Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s Highest Peak

Living in many places around the US and Europe, Carl Byington always had a dream to travel and many outdoor adventure activities, including running, trekking, and mountain climbing. Carl visited Antarctica in 2012 as part of his seven continent quest to run marathons on each. Perhaps there will be a return trip for this beautiful yet harsh mountain.

The tallest peak on Antarctica, Mount Vinson extends 16,050 feet above sea level. It is part of the large Vinson Massif and belongs to the Ellsworth Mountains, which were first spotted from a plane in 1935. In the 1960s, explorers made it to the mountains and began exploring. In 1967, a climbing team led by Nicholas Clinch reached the summit of Mount Vinson for the first time.

One of the Seven Summits, Mount Vinson is a popular destination for mountaineers who wish to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents. The climb itself is not that technical, but the high winds and the cold make the experience challenging. The climb takes anywhere between 2 days and 2 weeks, depending on fitness, skill level, and of course the very variable weather conditions in Antarctica. The mountain’s location also makes it hard to access, and most climbers spend more than $30,000 in order to climb it.

Carl Byington visited the Union Glacier camp in Antarctica in 2012, when he was there running the Antarctic Ice Marathon. Union Glacier is also the launch point for the Mount Vinson climbing teams.