Monday, December 27, 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010 - Mission Accomplished!

(12:36 EST via satellite phone from Dan)

About a week ago we left Low Camp at 9,000 ft and went up the very steep headwall as well as the rest of the mountain to High Camp at 13,000 ft. We encountered very high winds on the way, blizzard conditions, and spent two nights up there with the winds blowing at 40-60 km per hour. It was -14 degrees Celcius inside the tent in the morning. We got a radio report that conditions were going to get worse and that the wind was going to double and we made the tough decision about going back down to Low Camp where there was less wind – which we did.

We spent three days at Low Camp and got continuous reports of the very high winds at High Camp so we did make the right decision. The tent that we had left at High Camp and that we had used was covered in snow and was demolished.

After the third day, which was Christmas Day, two important things happened. One was not so good and that is that the winds came down to Low Camp and we were faced with winds in the range of 60-70 and 80 km per hour in gusts. Anyone that didn’t have a tent that was secured with snow block walls, they were busy making those block walls.

The other thing that happened, we did get a report that our weather window was improving and that we were expecting some good weather and so on December 26 we headed up to High Camp. We had some beautiful weather. It was supposed to take 6 to 8 hours but we were ready and it took us 4 hours and 20 minutes.

The next morning, December 27, we headed up for our summit bid. At 2:20 pm December 27 we made it to the top of Mount Vinson, the highest point in Antarctica, and for me the seventh summit. The view is absolutely spectacular here and we are looking at a breathtaking...

(Note from Susanne: The last paragraph was dictated by Dan with much emotion in his voice, and unfortunately his transmission was cut off before he could finish, due to the limitations of voice mail.)

8 comments:

White Feather said...

Hurray Team Mallory! Congratulations on the summiting of The Seventh Mountain! We pray you all get home safely and can share all your experiences with us. Way da go Mallory Expedition - Dan, Barb, Alan, Adam and Laura!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations - you did it....

Unknown said...

Dan Adam Laura......thrilled to know that you made it.....have a wonderful reunion in Chile and a safe trip home.....well donr....Paul Obrechtsloof

Unknown said...

Excellent guys. we are so happy you made it safely.
See you when you get home and look
forward to the pictures.

Heather,Tim,Andrew and Kristofer

PS its a bit warmer here

Modrits Family said...

Congratulations!!


Glad to hear you guys made it

Mission accomplished!!

Belated "Merry Christmas" to all of you

The Modrits Family

Lauren said...

I am so happy to hear you made it safe and sound. What an accomplishment. Mountain 7 of 7... You did it! The memories you have made as a family will last forever. You guys are an inspiration. Thank you.

Ilona said...

Congratulations to Dan, Adam and Laura! Dream accomplished! Safe return home!

jphopkins said...

Congratulations seems like such a small word for such an awesome accomplishment...the mind boggles. Glad you are safe and sound. Your Grey Owl neighbours are soooo proud of you all. Joyce and Peter Hopkins