COCO POPESCU SI ”ANTARCTICA 2010 – 2011”

   Am ramas surprins de atitudinea internautilor. E o efervescenta pe internet in sprijinul lui Coco Popescu care nu te poate lasa nepasator. Sunt si ziare care au intervenit in favoarea alpinistei noastre. Sa speram ca aceste eforturi vor avea rezultatul scontat. Am citit si pareri contra, fiecare are dreptul la opinie, si de aceea va dau mai multe amanunte privind costurile expeditiei. Din expeditie vor face parte Coco Popescu, tatal ei si se pare si Radu Teodorescu, membru al Clubului Montan Altitudine, deci trei persoane. De asemenea m-am informat si asupra costurilor unor expeditii similare si ce cuprind acestea. Din motive de timp le voi reda in limba engleza.

 MT.VINSON 4897M, ANTARCTICA, CLIMBING EXPEDITION

Regions: Antarctica Objects: Mt. Vinson (4897m) Activities: Expeditions, Mountaineering Service: Full service Program’s difficulty 4.5, mid easy ( technical 3 + altitudinal 1.5 ) Group size: From 3 Price: 34 990 USD Non-refundable deposit: 5000 USD. The price increases by 10% after 90 days prior to expedition. Balance payment is due not later than 90 days prior to expedition. Cancellation later than 60 days prior to expedition – refund of 50% is given. Less than 60 days – no refund is given. BookDates ( Days 17 / Nights 16 ) November 30 – December 16 December 13 – December 29 December 26 – January 11

Trip overview

Santiago, Chile – Punta Arenas – Patriot Hills – 
Vinson Massif Base Camp – Summit – Vinson Massif BC – 
Patriot Hills – Punta Arenas

Why go there?

An expedition to Vinson Peak is often called the “Key to Seven Summits”. No, the mountain itself does not present serious technical problems, but it is very difficult in terms of getting to it. For that there are two weighty reasons: its utter remoteness and the high price of any expedition there. So, a trip to Vinson Massif is exceptionally interesting and prestigious. So few people have done it!

Our program starts in Punta Arenas (Chile). From there an IL-76 aircraft takes us to Patriot Hills in Antarctica. It is an airstrip belonging to Chile and rented by Americans for their tourist flights. 
From here a small plane brings us to Vinson Massif Base Camp (BC), where we pitch our tents. From here, having fixed Camp 2 and 3, we start for the summit.

Antarctica is an extremely cold place, even in summer (mild winter rather), but as a compensation we will have the sun all 24 hours, will not need head torches and can save on batteries.
We suggest you should arrive in Punta Arenas at least 3 days before the official start of the expedition. Due to the very unstable weather in that area our out-flight cannot be definitely fixed well in advance: the date has to be adjusted to the weather’s whims. The waiting should not be too long (1-3 days), but, alas, a 10 days’ one has been recorded.

Description of the region:
The Vinson Massif is a part of the Sentinel Range (Ellsworth Mountains), lying in the west of Antarctica and overlooking the Ronne Ice Shelf. Discovered in 1935 by the American explorer Lincoln Ellsworth, it is the highest massif on the continent (Mt.Vinson – 16,066 ft or 4,897 m)

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival in Punta Arenas. Hotel accommodation.

Day 2. Buying food and equipment.

Day 3. Briefing in the Adventure Network office. Sorting out and packing the equipment.

Day 4. Flight to Patriot Hills.

Day 5. Flight from Patriot Hills to Vinson Massif. Camp 1 at 2,150m.

Day 6. Acclimatization outing. Preparation for the ascent.

Day 7. 8 hours’ walk to Camp 2 (2,900 m).

Day 8. 6 hours’ walk to Camp 3 (3,900 m).

Day 9. Acclimatization day.

Day 10. Summit day.

Day 11. Reserve day to make up for bad weather.

Day 12. Reserve day to make up for bad weather. Option for good weather: climb of Mt Shinn (not far from Vinson Massif).

Day 13. Reserve day.

Day 14. Descent to BC.

Day 15. Preparation for the flight back to Patriot Hills.

Day 16. Flight from BC to Patriot Hills.

Day 17. Flight from Patriot Hills to Punta Arenas.

Price includes

• meeting and seeing off in Punta Arenas (PA)
• booking hotel in Punta Arenas
• briefing before departure to Antarctica
• flights PA – Patriot Hills (PH) – Vinson Massif –  BC – PH – PA
• food and lodging in Antarctica
• group equipment for the climb
• climbing guide and supporting staff, doctor  for the whole trip 
• luggage allowance (25 kg on all flights in Antarctica) 
• jacket (Polartec&Windbloc) with 7 summits Club logo  
• two T-shirts with 7 summits Club logo

Price does not include

• Chilean multi visa 
• flight to Punta Arenas 
• accommodation in Punta Arenas

• personal camping and climbing equipment  
• extra expenses in Punta Arenas entailed by flight delays 
• overweight (over 25kg) 
• insurance covering climbing to 5000m (no less than  
  150 000USD of coverage)

Good advice

Important!

Even though the possible delay time for the flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica is from none to 3 days, the cases of 10 days, however rare, are not unknown. As a matter of fact this delay should not affect fatally the expedition itself, but if you run out of the time you have allotted for this expedition, so that you have to leave it prematurely, we cannot offer you any refund.

Booking procedure

First, please send us by e-mail:
1. Your brief mountaineering resume, covering the last 10 years
2. Your questions concerning our expedition
If 100% sure you want to join our expedition, send us an e-mail with the following information:
Confirmation (free form)
Passport data:
1. given name
2. family name
3. date of birth
4. citizenship
5. passport number, its date of issue and expiration
Home address (with ZIP code)
Phone number (with country and city codes)
Size of a Team Jacket provided by 7 Summits Club (M,L or XL)
Your digital photo

Payment procedure

• Deposit: of 5000USD should be wired to our bank account not later than 120 days prior to the trip. Of this sum 1500USD are non-refundable.
• Balance payment (along with payments for all extra services): must be made not later than 60 days prior to the trip
CANCELLATION NOTES:
• IF APPLICANT FAILS TO MAKE THE ABOVEMENTIONED PAYMENTS IN DUE TIME, HIS/HER APPLICATION IS CANCELLED AND ALL PREVIOUS PAYMENTS ARE NON- REFUNDABLE.
• ALL PAYMENTS FOR ANY SERVICES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AFTER 60 DAYS PRIOR TO EXPEDITION
• NO REFUND WILL BE GIVEN IF A MEMBER LEAVES A TRIP PREMATURELY BOTH VOLUNTARILY OR INVOLUNTARILY.
NO REFUND WILL BE GIVEN FOR SERVICES PAID FOR BUT NOT DEMANDED AND USED DURING EXPEDITION

Necessary travel papers (documents)

Passport
Filled in special forms for visiting Antarctica
Chilean multi visa

By air and by land

Return flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica
Luggage allowance for these flights is 25 kg
Group equipment is divided equally among the members to carry

Accommodation

We can book for you any hotel in Punta Arenas, from 2 to 4 stars. Just name it and pay in cash (or with your credit card) when there.
In Antarctica we stay in strong double tents, 2-3 members to a
tent.

Meals

We buy all the necessary food-stuffs in Punta Arenas and the members cook for themselves in the mess tent in BC and in their tents on the route. The guide gives a competent hand.
White gas (4 liters per person) is provided for BC and higher.

Staff

One guide per 3-5 clients

Health and medical insurance

The group will have a first-aid kit.
Each member must have insurance with 150 000USD coverage.

Weather

Antarctic summer: when the sky is cloudless the temperature inside a tent is from 0°C to +10°C. Snow storms are frequent visitors and then the temperature can drop to -35°C (on the tops).

Extra expenses

Hotel in Punta Arenas 30-60USD per day
Meals in Punta Arenas 20-40USD per day
Luggage over 25 kg – 70USD per 1 kg

Personal gear

Group equipment for BC (provided by 7 Summits Club)
• Mess tent
• Tents in higher camps (2-3 members to a tent)
• Cooking utensils (gas-stoves, pots and pans)
• Satellite phone ($5 per 1 minute)
• First-aid kit
• Solar battery chargerGroup climbing equipment (provided by 7 Summits Club)
• gas-stoves
• kitchen utensils
• snow shovels
• tents for high camps
• rope (50 m)
• walkie-talkies 

Personal equipment for BC (not included in the
price)
• sleeping bag (good for -40?C)
• sleeping mat
• gas-stove
• personal items for washing
• personal notebook (if needed) 

Climbing equipment
• crampons (G12 model recommended)
• backpack (40-50 liters)
• harness
• 6mm cord for prussic knots
• screwgate carabiners – 3
• collapsible ski poles
• thermos
• descender (rappel device)
• ice-axe
• camera
• video camera and accessories
• accumulators (batteries)
• personal eating utensils for high camps 

Clothes and footwear
• trekking shoes
• climbing boots (Millet’s “Everest” recommended)
• down jacket + down trousers (or down overalls)
• Gore Tex jacket with a large hood
• Gore Tex trousers
• Polartec Windblock jacket and trousers
• jacket “Polartec – 100” – 2 items
• warm underwear – 2 sets
• Polartec gloves – 2 pairs
• Thinsulate gloves
• Thinsulate mittens – 2 pairs
• warm woolen socks – 4-5 pairs
• balaclava
• warm hat
• Polartec Windblock face mask
• UV glasses
• ski goggles (preferably)
• gaiters

MT. SIDLEY CLIMB. ANTARCTICA

Regions: Antarctica

Objects: Mt. Sidley (4181m)

Activities: Mountaineering, Expeditions

Service: Full service

Program’s difficulty 3, relatively easy ( technical 2 + altitudinal 1 )

Group size: 6-10

Price: 46 500 USD

Book

Dates ( Days 15 / Nights 14 )

January 10 – January 24

Trip overview

Moscow – Santiago – Punta Arenas – Patriot Hills – Mount Sidley  area (plane) – Ascent – Patriot Hills – Punta Arenas – Santiago – Moscow

Why go there?

Mount Sidley (4181 m) – the highest point of the  Mary Bird Land, in very rarely visited area. It is officially recognized as the highest volcano of Antarctica, one of the “Seven volcanos of the World”.  Mt.Sidley – a large mountain, with a huge caldera, which forms a wall height of 1200 meters, the opposite slopes of the mountains are flat and could easily be reached on skis. A layer of ice in the area reaches is a three-kilometer thick. There is no actual volcanic activity in the region, according to scientists last eruption occurred about 4.7 million years ago.

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival in Punta Arenas. Accommodation at a hotel.

Day 2. Purchase of products and equipment in Punta Arenas.

 Day 3. Briefing in the Adventure Network office. Preparation and packing equipment.

Day 4. Flight to Antarctica to the Patriot Hills.

 Day 5. Flight Patriot Hills – Base Camp Sidley volcano (2,150 m).

Day 6. Acclimatization and preparation for the ascent .

 Day 7. Trek to Camp 2. It takes about 8 hours. Overnight (2,000 m).

Day 8. Trek about 6 hours to the assault camp (3,500 – 3,600 m).

Day 9. Climbing Volcano Sidley (4181 m).

Day 10. Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 11. Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 12. Descending to the Base Camp.  

Day 13. Preparing for flight .

Day 14. Departure on the Patriot Hills.  

Day 15. Flight from Patriot Hills to Punta Arenas.  

Price includes

Booking hotels in Punta Arenas

Briffing before flying to Antarctica

Flights Punta Arenas – Patriot Hills – Volcano Sidley – Patriot Hills – Punta Arenas

Meals and accommodation in Antarctica

Team equipment for climbing and facilities for base camp

Guides and other support staff

The transportation of 25 kg in Antarctica

Price does not include

Chilean Multi Visa ($ 200 for Russians)

Flights to Punta Arenas ($ 2300-2700 from Europe)

Meals and accommodation in Punta Arenas

Personal equipment for climbing and base camp

Baggage in Antarctica more than 25 kg ($ 70 for every extra kg)

Insurance for at least $ 300,000

Good advice

A prepayment of $ 5000 (including $ 1500 non-refundable amount) must be done not later than 120 days before the expedition. The remaining amount must be paid no later than 90 days prior to the expedition.

In case of refusal to participate in the program less than 90 days before the beginning of tour, the money paid for the program will not be returned !

NOTE: Time of departure to Antarctica and return to the mainland may be moved in case of bad weather (there have been rare cases where a storm was up to 10 days). In case of such shifting the timing of flights the program is guaranteed! In case of refuse the client from participating due this shifting and postponement of flights, the money for the travel not returned

Booking procedure

First, please send us by e-mail:
1. Your brief mountaineering resume, covering the last 10 years
2. Your questions concerning our expedition
If 100% sure you want to join our expedition, send us an e-mail with the following information:
Confirmation (free form)
Passport data:
1. given name
2. family name
3. date of birth
4. citizenship
5. passport number, its date of issue and expiration
Home address (with ZIP code)
Phone number (with country and city codes)
Size of a Team Jacket provided by 7 Summits Club (M,L or XL)
Your digital photo

Payment procedure

A prepayment of $ 5000 (including $ 1500 non-refundable amount) must be done not later than 120 days before the expedition. The remaining amount must be paid no later than 60 days prior to the expedition

Necessary travel papers (documents)

To visit Antarctica you will need to fill out a special questionnaire.

By air and by land

Return flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica
Luggage allowance for these flights is 25 kg
Group equipment is divided equally among the members to carry

Accommodation

In Punta Arenas, there are various hotels **-***
Hotel to be paid extra. Our price includes hotel reservation only.
In Antarctica, we stay in good tents for 2 or 3 persons.

Meals

We buy all the necessary food-stuffs in Punta Arenas and the members cook for themselves in the mess tent in BC and in their tents on the route. The guide gives a competent hand.
White gas (4 liters per person) is provided for BC and higher.

Staff

One guide per 3-5 clients

Health and medical insurance

The group will have a first-aid kit.
Each member must have insurance with 150 000USD coverage.

Weather

Antarctic summer: when the sky is cloudless the temperature inside a tent is from 0°C to +10°C. Snow storms are frequent visitors and then the temperature can drop to -35°C (on the tops).

Extra expenses

Hotel in Punta Arenas 30-60USD per day
Meals in Punta Arenas 20-40USD per day
Luggage over 25 kg – 70USD per 1 kg

Personal gear

Group equipment for BC (provided by 7 Summits Club)
• Mess tent
• Tents in higher camps (2-3 members to a tent)
• Cooking utensils (gas-stoves, pots and pans)
• Satellite phone ($5 per 1 minute)
• First-aid kit
• Solar battery charger

Group climbing equipment (provided by 7 Summits Club)
• gas-stoves
• kitchen utensils
• snow shovels
• tents for high camps
• rope (50 m)
• walkie-talkies 

Personal equipment for BC (not included in the
price)
• sleeping bag (good for -40?C)
• sleeping mat
• gas-stove
• personal items for washing
• personal notebook (if needed) 

Climbing equipment
• crampons (G12 model recommended)
• backpack (40-50 liters)
• harness
• 6mm cord for prussic knots
• screwgate carabiners – 3
• collapsible ski poles
• thermos
• descender (rappel device)
• ice-axe
• camera
• video camera and accessories
• accumulators (batteries)
• personal eating utensils for high camps 

Clothes and footwear
• trekking shoes
• climbing boots (Millet’s “Everest” recommended)
• down jacket + down trousers (or down overalls)
• Gore Tex jacket with a large hood
• Gore Tex trousers
• Polartec Windblock jacket and trousers
• jacket “Polartec – 100” – 2 items
• warm underwear – 2 sets
• Polartec gloves – 2 pairs
• Thinsulate gloves
• Thinsulate mittens – 2 pairs
• warm woolen socks – 4-5 pairs
• balaclava
• warm hat
• Polartec Windblock face mask
• UV glasses
• ski goggles (preferably)
• gaiters