The " Volcanic Seven Summit" of Antarctica
Highlights
- Climbing Antarctica's highest volcano
- One of the most remote peaks on the planet
- Highly experienced English-speaking polar guide
- Personalized follow-up of your preparation included
- H24 medical hotline during your expedition
- Live expedition coverage for your community
- A human adventure beyond the physical challenge
- Be one of the few to have climbed Mount Sidley to 4285 meters, the highest volcano on the Antarctic continent, one of the seven highest volcanoes on the planet. Higher than the more active Mount Erebus, located on the cap, this majestic peak comprises a 5 km-wide caldera and a steep-walled amphitheatre, created by an explosive eruption 4.7 million years ago. Blue ice slopes guard the high mountain and fantastic snow mushrooms grow along the upper ridge, leading to the summit. Mount Sidley was first climbed in 1990 by New Zealander Bill Atkinson, and had its second ascent in 2010 by a team guided by ALE. This team established a new route on the east ridge and traversed all three summits. Mount Sidley, one of the most remote peaks on the planet, still has many routes to open up. To optimize your expedition ecologically and economically a combination with the last degree at the South Pole and the ascent of Vinson is possible. Contact us at for further information and plan it early.
Overview
At 4285 meters above sea level, Mount Sidley is located in West Antarctica, in Terre Marie Byrd. It is part of the Executive Committee Range, a mountain range emerging from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Its first ascent was successfully completed by New Zealander Bill Atkinson on January 11, 1990, and for many years there was no second ascent due to its extreme remoteness and difficult access. In 2010, our partner ALE pioneered the logistical support of a private expedition to Mount Sidley, the second of its kind, and now its teams continue to guide climbers to the world's southernmost volcano!
It is one of the seven volcanic summits or 7 Volcanic Summits, i.e. Ojos del Salado (6893m ) in Chile for South America, Pico de Orizaba (5636m) in Mexico for North America, Kilimanjaro (5895m ) in Tanzania for Africa, Elbrus (5642m ) in Russia for Europe, Mount Damavand (5610m ) in Iran for Asia, Mount Giluwe (4367m ) in Papua New Guinea for Oceania and Mount Sidley (4285m ) for Antarctica.
Conceived as an extension of the Seven Summits Challenge, it involves climbing the highest volcano on each of the seven continents, and was first taken up in 1999. To be selected, the summits must represent genuine volcanic centers. They must also be at least 305 meters (1,000 feet) high. Expeditions Unlimited can help you achieve this challenge in its entirety.
Although relatively low, the ascent of Sidley is by no means a formality and should not be underestimated. On the one hand, Mount Sidley's altitude of 4285 meters at these particularly low latitudes, due to the lower atmospheric pressure at the poles, can be compared to a pressure altitude of around 5500 meters at the equator, with the corollary effects on hypoxia. On the other hand, its geographical location, even in the austral summer, means that winds can even drop the temperature below -30°C.
Itinerary
Days 1 to 3: Arrival in Punta Arenas, welcome and equipment checking
Day 1
We arrive in Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. On arrival at the airport, we are met by our partner ALE. We are then driven to our hotel. During these two days, we check our equipment with our guides. We are also invited to a welcome dinner.
Day 4 : Packing and safety briefing
Day 4
This morning, the ALE team heads back to our hotel to pick up our bags, which will be taken to the plane. The rest of the day is free, and at the end of the day we are invited to a welcome aperitif and safety briefing. We are then briefed on the boarding process, given a weather briefing and finally on how to get to Union Glacier.
Day 5: Flight to Antarctica
Day 5
Loading of equipment and boarding for Union Glacier. This flight is subject to the vagaries of Antarctic weather and runway conditions. The flight from Punta Arenas will take 4 to 5 hours. After a few hours' flight, we pass the Antarctic Circle and see our first icebergs! An hour before landing, we put on our polar clothing in preparation for the landing.
Days 6 & 7: Expedition preparation around Union Glacier
Day 6
Today, we meet the guide who will accompany us on our ascent and begin preparations for the expedition with our team-mates. Over the course of the two days, we take the opportunity to climb a few small peaks near the camp to acclimatize ourselves to Antarctic conditions. We also meet up with our team-mates and fine-tune our equipment before setting off for Mount Sidley.
Day 8: Flight to Mount Sidley
Day 8
If the weather permits, today we take our flight to Mount Sidley in the Executive Committee Range, some 885 kilometers from Union Glacier. We fly over the West Antarctic continent for about five hours. On landing, we set up our base camp at around 2050 meters, beneath the imposing mass of the mountain.
Days 9 to 14: Ascent of Mount Sidley (4285 m)
Day 9
Mount Sidley has only been climbed by a handful of teams, and there is still time to explore new routes. The mountain offers several interesting options, including a longer, easier ascent from the north side and a steeper climb up the west ridge from Bennett Saddle. Your guide will evaluate the options and decide on a route based on the group's skills and experience.
From base camp to the summit of Mount Sidley, there are around 2225 meters of positive ascent. We climb in alpine style, setting up intermediate camps on the mountain and taking all our food and equipment with us. Although we can use skis further down the mountain, most of the ascent is done with crampons.
The mountain slopes are wind-blown, with hard snow and sections of blue ice. Gentle slopes near the base give way to steeper terrain higher up.
The day at the summit offers spectacular views as we follow the summit ridge along the rim of the caldera. The walls of the Weiss amphitheater drop steeply below us, and nearby Mount Waesche (3292 m) may tempt us with its snow-covered slopes.
On our way to the summit ridge, we make our way through a fantastic labyrinth of snow mushrooms. These massive formations are created by wind and humidity depositing white frost on small obstacles over time.
After the summit, we return to our high camp and retrace our steps back to base camp.
Day 15 : Back to Union Glacier
Day 15
Sidley Base Camp is in close contact with Union Glacier Camp to identify the best “weather window” for our return flight. Depending on this, we may have a day at the end of our expedition to explore further around Union Glacier. We enjoy a hot shower and celebrate our summit with our group again. This is where we commemorate our expedition to Mount Sidley with an ascent certificate.
Day 16: Return flight to Punta Arenas
Day 16
As soon as the weather permits, we load our gear and take off for Punta Arenas, where our team welcomes us and transfers us to the hotel.
Days 17 & 18: Return flights to Europe
Day 17
After breakfast, depending on the plane's departure time, we have some free time to enjoy Punta Arenas a little more. Then our minibus picks us up to take us to the airport. Flight to Europe. Landing on day 18.
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
On this expedition, you will be guided by an English-speaking mountain guide, experienced in both mountain and polar environments. He will help you set up camps and carry equipment from base camp. However, you must take responsibility for carrying your own personal belongings and high-altitude food (which will be distributed at base camp).
The pace of the climb and the daily progression plan are set by your guide, and are geared to the safety and success of your expedition.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Technical difficulty
Mountaineering level: F like... Easy (Facile in French!)
In this program, the use of mountaineering equipment (crampons, harness, ice ax, ropes, etc.) is necessary but the route covered does not involve any technical difficulty. It is therefore aimed at beginners or even participants who have never practiced. Clearly, a little prior experience in the activity can be interesting, knowing how to equip yourself, knowing how to tie a few essential knots. The mountaineering courses at our Adventure School from three days are for you. And this technical rating applies of course to normal weather conditions: the difficulty can increase in the event of bad weather conditions, fresh snow on rocks, insufficient or lack of quality of the ice, etc. Likewise, the situation changes radically, for the same technical level, with the altitude, the weight of the bag, the lack of equipment on the route, the fatigue associated with the approach if it is long, the environment if particularly hostile, etc.
Meeting point
We are welcomed by our partners in Punta Arenas. Scheduled airlines serving Punta Arenas include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Iberia, Air France, Lufthansa and others.
Then we fly with ALE from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier. They take care of the logistics, which represent over 80% of the total cost of this expedition.
We have chosen ALE to take care of the air logistics, so it is also with ALE that you contract this part of the logistics. You must therefore also sign all their documents (registration form; medical form; liability waiver) and have accepted their general and special conditions of sale, as well as proving that you have repatriation and health insurance. We can of course assist you in providing these documents.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Accommodations
We can provide you with a list of hotels in Punta Arenas for booking purposes. We can also make reservations on your behalf. Then, from base camp, in North Face VE25 double expedition tents. A kitchen crew will be permanently installed at Base Camp and Low Camp.
Meals
Full board throughout the trip, except in Punta Arenas. During the expedition, meals are prepared by the cook from imported products up to Low Camp. Afterwards, we eat freeze-dried rations to ensure the best nutritional/weight/weight ratio. These rations include coffee and tea, cereals, mashed potatoes, soups, broths, Chinese noodles, freeze-dried dishes, snacks, etc. in space-saving vacuum-packs.
Transfers / Transport
Transfers to and from the airport, and to and from the expedition starting point, are provided by minibus by our local teams.
Group size
The group is composed of 1 to 12 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
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All logistical equipment is provided, including individual tents, mess tents, gas heating for the evenings, shower and toilet tents, as well as all collective and individual cooking equipment, stoves and more. Your support team will have a satellite phone to keep in touch with the outside world, as well as communications and safety equipment, a geolocation beacon, etc. The camps are permanently linked by radio. Expeditions Unlimited also provides you with an Iridium telephone to enable you to contact us at any time, for technical or medical reasons. Other personal equipment is not provided. A complete list is given below, and will be added to during our expedition preparation meetings.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we will not entitle ourselves to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02 and until then, each year, as soon as the carbon footprint budget is reached, we will stop taking any reservations for the current year. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 8,51 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €255 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
Dates currently being programmed
Alert me as soon as you set a datePrice includes
- Return flights from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier.
- 25 kilos baggage allowance plus one piece of cabin baggage measuring no more than (46cm x 41cm x 26cm) between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier.
- Return flight from Union Glacier to Mount Sidley Base Camp
- Welcome dinner on arrival in Punta Arenas and celebratory dinner at Union Glacier.
- Airport/hotel transfers in Punta Arenas.
- Full-board meals during the expedition.
- Base camp food supply.
- Equipment required for life at Base Camp and Low Camp: fully-equipped kitchen tent, mess tent for meals, toilet tent, table and chairs.
- Cooks and helpers at Union Glacier, Mount Sidley Base Camp and Low Camp.
- Tents for two, freeze-dried food, stoves and fuel.
- English-speaking mountain guide with extensive polar experience.
- Collective equipment required for the ascent (fixed ropes, moorings).
- Specific individual equipment required for the expedition (pulka, harness).
- Personal satellite phone with one hour's free telecommunications.
- Taxes and permits for ascents, rights of way for fixed ropes and other government taxes.
- Medical follow-up by Ifremmont during the expedition (see above).
- Preparation days in France (practical, medical).
- Live coverage of the expedition for your community (supply of InReach beacon, IridiumGo and subscriptions, configuration of LivExplorer service).
Price does not include
- International flight to/from Punta Arenas.
- Hotel accommodation and full board in Punta Arenas.
- Consular fees (visa).
- Excess baggage over the 25-kilo allowance between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier is charged at US$75/kg.
- Customs taxes on arrival in Chile.
- Import taxes for satellite phones, professional communications equipment and commercial filming.
- Expenses related to shifts in the expedition schedule (additional nights' accommodation, air supplements).
- Expenses related to the early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not included in this program.
- Tips for the guide, to be shared with other participants to your satisfaction.
- Hotel nights, full board and other personal expenses during preparation days in France (practical, medical).
- Pre-acclimatization protocol developed with Ifremmont and Sport Altitude (personalization, advice, follow-up, equipment) as described above.
- Personal equipment, including high-altitude gear and polar gear.
- Drinks and all personal expenses (personal visits, cabs, souvenirs, dry cleaning, etc.).
- Travel and expedition insurance (assistance, evacuation and repatriation).
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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