Vinson

Organized trips and expeditions

7summits.com offers fully serviced trips from Punta Arenas, Chile on the Normal route, Below are the prices and dates.

Bookings: email us for bookings or special requests!

NEW 2008/2009 dates! Now taking bookings, be quick before they are gone!

Fixed departure dates, guided groups:

Vinson program, dates:	Program Code	Number of Days	2007/2008 Price
November 30 – December 16	V2	17 days	$31,500*
December 13 – December 29	V3	17 days	$31,500*
December 26 – January 11	V4	17 days	$31,500*

Note that we cannot guarantee a place when booking late, last season all spaces were booked solid already in August.

The climbs are guided by a 7-summitteer for example Harry Kikstra or Alex Abramov. Both are not just known for their guiding styles but also famous for their excellent cooking styles on the mountain! Added is a 100% summit success on Vinson in all 8 expeditions so far.

There are no unguided climbs available due to the high risk of accidents!

Small print!

(1) Start date: planned date of flying to Antarctica from Punta Arenas. This means you will have to arrive at least 2 days (3 days recommended) before for gear checks etc.. The actual date of flying out can be much late due to weather delays, so be prepared. Sometimes the flight is even early.

(2) End date: planned date of flying from Antarctica back to Punta Arenas. See also Duration:

(3) Duration: Estimated length of trip. Due to the extreme difficulty and unpredictability of flying to and from Antarctica all trips can be delayed up and even more than 2 weeks both ways or even canceled. It is advised that you do not plan anything urgent until at least 2-3 weeks after the end date.

(4) We reserve the right to refuse clients based on lack of experience or medical reasons. Vinson is a serious mountain. Though technically not hard, the conditions are extreme and all climbers should be prepared for that. Teamwork is expected as well as experience in cold harsh conditions

(5) Price and booking conditions summary, when booking you will sign for the full and valid T&C's:

Please see below, if you are seriously interested, please email us to reserve your space! Vinson is a once in a lifetime experience, the beauty of the Antarctic wild is something that you will never forget.

Itinerary.

Note that usually there are several days of delay at any transfer point. This does not mean that you will have less chance to summit (we will wait), but you will very likely encounter delays, which in the worst case can take weeks.

Day 1	Arrive in Punta Arenas. Accommodation in a hotel.
Day 2	Buying food and equipment.
Day 3	Briefing in Adventure Network office. Packing the equipment.
Day 4	Flight to Patriot Hills.
Day 5	Flight from Patriot Hills to Vinson Massif (2,150 m)
Day 6	Acclimatization hikes. Preparation for the ascent.
Day 7	Moving to Camp 2. 8 hours walk. Night in Camp 2 (2,900 m)
Day 8	Moving to high camp – camp 3 (3,900 m). 6 hours walk
Day 9	Acclimatization day.
Day 10	Summit day. (4897м).
Day 11	Reserve day to make up for bad weather.
Day 12	Reserve day to make up for bad weather. Or possible to climb Mt Shinn (not far from Vinson Massif)
Day 13	Reserve day to make up for bad weather.
Day 14	Descent to BC.
Day 15	Preparation for the flight back to Patriot Hills.
Day 16	Flight from BC to Patriot Hills.
Day 17	Flight from Patriot Hills to Punta Arenas.

Land cost includes

- meeting and seeing off in Punta Arenas (PA)
- booking of the hotel in Punta Arenas
- briefing before departure to Antarctica
- Flight PA – Patriot Hills (PH) – Vinson Massif BC – PH – PA
- food and lodging in Antarctica
- shared equipment for the climb
-Climbing guide and support of staff physician throughout your journey.
-A Baggage allowance 25 kg on all polar flights.

Land cost does not include

-Chile multi visa
-flight to Punta Arenas
-Personal camping and climbing equipment and clothing.
-Hotels in Punta Arenas. Different classes available

-Any additional expenses incurred in Punta Arenas due to delays.
-Any baggage costs over the confirmed program allowance.
-Insurance Coverage - personal, medical, evacuation or otherwise ( with 150 000 usd coverage).

Necessary additions

Attention: Because of weather conditions dates of Antarctica flights may be delayed for days. (Though there was a case or two when the flight was postponed for 10+ days.) In these cases the fulfillment of program is guaranteed. In case if a client cancels the program because of the flights shift – no refund is made

Necessary documents

Passport
Filled out special forms for visiting Antarctica
Chilean multi visa

Transportation

All Antarctica flights
Free Baggage allowance 25 kg on all polar flights
For carrying shared expedition equipment we divide it equally among all the expedition members

Accommodation

We book any hotel in Punta Arenas you wish. We provide you with a list of hotels rating from ** to **** you can choose from. You pay on the spot.
In Antarctica we stay in good tents – 2-3 pax in a tent.

Meals

You are on your own with meals out of Antarctica. Before taking off from PA we go buy all the necessary food.
In BC we cook and eat in big dining tent. In high Camps we cook in living tents. The guide prepares food with the help of other expedition members. White gas (4 liters per person) is provided starting from BC and above.

Staff

1 guide per 3-5 pax.

Weather

Antarctic summer: when the sky is cloudless the temperature inside a tent is 0-+10C. There are often stow storms.
The temperature can drop to -35C on the top.

Medicine

Every group will have a first-aid kit.
Every participant must have insurance with 150 000 usd coverage.

Extra expenses

Living in Punta Arenas 30-80 usd per day
Meals in Punta Arenas 10-40 usd per day
Excess Luggage 25 kg – 70 usd per 1 kg

Equipment and clothes

Shared equipment for BC (provided by 7Summits)
- Kitchen-dining tent
- personal living tent (1 per 2-3 pax)
- kitchen utensils (gas-stoves, pots and pans)
- satellite phone ($5 per 1 minute for usage)
- first-aid kit
- solar battery

Shared equipment for the climb (provided by 7 Summits)

- gas-stoves
- kitchen utensils
- snow spades
- tents for high camps
- rope (50 m)
- radios

Approximate list of personal equipment
The price includes the following team clothes:
- jacket with 7 summits Club logo (windbloc)
- 2 T-shirts with 7 summits Club logo

Personal equipment for BC (not included in the price)
- sleeping bag -40C
- sleeping mat
- gas-stove
- personal items for washing
- personal notebook (if needed)

Special equipment for the ascent
crampons (i.e. G12)
backpack (40-50 l)
harness
prussic
Karabiners with screwgate lockers - 3 items
Telescope ski poles
Thermos
Rappel device
Ice Axe
Photo camera
Video camera and assessors
Accumulators (batteries)
Personal crockery for high camps

Equipment for body and feet:
Trekking shoes
Boots of "Everest" Millet type
Down jacket + down trousers (or down overalls)
Gore-tex jacket with wide hood
Gore-tex trousers
Windblock jacket
Windblock trousers
Jacket "Polartec - 100" - 2 items
Warm underwear - 2 sets
Personal underwear
Polartec gloves – 2 pairs
Thinsulate gloves
Thinsulate mittens - 2 pairs
Warm woolen socks - 4-5 pairs
Balaclava
Warm hat
Windblock face mask
UV glasses
Ski goggles (preferably)
Gaiters

Booking procedure

If you want to take part in our expedition you should send us by e-mail:
1. Your short mountaineering resume for last 10 years
2. Your questions

If all is well, then we will send you the bookingform that must be signed.

Note that there are limited spaces for the season, and on Antarctica flights are being loaded in order of reservation. This means that climbers booking in September (if there is still space), might be delayed at Patriot Hills for days when early bookers already have flown in to BC for the climb. Therefore we recommend early bookings.

Payment procedure

- Deposit: $5000 should be paid by transfer to our bank account ($1500 are non-refundable) at least 120 days before the trip. Your space will only be reserved after receiving this payment.
- Final Payment: total payment for program and any payments for additionally requested services should be made 60 days before the trip

- All payments must be made by bank wire transfer, no CC are accepted.

NOTE:
-IF MEMBER FAILS TO DO THE ABOVEMENTIONED PAYMENTS IN DUE TIME, HIS/HER APPLICATION IS CANCELLED AND ALL PREVIOUS PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE!!!
- ALL YOUR PAYMENTS FOR ANY SERVICE AND EQUIPMENT IS NON-REFUNDABLE 60 days before the start of expedition!!!
- THERE WILL BE NO REFUND IF A MEMBER LEAVES A TRIP FOR ANY REASON EITHER VOLUNTARILY OR INVOLUNTARILY AFTER OFFICIAL DATE OF BEGINNING OF THE EXPEDITION ! NO REFUND WILL BE MADE FOR ANY SERVICES OR PRODUCTS.

Bookings: email us for bookings or special requests