Vinson Day 4: Weather Day at Low Camp

Due to high wind up on the mountain, we decided to stay at Low Camp for another day. Since we were up fairly late last night, we slept in a little bit this morning and waited for the sun to hit our tents and warm them up.

Vinson Low Camp in the morning.

After yet another leisurely breakfast of eggs and hash browns, we setup makeshift fixed lines to practice using/removing the ascender from the lines while wearing heavy mitts and practiced arm repelling.

Practicing on makeshift fixed lines.

Leave no Trace

I’m always asked the question regarding bathrooms and toilets. Well, to keep Antarctica pristine and unspoiled, very strict rules are enforced regarding human waste. Once you leave the friendly confines of Union Glacier and start climbing on the mountain, you always carry a “WAG” bag and a “PEE” bottle. At the Camps, there’s usually a designated area for “liquids” and “solids”. You can pee directly in the designated pee hole or you can use the pee bottle and later empty its contents in the pee hole, just make sure your bottle doesn’t freeze. For number two, you layer the wag bag inside the bucket and go. While you’re on the go, you’re always using the pee bottle and wag bag. The good news is that your waste will quickly freeze making it easy to manage and somewhat odorless. You must carry out all human waste on the way down from the mountain and leaving nothing behind.

Toilet at Vinson Low Camp.

Designated Pee Hole.