Union Glacier Camp is the only private seasonally occupied camp in Antarctica. It is located in the Heritage Range

Heritage Range

The Heritage Range is a major mountain range, long and wide, situated southward of Minnesota Glacier and forming the southern half of the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica...

, Ellsworth Mountains

Ellsworth Mountains

The Ellsworth Mountains are the highest mountain ranges in Antarctica, forming a long and wide chain of mountains in a north to south configuration on the western margin of the Ronne Ice Shelf. They are bisected by Minnesota Glacier to form the northern Sentinel Range and the southern Heritage...

, on Union Glacier

Union Glacier

Union Glacier , is a large, heavily-crevassed glacier which receives the flow of several tributaries and drains through the middle of the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica. The glacier drains from the plateau at Edson Hills on the west side of the range and flows east between Pioneer...

 that gives it its name. It is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC (ALE), a company that provides expedition support and tours to the interior of Antarctica.

The camp is situated near Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC

Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC

Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC is the blue ice runway for Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica. It is located in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains, on the glacier that gives it its name. It is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC , a company that provides expedition support and...

 a rare, naturally-occurring, blue ice runway

Blue ice runway

A blue ice runway is a runway constructed in Antarctic areas with no net annual snow accumulation, so that the resultant ice surface is capable of supporting aircraft landings using wheels instead of skis...

 that allows wheeled jet cargo aircraft to land. Russian Ilyushin Il-76

Ilyushin Il-76

The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas...

 aircraft regularly transport equipment and personnel to the camp.

From Union Glacier Camp transportation to the South Pole

South Pole

The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...

, Vinson Massif

Vinson Massif

Vinson Massif is the highest mountain of Antarctica, lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, which stand above the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about from the South Pole and is about long and wide. At the highest point is Mount...

, Hercules Inlet

Hercules Inlet

Hercules Inlet is a large, narrow, ice-filled inlet which forms a part of the southwest margin of Ronne Ice Shelf. It is bounded on the west by the southeast flank of the Heritage Range, and on the north by Skytrain Ice Rise. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for the LC-130 Hercules...

 and other locations is by Twin Otter and Basler BT-67

Basler BT-67

-See also:-External links:* * * * *...

 ski planes.

During the months of November to January, when the weather is the least hostile, jet charter flights are operated from Punta Arenas, Chile

Punta Arenas, Chile

Punta Arenas is a commune and the capital city of Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antartica Chilena. The city was officially renamed Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to Punta Arenas...

to the camp.