What a cool place Antarctica is! Just back from a 3 week trip there for some summer climbing in the
snow. Climbed Vinson Massif (4968m or 16,100 ft), the highest point in Antarctica. The route is
mostly flat glacier travel with a moderate headwall to get to the upper plateau. It does have a
superb narrow summit ridge which gives some each mixed steps. It was so warm in the 24 hour sun that
I was on the glacier most of the time in only thermal underwear and no gloves! Took 5 days from
landing at Vinson Base camp to the summit. 4 of us then climbed Mt Shinn, the 3rd highest peak
(4600m?). We did more or less a new route, named the Fawkawe Route. (was in We're da Fawkawe). We
had expected a ridge leading from a col to the summit, but it wasn't there, so we traversed out onto
the face and did some each mixed climbing. Descended another face directly to get back down, making
a new loop.
Happy to provide details if anyone else is going ....
Other ascents going on: Di Griffith (sp?), the blond pigtails working at Glenmore Lodge did an
ascent a month before me. Heather Morning also of Aviemore climbed the mountain 'moving
independently'. She was with me part of the way, but never tied into our ropes and did the summit on
her own. A 72 year old Japanese lady made it in another group, and some US guy that was well over
60. Some Spanish did a new direct route above Camp 1 just before we arrived.
That is my 5th of the 7 summits. Only the two E's left ....
cheers, Rob