Follow our Mount Vinson Expeditions

Our second Mount Vinson expedition of the season is underway. We have a blog dedicated to their climb, and invite you to follow them through our expedition dispatches as well as podcasts from 78 degrees south latitude. Click on the link below to keep up with the team!

Mount Vinson Expedition dispatches

Our first team of the season was very successful, with all 10 of our climbers and guides reaching the summit. The depth of support we were able to provide allowed us to make three separate summit bids, to best accommodate all of our team members. We invite you to read about the expedition and listen to podcasts from the summit on our:

December 1, Vinson Expedition Dispatch Blog

We've really had a lot of fun developing our Vinson program, and the word from "The Ice" this season is that the quality of our expeditions has been without parallel. We're staying in the best hotel in Punta Arenas, have the nicest Base Camp facilities, are eating like royalty, and, of course, have our top-notch guides helping lead our teams to the top of the bottom of the world.

Please click on the following link for more information on our exceptional Vinson Massif expeditions.

Colorado Ice Climbing!

While snow has been a bit sparse in SW Colorado, the ice has been coming into great condition! Three of us got out on Friday, December 10th and climbed the San Juan Mountain classic ice route, The Ribbon (600' WI4). The ice was in fatter than in the past few years and the route lived up to its classic status!

The Ribbon follows the cleft in the rocks for four pitches of great fun!

Todd Rutledge started us up the route, which climbs a short, thin bit of ice to a long stretch of snow and lower angled ice.

The second pitch was more engaging, and was steep, right off the belay.

MT owner Todd and our buddy and newly credentialed, IFMGA Guide, Eric Larson, having some fun at the second belay.

Eric took over the lead for the last two pitches. The third pitch was pretty cruiser and ended at a nice, sheltered belay before the steep pillar at the top of the photo.

MT "Rookie of the Year" Karen Kingsley, following the steep bit at the start of the last pitch.

Karen didn't have any fun at all!

Eric near the end of the second of four rappels to get off the route.

If you have aspirations of some steep ice classic or would like to learn the basics of how to enjoy this amazing sport, please give us a call at our Colorado office. We're located minutes away from some of the best ice in the state and would love to help you get up on some frozen falls!