The story of Lord Forsyth's climb of Mount Vinson in pictures

You may also use the other image controls in the mini-menu (accessible after a photo has been enlarged by clicking it). If more detail is available in the image currently being viewed, for example, then the 'Expand to actual size' button will expand it even further.

Clicking the enlarged image or pressing the 'x' in the mini-menu will close the photo and return you to this page. The slideshow will also return you here when it finishes.

Please note that some photographs are medium – not high – resolution. These images can be identified by the presence of a timestamp.

Our Russian Ilyushin cargo jet ready for take-off at Punta Arenas, Chile No-frills travel on the Ilyushin Inside the Ilyushin - view towards the rear cargo door The amazing, natural blue-ice runway at Union Glacier Stepping into Narnia... The eagle has landed Grounded at Union Glacier, awaiting a clear weather window The view from my tent Yes it's a proper bed in a double-skinned tent at Union Glacier Camp The communications mast at Union Glacier Camp The relative comforts of the dining and kitchen tent at Union Glacier Camp Inside the Twin Otter - with guides, staff and Swiss and Malaysian climbers A frozen wilderness below Our first glimpse of the Ellsworth mountains Frozen sentinels... At last we can get climbing Baggage retrieval Chatting with the Canadian pilot who, sadly, slips here a few days later and breaks his arm Our new homes... the dining/communications tent is the pink one at the back Inside the kitchen, dining and communications tent at Base Camp My guide David's tent, with our skis and Vinson's peak towering in the distance Heading up the 2,800-metre acclimatisation climb Switching to crampons on the steeper ground Still another 1000-metres to go Posing with the distinctively shaped Mount Shinn in the background David Hamilton and me enjoying a break The view from the top of the acclimatisation peak... ... and back down on skis View of Vinson's summit from Base Camp A view of the summit of the 2,800-metre acclimatisation climb Preparing for the New Year Hogmanay supper Setting-off the next day for Low Camp This is hard work! Continuing up the glacier Negotiating a small crevasse... Rest and recovery Low Camp - protected against the wind by ice-block walls Our cooking tent at Low Camp A fortress against the storms My tent at Low Camp is on the far left Rest day recreation Setting-off on the 3,300-metre acclimatisation climb On steeper ground, with patches of bullet-hard blue ice Transmitting a post and photo for my blog using the sat phone connected to the PDA Mount Shinn to the left, and the route to High Camp to the right Continuing upwards towards the ridge Solid rock Setting off with a very heavy load for High Camp I'm not enjoying this! Easy ground beyond Camp The route ahead (spot the other climbers and note the scale!) Starting on the fixed-ropes - one step at a time... Into thinner air Halfway... and a short break Yesterday's ridge climb is below left The final 300-metres Growing exposure At the top of the fixed ropes Shattered but pressing on, with Mount Shinn in the background Finally... High Camp Dinner is served, but I am shivering with cold Setting off from High Camp for the summit Only 10 hours climbing to go! One foot in front of the other A mirror on my world The route ahead Roped-up in case of crevasses Less than three hours to go... The summit push begins Views to die for The sting in the tail On the narrow summit ridge - puffing like a steam engine Will I make it? I'm now very tired and out of breath in the thin atmosphere The final push - with an Antarctic panorama reflected in my goggles Scrambling to the top One more heave Urging myself on now Just a few steps more... My moment of joy! It's taken 14 months of planning and hard training to get here On top of the bottom of the world! But the summit is only halfway! Starting to pick my way down Negotiating my way off the summit ridge Big drops and deep breaths Out of danger Using the satphone to leave an audio message from High Camp for the blog Back to High Camp after 10 hours at the very top of Vinson Savouring our success - the experience of a lifetime The pee hole at High Camp Yes, that's what it is. At -25C, speed is desirable! Beginning the descent to Low Camp Back to that heavy pack again Descending the fixed ropes to Low Camp Still a long way to go Exhausted again! Base Camp ahead Base Camp with the plane ready to fly us out to Union Glacier Camp This one I've earned!    Return to the Blog Top