Mount Tyree facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Tyree
Mount Tyree from East (Photo: Christian Stangl, 2011)
Highest point
Elevation	4,852 m (15,919 ft)
Prominence	1,152 m (3,780 ft)
Listing	Seven Second Summits
Geography
Mount Tyree Location in Antarctica
Parent range	Sentinel Range
Climbing
First ascent	1967 by Barry Corbet and John Evans, members of Nicholas Clinch's team
Easiest route	Rock/ice climb

Annotated image of Vinson Massif shows location of Tyree, top left

Mount Tyree is a huge mountain in Antarctica, standing 4,852 meters (about 15,919 feet) tall. It's the second highest mountain on the entire continent! Mount Tyree is located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of Vinson Massif, which is the highest peak in Antarctica. This impressive mountain rises above the Patton Glacier to its north and the Cervellati Glacier to its southeast.

Exploring Mount Tyree: A Brief History

Mount Tyree was first spotted in January 1958. This happened during special flights made by the United States Navy's VX-6 squadron. Later that same month, a team called the Marie Byrd Land Traverse Party created maps of the area.

The mountain was named after Rear Admiral David M. Tyree. He was a very important leader in the U.S. Navy, in charge of their support team in Antarctica from 1959 to 1962.

Who Climbed Mount Tyree First?

Climbing Mount Tyree is very difficult. As of 2017, only six climbing groups, totaling fifteen people, had successfully reached its top. They used three different paths to get there.

The very first people to climb Mount Tyree were John Evans and Barry Corbet. They made their historic climb in January 1967. Later, in January 1989, Terry ‘Mugs’ Stump also reached the summit.

In 1997, two French climbers, Antoine de Choudens and Antoine Cayrol, made it to the top. Later that same year, famous climbers Conrad Anker and Alex Lowe also succeeded. On January 3, 2012, Hans Kammerlander, Robert Miller, and Christian Stangl completed the fifth ascent.

Recent Ascents and Notable Climbers

On January 16, 2017, five more climbers made the sixth successful climb of Mount Tyree. This group was part of an expedition called "Tyree 50/50." The climbers were Richard Thurmer, Jr., Victor Saunders, Maria "Pachi" Paz Ibarra, Seth Timpano, and Todd Tumolo.

This expedition was special for a few reasons:

• Richard Thurmer was the first amateur climber to reach the summit. He was also the second oldest man to do so, at 61 years old.
• Victor Saunders became the oldest person to summit Mount Tyree, at 66 years old.
• Maria "Pachi" Paz Ibarra was the first woman ever to reach the top of Mount Tyree.

The "Tyree 50/50" expedition happened exactly 50 years after the first climb in January 1967. This team also increased the total number of climbers who had reached the summit by 50%!

When to Climb Mount Tyree

The best time to climb Mount Tyree is from November to January. During these months, the sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours a day, making it the "warmest" time. Even then, temperatures near the summit can still be around −30 °C (−20 °F)!

To get to Mount Tyree, climbers usually take a 6-hour flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to a place called Union Glacier Camp. From there, they take a 200-kilometer (about 124 miles) flight on a ski plane to the base of the mountain.

Mount Tyree Climbers: A Complete List

Here is a list of everyone who has successfully climbed Mount Tyree as of 2017:

Maps of the Area

Sentinel Range map showing Mount Tyree.

You can find more detailed information about Mount Tyree and the surrounding area on special maps. One example is the "Vinson Massif and the Sentinel Range" topographic map, created by D. Gildea and C. Rada in 2007.

See also

In Spanish: Monte Tyree para niños