Mount Sidley

Overview

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Climb Antarctica's highest volcano and one of the Seven Volcanic Summits

Introduction

Sidley is a huge mountain, set on the white expanse of the Polar Ice Sheet. This majestic peak in the Executive Committee Range features 5 km wide caldera and sheer walled amphitheater, created by an explosive eruption 4.7 million years ago. Blue-ice slopes guard the upper mountain and fantastical snow mushrooms sprout along the upper ridge, leading to the summit. Mount Sidley was first climbed in 1990 by New Zealander, Bill Atkinson, while working for the US government Antarctic Programme. The second ascent in 2010 was made by a guided team following a new route up the East Ridge and traversing all three summits. To date (April 2018) Mount Sidley has been climbed by fewer than 10 teams.

The Mount Sidley expedition can be combined with either Mt Vinson (Antarctica's highest peak) or The South Pole (Ski the Last Degree). Please contact us for a quote and for up to date information on which dates work best for these combination programmes.

Join us on Mount Sidley

• Departure in January
• Flights arranged from the UK if required
• Advice from Jagged Globe leader, David Hamilton, who has climbed the mountain
• Benefit from our ATOL protection

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Experience Required

You will need climbing experience above 14,000ft (4,300m) on multi-day peaks and in cold environments with movement on snow and ice. Knowledge of glacier travel and crevasse rescue procedures is necessary. You can expect the expedition to be extremely Strenuous - climbing at high altitudes in cold temperatures carrying a load of up to 55lb (25kg) for 5-7 days. Climbers wishing to join the expedition and have a good chance of success must be able to:

• Demonstrate good mountaineering skills with no less than 20 previous Alpine, or winter mountaineering days
• Be well organised and self-reliant
• Show previous expedition experience
• Carry a 20Kg pack and pull a 25Kg sled at the same time
• Perform self-rescue from a crevasse and participate actively in a crevasse rescue

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	Meeting in		Availability
2027 dates to be announced — Please register your interest

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Chile on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Charter flight from Punta Arenas to Mount Sidley Base Camp via Union Glacier.
• All leader and guides' costs.
• 25kg baggage allowance on flight to Antarctica from Punta Arenas.
• All communal climbing equipment, e.g. tents, ropes, stoves, shovels, sleds and medical kit.
• All expedition food whilst in Antarctica.
• Celebration dinner and Certificate of Achievement
• Jagged Globe kitbag.

What the price does not include

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (Can be arranged on request.)
• UK airport taxes.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas.
• Meals in Punta Arenas.
• Excess baggage on flight to Antarctica.
• Personal equipment (a climbing equipment and clothing list will be sent to you on receipt of your booking deposit).
• Charges incurred as a result of flight delays (including additional hotel nights).
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Optional trips.
• Tips.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip.

Oultine Itinerary

Important Note: Delays. Delays of 1 - 3 days are likely for the flights between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier in either direction. In exceptional circumstances these delays may extend to a week or more. We recommend that you do not book any essential work or travel commitments in the two weeks following your scheduled return to Chile.

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Punta Arenas in Southern Chile Flights originating in the UK can be arranged on request. Team members joining in Punta Arenas can meet the rest of the team at the hotel.
Day 3:	Preparations/gear check
Day 4:	Briefing and slideshow
Day 5:	Depart for Union Glacier At Punta Arenas airport, we board the chartered ALE jet for the 4 hour flight to Antarctica. The route crosses the Drake Passage, then follows the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the spine of the Ellsworth Mountains. We land on a naturally occurring blue-ice runway on Union Glacier where we will take our first steps on Antarctica. It is then an 8 km journey by vehicle to Union Glacier Camp.
Day 6 - 7:	Union Glacier In Union Glacier, we will meet the guides and begin expedition preparations with the climbing team. We spend a couple of days climbing small peaks near Union Glacier Camp to acclimatise to Antarctic conditions, get to know the team, and fine tune clothing and equipment before setting off for Mount Sidley.
Day 8:	Fly to Mount Sidley Base Camp Mount Sidley is located in the Executive Committee Range about 885 km from Union Glacier. When weather conditions permit, the team will fly by ski aircraft for about five hours over the vast emptiness of West Antarctica. Upon landing, we set up base camp at approximately 2,042m, below the imposing bulk of the mountain.
Day 9 - 14:	Climb Mount Sidley From base camp to the summit of Mount Sidley involves approximately 2,225 m of elevation gain. We climb alpine-style, setting intermediate camps on the mountain and carrying all of food and equipment with us. It may be possible to use skis lower down on the mountain, but most of the climb will be done with crampons. The slopes of the mountain are wind-blown, with hard packed snow and sections of blue-ice. Gentle slopes near the base give way to steeper terrain higher up. Summit day offers spectacular views as we follow the summit ridge along the rim of the caldera. The walls of the Weiss Amphitheatre drop steeply away below you and neighboring Mount Waesche may tempt you with its snowy slopes. The route follows the summit ridge weaving its way between a fantastical maze of snow mushrooms. These massive snow features are formed by wind and moisture depositing rime ice on small obstacles over time. After the summit we return to high camp, and then retrace the route back to base camp.
Day 15:	Return flight to Union Glacier On return to base camp we will wait for a ‘weather window’ for the return flight to Union Glacier Camp. Depending on flights, we may have at least one day at the end of the climb to explore more of Union Glacier. We enjoy a celebration dinner and receive a certificate from ALE to commemorate the Mount Sidley Expedition.
Day 16:	Return to Punta Arenas When weather and runway conditions permit, the intercontinental aircraft will arrive at Union Glacier to transport us back to Chile. We will be met at the airport and taken back to your hotel.
Day 17 - 18:	Fly home

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