Punta Arenas, Chili where the Vinson trips starts

Two days in Punta Arenas as we prepare gear and logistics allows for plenty of sightseeing

The 4-hour transfer to Patriot Hills on the Antarctic Ice is via an Ilyushin 76 cargo transport jet

The Ilyushin 76 transport jet on the blue ice runway at Patriot Hills

The endless blue ice of Antarctica, like nowhere else on earth

We transfer into a Canadian Twin Otter plane to fly to Vinson Base Camp

The flight to Vinson Base Camp takes 1 hour

Base Camp at Vinson

Vinson Massif from Base Camp

Camp 1

Camp 1

Approaching the headwall above Camp 1

Ascending the headwall between Camp 1 and Camp 2 with Mt Shinn in the background

Crossing crevasses below Camp 2 under the midnight sun

Camp 2, the high camp for Vinson with Mt Shinn in the background

Camp 2 in a wind storm

Climbing above Camp 2 on summit day

Vinson Massif Summit

On the summit of Vinson in -40 temperatures

Descending from the summit

Back at Base Camp with time for a short ski tour

Ski touring at 2 am above base camp

A clsssic ridge traverse on skis in the Antarctic

Watching the Ilyushin 76 prepare for landing at Patriot Hills

Visiting a penguin colony near Punta Arenas

Friendly penguins

Parting shot before heading to sea for lunch