Hi, it's Robert Anderson reporting for Antarctica 2003.

We set out yesterday on Mount Vinson, with a goal to ascend about 8,000 feet on Vinson's west face. That's over a mile and a half of vertical up to the top. On the climb we found very challenging conditions--powder snow, breakable crust, eventually very hard snow and even a bit of ice.

Going up the final headwall to the summit plateau, we resorted to two ice tools on very steep ground to get up over some rocks and on up to the plateau. After 15 hours we arrived at the plateau, (and) really stepped into what Antarctica is known for: very strong, frigid wind, temperatures immediately numbed our fingers.

We rapidly changed into our down jackets and pants. Having ascended 7,000 feet of the 8,000 foot climb at this moment, we were pretty tired as we set out for the 2-mile walk across the exposed summit plateau. One member of our team grew increasingly fatigued. I think if we'd been anywhere else, or another, more friendly continent, we might have had some more options, but here at 15,000 feet, we made a quick decision to descend immediately to help him get down.

Down-climbing the immense face took us another 7 very long and hard hours, but after 22 hours we arrived back at our high camp, and got down here safely. Twelve hours later, we are now up and feasting on soup and potatoes. Everyone is well, we've quickly recovered, and as we sit here at the base of our route now it doesn't seem like it's so far back up there again. We're thinking about what our options might be.

Right now, we have clouds and snow outside though; it's snowing lightly as I talk to you. And we've got not a whole lot of food left, so we're going to have to make a decision pretty quick as to our next move. Next few days should prove pretty interesting, but everybody's feeling really good and I just see a little bit of sun coming over the top of Vinson right now, so things might be looking up.

We'll report back in a day or two on our plans. Thanks.

— Robert Anderson, expedition leader and MountainZone.com correspondent