -35F
45 mph winds

First Summit Attempt
“It’s a go!  We packed our smaller day pack with glasses, goggles, gloves, down mittens, and jackets.  Snacks and water bottles ready, we headed for the summit at about noon.  We did a long, slow death march toward the goal we had all come for.  At –35 and windy, our rest stops were either non-existent or short.  6 p.m. came and Vinson was within our grasp.  We were only 200 vertical feet from the summit, when the call was made by all three group leaders, to turn back.  That last summit ridge would take another two hours, and the –35 temps plus the wind chill factor at 45 mph wind speeds, were creating a dangerous mix.  The route was icy and the danger factor high.  We turned around and hustled back to high camp, after a ten hour push.”