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Vinson Massif: Team Lands with Ease on the Union Glacier

Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall | December 05, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Vinson Massif

Greetings from Antarctica.  Today went about ten times smoother and easier than any previous attempt at getting onto the “last” continent.  Our logistics company (ALE) gave a call at the civilized hour of 6:30 AM and advised us to put on our boots and check out of our rooms.  We ate breakfast, got on a bus, cruised to the airport, breezed through security and boarded our transport plane.  The Ilyushin 76 went “wheels up” at 9:30 AM and we were on our way.  Just ahead of the 2:15 PM landing we got busy putting on warm clothes and glacier glasses.  The Russian crew brought the big plane in for the smoothest landing on an ice runway that the world has ever known.  A few minutes later we were standing out on the Union Glacier in brilliant sunshine and a brisk breeze, marveling at the new world and at the amazing machine we’d just flown in.

We were chauffeured back to camp in deluxe 4 wheel drive vans with giant tires.  A series of informative and essential briefings and feedings were attended over the following few hours.  The ALE staff took excellent care of us and Seth Waterfall and I felt we were attending a great reunion as we met all of the friends we’ve come to expect to see in the odd corners of the globe.  Weather was perfect around camp as we set up our tents.  There was the faintest of breezes and a big bright sun.  The plan is for our team to get on a Twin Otter sometime tomorrow morning for a flight to Vinson.  The sun isn’t setting tonight but the team will get tired anyway at some point, despite all the excitement at this new place and quiet conversations going on in a dozen different languages around camp.  We do need rest.  Tomorrow is another huge day.

Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn

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