Key points
- Night-time temperatures often reach -40°F in Antarctica
- Summertime sun never sets on the continent
- Only a few dare to summit Antarctica’s highest peak
ISLAMABAD: Humans have desired to establish themselves above nature for a long time, but it was only after the industrial revolution that they were able to truly rise beyond their physical and mental limits.
Every year, thousands of adventure-seekers head to extreme corners of the planet to put human perseverance to the test. However, only a few dare to go to Antarctica, the icy continent that is a landscape of extremes. Night-time low temperatures often reach -40°F on the continent, and summertime sun never sets.
Even fewer than those who go to Antarctica dare to summit the highest peak on the continent – Mount Vinson.
If you aspire to be one of the few who summit Mount Vinson, thorough preparation and right set of information is a must.
Location Mount Vinson?
Mount Vinson lies within the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, a mere 600 miles from the South Pole.
The tallest mountain on the continent is among the famed Seven Summits – the seven highest mountains on seven different continents.
According to the Mountain Trip—an adventure trip organiser—the Vinson Massif in Antarctica is approximately 13 miles (21 kilometres) long and eight miles (13 kilometres) wide, according to the adventure trip organiser, Mountain Trip.
Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, is located within the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, 600 miles from the South Pole. (Photo by 7Summits1Year)
Mount Vinson’s height
According to National Geographic, Mount Vinson rises 4,892 meters (16,050 feet) above sea level. Though the Ellsworth Mountains were first spotted from the air by US aviator Lincoln Ellsworth in 1935, it took until the 1960s for people to start exploring and climbing the mountains.
In December 1966 and January 1967, a group from the American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition, led by Nicholas Clinch, scaled Mount Vinson and reached its summit for the first time.
There are five other tall mountains in the same area as Mount Vinson—the next five highest summits on the continent of Antarctica—which are collectively referred to as Vinson Massif. It was named after Carl Vinson, a US Representative from Georgia who served in Congress from 1935 to 1961. Vinson was a strong proponent of the exploration of Antarctica.
How challenging is it?
According to mountaineers of Adventure Peaks—a mountaineering expedition company—believe it is relatively easy to climb Mount Vinson from a technical perspective. However, the frigid temperatures and remote location of the mountain are what make it a challenging climb.
Most climbers take what is known as the “Normal Route” up the Branscomb Glacier, which takes an average of 10 days.
Climbs are typically made during December and January, the Antarctic summer, when the sun is out 24 hours a day and temperatures hover around -29°F).
Climbing Mount Vinson typically takes 7 to 10 days, depending on weather conditions and the climbers’ acclimatisation process, according to Adventure Peaks.
Success rate
According to Ultimate Kilimanjaro, a guide company, the success rate for climbers on Mount Vinson is relatively high, around 90 per cent. Proper preparation, acclimatisation, and weather conditions are key factors influencing success.
It is not recommended for beginners. Climbers should have experience with high-altitude mountaineering and be well-prepared for the extreme cold and logistical challenges of an expedition in Antarctica.
