December 5, 2019

Ready to fly (Phil Ershler)

When you’re hot, your hot. Justin Merle checked in at about 5 pm, Seattle time, on Wednesday evening to let us know the team had an easy night at high camp after their summit day. They packed up, headed down the fixed ropes, and continued all the way to Vinson base camp. More packing continued as the Twin Otters were ready to fly them over to Union Glacier. ALE had a big meal ready for them and afterwards, they pitched tents and settled in for what we hope is about a two day wait for their IL76 flight off to the Ice and back to Punta Arenas. We still need good weather for that flight but, as for now, this trip couldn’t have gone much smoother or more successfully.

Great job, team. Great job, Justin. Great job ALE. And, thank you, mother nature!

Phil Ershler

December 3, 2019

Vinson Summit Panorama (Greg Vernovage)

100% on the summit of Vinson this morning. Congratulations to Justin and the team. They plan on spending this evening at high camp and get down to Vinson base camp tomorrow and, hopefully, fly over to Union Glacier later that evening. Weather is good and forecast remains good for the next couple of days. Couldn’t have planned it much better. Everyone performed well and the weather cooperated. News couldn’t get much better from down South today.

Phil Ershler

December 1, 2019

I love Justin’s messages from the Vinson Expedition he’s leading:

“No sun but no wind. Not too hot. Perfect day for a carry to the top of the fixed rope. Team did well. They’re strong. Came back down here (C1) and it’s ripping now at high camp. You can hear it from down here. Today (meaning Dec 1st), wind is diminishing and forecast calls for more improvement the next two days. So, we’ll pop up to high camp tomorrow (Dec 2nd) and climb the following day. All going to plan so far”.

Between C1 and High Camp on Vinson (Emily Johnston)

I have nothing to add.

Phil Ershler

November 29, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving to the team on the Ice and from the team on the Ice to family and friends. All is well. They haven’t stopped moving since they left home back on the 23rd. Flights, packing, briefings, gear checks. Then, more flights to the Ice and they’ve already made their carry and move to C1. Just relayed that weather was a little unsettled now but that they would make their carry to high camp at the first opportunity. Then it’s wait — wait for the right couple of days to move to high camp and summit. C1, not high camp, is the good place to wait out any inclement weather.

Dragging sleds on Vinson (Emily Johnston)

Bottom line is that the team is in a great spot and doing well. So, for now, there’s nothing but good news from the Ice, and we’ll let you know as soon as they can get in their carry to high camp. Hard to believe that things are moving this smoothly, but that’s a good thing.

Phil Ershler

November 26, 2019

Aboard the IL76 (Justin Merle)

It’s always summer somewhere. Seems a bit odd to say that about Antarctica but it’s the truth.  The Austral summer has begun and so has the Vinson climbing season . AND, right on schedule. IMG’s first team for the season arrived in Punta on the 24th, prepped and organized on the 25th, and began flights to the Ice this morning – 26 November.  First leg is the flight on a 1970’s vintage Russian cargo jet – the IL76.  This 4 hour flight takes the team to about 80 degree S, a place called the Union Glacier. If they get lucky, they won’t be at the Union Glacier long before boarding a twin-engine Otter and flying about another hour over to Vinson base camp.

IMG Senior Guide, Justin Merle, is at the lead of this team and will keep us posted when he can. Thanksgiving will be on the Ice but what a unique way to spend the holiday. Getting TO the Ice is the first big hurdle and it looks like that’s going to happen on schedule.

Phil Ershler