Arrival on the blue ice, Antarctica, en route to Vinson
Vinson Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica.
78°32′S 85°37′W · 4,892 m 16,050 ft · Antarctica
Vinson at a glance
Elevation 4,892 m / 16,050 ft
Summit of Antarctica
Location Antarctica
First ascent 1966
Main route Normal
Season Nov–Jan
Trip length 12–18 days
Typical cost from ~$48,000 Defined by extreme cold, remoteness and cost, not by difficulty. There is no quick rescue.
Where on Earth: Vinson, one of the 7 summits. · Imagery: NASA Earth Observatory “Blue Marble” · borders: Natural Earth (public domain) All maps of Vinson
Mount Vinson (4,892 m 16,050 ft ) is the highest in Antarctica. Logistics and cost (flights via Union Glacier) dominate; the climbing itself is moderate but utterly committing.
What Vinson costs With a guided expedition $55,950–$100,000 for the middle half of the 27 trips we researched.
The full range is $47,500–$135,580.
2 more are priced in other currencies and are not included here.
Each company’s own price, in the currency it quotes, read from its website. Prices change, so check with the company.
Every company that guides it → Compare them side by side →
Usually extra Organising it yourself About $35,000 or more on the mountain.
The flights to Union Glacier and on to base camp, and base camp support, are sold by one logistics company; the flights alone are about $25,000. A guided climb costs $48,000 to $58,000, so going independent saves less than it seems.
Our estimate. International flights, gear and insurance are extra.
What every peak costs, guided or not →
Climbing guide Table of Contents →
Table of Contents The full contents of the Vinson guide, linked page by page. Vinson: Overview Deep in the Sentinel Range, on the coldest and emptiest continent on Earth. The climb is roped glacier travel; the journey is a chain of flights from Punta Arenas onto the ice, each one waiting on the weather. Vinson: Permits & costs There is no national park and no park fee on Vinson. Access is governed by the Antarctic Treaty; your operator holds the permit; the real "cost" is the logistics package. Framed check-current. Introduction: the 7 summits Vinson is the highest mountain in Antarctica and one of the 7 summits, not a hard climb, but one defined by extreme cold, deep remoteness, high cost and a lot of waiting on the weather. Planning and preparation Everything to sort out before you go: choosing an operator, budgeting honestly, the waiting, altitude, cold-injury, fitness and extreme-cold gear. Background information The mountain and where its name comes from, the Antarctic continent it sits on, how it was first climbed, and the wildlife of the two worlds you pass through, Patagonia and Antarctica. The Normal route (Branscomb Glacier) The one standard way up Vinson: a roped glacier climb from Base Camp to Low Camp to High Camp, one steeper fixed-line section, and a long cold summit day. Not technical, but serious in the cold. Antarctic logistics How you actually get to the mountain and back, and the rules of being in Antarctica: the flight chain to Base Camp, the gateway city of Punta Arenas, waiting-day ideas, and the Antarctic Treaty. Reference How this guide was put together, the sources behind it, and a linked A–Z index of everything it covers. Books & films The guidebooks, expedition accounts and films worth your time before Vinson. Vinson expedition operators Every company that sells a guided climb of Vinson: who guides it, what it costs, and how long each has been in business. Did you know?
What is the name of Vinson's base camp elevation?
2,100 meters.
Flights land directly on the snow runway.
Plan this climb See the operators who guide this peak, and what each trip includes.
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Five Big Mountains: A Regular Guy's Guide to Climbing Orizaba, Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, and VinsonDavid N. Schaeffer · 2010