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Should
we believe that the unexplored exists, than we must
view the isolation of Antarctica as an explorers
final frontier. Unparalleled in its pristine and
absolute beauty, the journey to the great white
continent and the climb of Mt. Vinson ignites man's
primal instincts for wilderness, the elements and
conquest. The sheer magnitude of the continent and
exquisite nature of the ascent is an extreme and
remarkable experience.
Mount
Vinson (16,067ft, 4897 meters), located 600 miles
from the South Pole and 1200 miles from the northern
tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, is the highest peak
on the Antarctic continent. Vinson is a part of the
Ellsworth Mountains, which rise majestically from
the Ronne Ice Shelf. The climate on Vinson is
generally controlled by the polar ice cap's
high-pressure system, creating predominantly stable,
cold, windless conditions. But, as in any arctic
climate, high winds and snowfall are a possibility.
During the summer season, November through January,
we have 24 hours of sunlight. Although the average
temperature during these months is -20F, the intense
sun will melt snow on dark objects. Although annual
snowfall on Vinson is low, high winds may cause base
camp accumulations to 18 inches in a year.
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It was
nearly 200 years after James Cook circumnavigated
Antarctica that the summit of Mt. Vinson was reached
(1966). It was the last of the seven summits to be
conquered. The American Alpine Club and the National
Geographic Society sponsored an American team which
summitted Mt. Vinson two weeks after their arrival, on
December 17, 1966. The team led by Nicholas B. Clinch,
remained about a month on the continent and summited a
number of peaks including the extremely technical Tyree as
well as Shinn and Gardner. (This well documented in the
June 1967 National Geographic Magazine.) Soon after their
return, US policy of encouraging travel to Antarctica was
changed to discourage travel to this region.
Vinson
was named for Congressman Carl G. Vinson of Georgia, who
was influential in promoting Antarctic exploration from
1935-1961. Lincoln Ellsworth, who made a number of flights
across Antarctica between 1934-1939, named the Ellsworth
Range, on which Vinson stands. Discovered on November 23,
1935 the Ellsworth Range was not re-visited until the
1960's.
ANTARCTICA
IN BRIEF
With 5.5 million square miles of solid ice, the mass of
this continent, twice the size of Australia, creates a
remote wilderness unrivaled on the planet. While the size
of the continent expands and contracts with seasons, the
topography remains stunning with natural sculptures finely
crafted by the barrage of wind, snow and cold. It is this
ice age environment which constantly attracts intrepid
travelers and explorers. While Antarctica has no native
population, Emilio Palma (Argentinean) was the first to be
born on the continent in January 1978. The lowest
temperature recorded on Earth was - 128.60 F at Vostok
Research Station on July 21, 1983. With less than 2 inches
of precipitation per year, Antarctica is best
characterized as a desert. Antarctica currently has a
number of permanent research stations supported by a
variety of cooperating nations.
Punta
Arenas: Commonly considered the most interesting city in
Patagonia, this port town hosts handsome turn of the
century architecture, financed by the bustling wool
industry of a by gone era. Along with being one of the
most prominent Antarctic starting points it is well
endowed with a large commercial fishing port. Much of the
trade was bolstered by the great California Gold Rush.
Walking tours of the city will lead one past the great
mansions which currently house the Club De La Union and
the Sociedad Menendez Behety (now Citibank) found around
the Plaza Munoz Gamero. Punta is also known for its wining
and dining. Time permitting one should visit the Museo
Regional De Magellan's, the original Punta Arenas mansion
and a half-day tour of the Penguin rookery, to view the
colony of Magellan Penguins.
More
coming here!
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