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2009-10 Vinson Massif–Ellsworth Mountains summary.
By Damien Gildea, Australia
Around 120 people summited Mt. Vinson (4,892m), somewhat fewer than in recent years, presumably due to economic conditions in many nations. At the end of November Austrian Christian Stangl returned for another attempt on Antarctica’s second-highest mountain, Tyree (4,852m). Having decided the previous season that the original route up the northwest ridge was too long and complicated for the fast, light style he prefers, Stangl attempted the 1997 French Grand Couloir on the east face. On November 29 he flew onto the Patton Glacier with fellow Austrian Thomas Strausz and Ingrid Schittich of Germany. The three established an advanced base camp beneath the east face. Two days later Stangl and Strausz climbed to 4,000m on the northeast ridge for acclimatization. On December 3 they set off up the lower section of the northeast ridge and traversed left into the upper couloir…. (read more)
