Vinson

There are a few gear shops in Punta Arenas in the event that you need to get a few last minute supplies, but they are not well stocked and shouldn’t be relied upon. It is however a fun place to knock around in before and after the expedition. You’ll welcome a few beers there to celebrate the – hopefully successful – completion of the expedition before flying back to the UK.

You will normally be having an expedition ready meal such as a dehydrated meal prepared by adding hot water or ‘boil in the bag’ that is heated in boiling water. A usual pattern is to have one of these meals in the morning before setting off a long day on the hill and another in the evening after setting up camp.

In between you will consistently be on the move so it is recommended to bring a few personal daily snacks such as high-energy bars or sweets to keep you going. These types of snacks will be particularly useful on summit day as enroute there may be not be a chance for a long leisurely stop. High energy snacks like these are quick and easy to eat and will give your body a regular energy top up to help you keep going longer. There will be opportunity to purchase snacks on arrival in Punta Arenas before heading to Antarctica.

All drinking water will be made by gathering clean snow and then boiling this to produce purified water. It is up to you whether you wish to bring your own personal purification such as iodine or chlorine but normally boiling is the best method of purification.

There are no shower facilities once you’re out of Punta Arenas. There is the potential for sponge baths at Base Camps, but producing the water is energy-intensive, and the production of grey water should be kept to a minimum.

There are lavatorial facilities for both sexes at Base Camps, designated pee holes at the camps on the mountains, and number twos are done into waste bags which are removed from Antarctica at the end of the expedition. Boys – DO NOT just pee anywhere you like, however primeval you’re feeling out there. There are very strict guidelines about human waste both at and between camps. Essentially, ONLY pee in a pee bottle or designated pee hole, and ONLY poo in a bag. NOWHERE ELSE!! Hand gel is spread liberally around camps, please use it. Out in the field there are little shelters around the “throne” to maintain a modicum of civility.

In addition to this, please check that things like boots are spankingly clean before you set foot on Antarctica – ideally before you leave home. Nearer the time you will be sent the Antarctic Biosecurity and Equipment Cleaning Guidelines, please READ them and adhere to them.

Sleeping tents are passively warmed by the sun. Temperatures will vary depending on the time of day, weather and the type of tent.

Larger “clam” tents can warm to between 15C and 20C during the daytime, a comfortable temperature when you’re wearing thermal and fleece layers. Temperatures are cooler on cloudy, stormy days and may drop to near freezing at ‘night’, when the sun is less intense.

Small, mountain tents used away from Base Camp can be C25° on a sunny, windless day – almost too warm to be inside! Inside temperatures are cooler on cloudy days, when the ambient air temperature is very low, or when the sun drops behind a mountain ridge.

We advocate self-help on the mountain. Your own first aid kit should be small and light avoiding unnecessary weight, it should contain: A basic blister kit, plasters, your own personal medication, basic pain relief (paracetamol and Ibuprofen). We advocate only a very small and light personal first aid kit as weight will become an issue at altitude. Your Leader will be carrying a more comprehensive first aid kit including emergency high altitude medication should you require treatment.

There is no rescue service on the mountain and every team is expected to be self-sufficient and self-reliant. There are emergency caches placed at designated spots in the event of real emergency, but you are in your own and your leader’s hands. Altitude problems, dehydration from extremely dry air, the threat of frostbite injury, the potential for weather changes are all potential hazards, but ones that your leader is well versed in looking out for and aiming to prevent or deal with. Your leader is equipped with a VHF radio to connect with Vinson Base Camp, Iridium satellite phone and GPS receiver to monitor exact position.

The southerly latitude of Mount Vinson means that thinning of the atmosphere will make it seem significantly higher. Many observe that Vinson feels like 5,500m in the Himalayas.

Our gradual itinerary allows people to acclimatise properly. Although our acclimatisation regime ensures that everybody enjoys the best possible chance of getting high on the mountain, altitude related problems can happen.

The most common of this is acute mountain sickness (AMS). The most common symptoms for this are headaches and nausea.

In all this sounds quite dramatic but generally this is just the process your body naturally goes through to adjust to the higher altitudes and the reduced partial pressure of the atmosphere. For some people the acclimatisation process is a little longer and harder than others.

For our leaders this is all part and parcel of ascending a mountain like Vinson.

There are some basic measures you can take to help yourself should you start suffering from AMS. As headache is the most common symptom of AMS try taking a simple painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the headache. If the headache disappears all well and good.

Please remember to inform your Leader of any altitude symptoms you may have and any medication you have taken as a result so they can keep an eye on you and advise accordingly. Most AMS symptoms will be mild but should AMS develop into a severe form, your team will be versed in dealing with this and will be carrying relevant emergency altitude medications.

Should someone develop severe AMS the only cure is descent and as safety is our priority you will be taken down appropriately.

AMS might sound frightening but our leaders are fully trained (and experienced) in helping to relieve your personal symptoms and provide advice on how to best proceed.

Reducing the chances of AMS can helped by following some simple yet effective guidelines:

• Drink lots of water
• Move slowly
• Stay warm
• Eat well

The most important thing is not to fear it, but to respect it and to know how to deal with it and more importantly tell your guides how you feel.

Although we recommend you come armed with a course of Diamox or other high-altitude drug on this expedition, we do not recommend that take you these as a prophylactic during the trek or climb. We view Diamox as a treatment drug rather than a preventative medicine.  Most adventure medics give similar advice, however we do appreciate this can be confusing, as many GPs (who aren’t necessarily mountaineers) do suggest taking it as a prophylactic.

We pride ourselves on designing all our itineraries with acclimatisation very much front and centre and this expedition itinerary has been carefully designed to allow for your body to adjust to the altitude gradually, safely and comfortably. However, if you find that you are still having problems adjusting to the altitude (see our FAQ on Altitude Sickness) then your expedition leader or expedition medic will recommend the correct course of action regarding taking Diamox.

It is far preferable to take Diamox if and when needed during the course of the expedition. If you are already taking it and then start having altitude related problems you are left with few options but to descend to a more comfortable altitude which sadly often means that the summit is not attainable.

Furthermore, Diamox is a diuretic, meaning you will have to drink a lot of fluid to prevent dehydration. Of course, the upshot of this is you’ll have to pee more which means you’ll probably be having to get up more in the night and take cover behind rocks during the day. Another quite common side-effect is that it can cause your extremities to “buzz and tingle” including your fingers, toes and lips which can feel quite unsettling. Other side-effects can include dizziness and light headedness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Although all these side-effects are manageable when you have symptoms of altitude sickness, we personally believe it is counter-intuitive to take it unless necessary.

Of course, it is totally up to you, this is just our recommendation and we’re not doctors. If you do decide to take Diamox on the advice of your doctor then please do let your leader know in situ so they are aware of this. We also suggest you take the drug for a couple of days a few weeks before travelling so you can experience the symptoms before taking them during the trek.

On top of your personal gear you will be expected to carry two group food bags (12 – 18kg each) and a handful of group gear such as shovels, wands, cooking gear, fuel, etc. On the lower mountain we will split our gear between our backpacks and a pulk or sled that we drag behind us.

Climbers typically put about 60% of their weight in the sled and 40% in their pack on lower-angled slopes. Most climbers start out with between 55 to 75kg of gear and food to manage.

Much of a climber’s pack weight is made up of personal clothing and equipment, and so climbers with lighter and more modern clothing and equipment will carry less weight than those with older, more bulky kit.

Your sleeping bag should be as warm as possible and at least rated down to minus 40°C comfort rating. Vinson can be bitterly cold! Ensure you get a sleeping bag that has this temperature rating at the comfort rating rather than at the extreme rating. Remember that your sleeping bag can be further enhanced by the use of a silk or fleece liner. Sleeping bags work through the air being warmed up by your own body temperature.

Once you have warmed up the bag, the down will retain the heat and tries to ensure that you sleep at a temperature as close as possible to your own body temperature. To start with on the mountain it could be best to wear as little as possible when inside your sleeping bag. Our leaders will often only wear a set of thermals in their bag. It is important for the bag to trap the heat. If this doesn’t work they may add several layers but ensuring the sleeping bag around them isn’t too tight. If all else fails then it may be necessary to wear your down jacket in addition.

It is possible to rent climbing equipment both in the UK from Outdoorhire.co.uk. However, we recommend the use of personal equipment whenever possible. This is so you know your equipment as best as possible and, while it’s probably fine, we can’t guarantee the quality of rented equipment. You will not be able to rent equipment when in country before heading to the mountain. We strongly recommend to have all your equipment prepared, tried and tested before setting off to Chile.

You need to separate your luggage into 4 categories:

1. Set of Antarctic clothing that you will wear on the day of the flight
2. Hold luggage
3. Hand luggage
4. City clothes and any other items you want to leave in Punta Arenas

Hold luggage includes group gear, food, extra clothing and personal equipment for use in Antarctica, including knives and sharp objects. Please tag your bags with your own name, program code (Vinson), and our company name – 360.

Hold luggage will be loaded the day prior to the flight and will remain on the plane until weather conditions permit us to fly to Antarctica. You will not have access to these items before or during the flight. Since weather delays are the norm do not put anything in your hold luggage that you might need during your stay in Punta Arenas.

Luggage will be weighed and collected shortly after the briefing. Antarctic flights cannot be held for clients who arrive late or have lost or delayed luggage.

DO NOT include: medications, perishable foods, passport, credit cards or cash. All fuels are prohibited by international flight regulations.

Hand luggage includes items you carry aboard in a reasonable-sized day pack or on your person. These are things like your passport and other items that you want to keep with you until flight day or to have handy during the flight: all medications, cameras, sunscreen, money. No sharp objects.

City clothes and any other items you want to leave in Punta Arenas should be left at your hotel. Please make sure to tag all left luggage with both your name, as well as “RAAL” in case we need to retrieve your luggage for you when you return from Antarctica. Make sure you can give an accurate description of the number and type of bags you have left in your hotel if need. Do not leave valuables in your left luggage.

One set of Antarctic clothing that you will wear on the day of the flight. Includes: various under-layers as well as your down jacket, soft-shell trousers, Antarctic boots, gloves, hat, goggles or sunglasses. Keep this with you until flight day.

You said it! The interior of Antarctica has a cold, dry, windy climate. Average mid-season temperatures at base camp range from C-12° to C-4°. On a sunny windless day it can feel quite warm but, when the wind blows, you will be glad of warm layers and a wind jacket. As you head for Mount Vinson prepare for extreme temperatures of C-40° and severe storms.

Once we hit the mountain we radio in every day for an updated weather forecast and to check in with Base Camp giving them our current position, stae of wellbeing and anticipated next moves.

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the expedition. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip.  To include medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form, however this can be arranged at a later date. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure.

Obviously the best way to train for any expedition is to recreate the conditions of the climb as closely as possible. This can be difficult depending on where you are based geographically and we appreciate people have busy lives with work and family commitments.

Ideally you would have both altitude and severe climate experience from previous climbs and the more experience the better. Technically, you will need to be able to move competently using crampons on steep snow or ice and be able to perform an ice axe arrest. You should also be familiar with moving together roped up, have knowledge of basic knots and rope-work and have knowledge of crevasse rescue techniques, as well as some knowledge of how to build a snow anchor and set up a basic hauling system. If you are concerned about any lack of knowledge in these areas, we recommend doing a winter skills course with us in the Pyrenees before you attempt Vinson.

The main area to focus physically is to build up as much endurance as possible. This can be developed by long hill days with your rucksack on your back carrying your kit. To simulate pulling the pulk some people train by pulling a tyre. The more miles you clock up in the hills prior to Vinson, generally the more endurance you’ll have that will give you something in reserve when it counts during a long day on the mountain.

If you have a light solar charger it’s worth bringing one out. There are also limited charging facilities at Base Camp, for which you will need a 12V car adapter.

In a word, no. We carry satellite phones which you are welcome to use for a fee (Iridium is expensive), although the priority lies on keeping them charged and topped up in case of emergency use.