MOUNTAINEERING INFORMATION ARTICLES

Vinson Massif - When To Go

Answering the question of exactly When to Go and Climb Vinson Massif can be a pretty tough job. It is because the weather there can be highly unpredictable which often causes delays in going to and from there. Thus, it is important to familiarize yourself with the general weather there so you could at least prepare yourself for some things that may come up along during your trips.

The best time to climb the Vinson is during the austral summer months of November to January when there is 24-hour daylight. Even if the temperature is relatively warmer during this time, which drops to around -6 degrees Celsius, you should still take extra care of your skin since you may get sunburnt from the intense sunlight. So it would be advisable to wear a sunscreen everyday for your own proctection.

Unlike the other Seven Summits, the Vinson mountain is influenced by a stable air mass, producing very good weather and mild, low temperatures. Strong winds are one of the dangers of the Vinson. Because the atmospheric pressure at the poles is lower, air masses are being sucked into these regions at high altitudes. So when air cools over the South Pole, it will descend rapidly and rushes outwards a high speed. So, do watch out for these high winds.

But as we already said at the beginning of this section, the weather there can be pretty volatile. Because of that, it is common to have delayed flights when going there. Therefore, it would be sensible to keep your schedule flexible on and before the trip to the south so you could adjust them if ever the weather gets you stuck in Antarctica.

The weather in Antarctica may be unstable, but don't let that put you off. There are other things that would make all the perceived troubles worth it like the landscape and the challenge of overcoming the bitter Antarctic cold. Take on the challenge now!

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