Autumn Nepal Treks with IMG

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a classic adventure! IMG offers treks through the Khumbu Valley of Nepal to the Everest South Side Base Camp as well as through Tibet to Everest North Side Base Camp. Dozens of companies offer Everest Treks, but we believe our experience, safety precautions, and solid record of trekking and climbing in the Himalayas make IMG your best choice for trekking Nepal and Tibet.

IMG also offers the opportunity to combine your Nepal trek with a climb of Lobuche Peak. Please read on to find out what makes the International Mountain Guides Everest Base Camp Trek different from all the rest.

Everest Base Camp / Ama Dablam Nepal Treks

October 5 - 24, 2008
(20 days with hike out)

This is the classic Everest Base Camp Trek, with the extra bonus of getting to start out with the Ama Dablam Expedition. Join the expedition team on the flight to Lukla, trek to Namche, Tengboche, Pangboche, and on to Dingboche. Then, continue on up the Dudh Kosi Valley to Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Kala Pattar and Everest Base Camp.

October 5 - 20, 2008
(16 days with helicopter departure)

Same as the above Trek, except for people in a big hurry, fly out by helicopter from Pheriche (about 14,000 feet) on the way down.

Everest Base Camp Nepal Trek and Lobuche Peak Summit Climb

October 5 - 29, 2008
(25 days with Lobuche Peak and Everest Base Camp)

For Base Camp Trekkers that want to stay longer and go higher, bring the crampons and ice ax and add a spectacular Lobuche climb to over 20,000' to your itinerary!

Lobuche Peak (20,075') is a perfect objective if you have Mt. Rainier skills (ice axe, crampons, rope). If you have climbed Rainier, then you have the skills you need for this climb.

This unique 25 day trek is designed for introductory level climbers. We have added to this program extra acclimatization time and climbing instruction on the glacier adjacent high camp. Learn basic skills for ice axe, ropes, crampons and then use those skills to climb beautiful and spectacular Lobuche Peak. After the climb, trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp, where you join the Ama Dablam team with their expedition puja. After saying goodbye, trek to Everest Base Camp and climb Kala Pattar for your own adventure. This is a great trip!!

Our Philosophy

IMG leads the way! Virtually every year we are one of the first teams to the summit. Our goal is to safely help as many team members as possible reach their goals, and we invest in the logistics that will make this happen (for example, five separate summit bids in 2006, four in 2007, and five in 2008!) We do not mount a "one size fits all" expedition. After 16 Everest expeditions, we know that each climber has different requirements in terms of support, whether they want to climb early or late in the summit window, how to optimally prepare, how many acclimatization rotations to do, etc. We have sufficient depth in our logistics to allow maximum flexibility. If you would like to join a world-class team on Everest, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your goals and qualifications and secure an exciting role for yourself on our team! We value our reputation as the premiere international climbing company and we only put programs in place that measure up to our own high standards.

Expedition Organization and Leadership

International Mountain Guides ("IMG")
IMG is the oldest and most respected high-altitude climbing service in the world, successfully operating since 1975. IMG's three principals, Eric Simonson, Phil Ershler, and George Dunn, have led and organized over 500 expeditions worldwide. Each is an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide with Himalayan expedition experience including Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, and Ama Dablam. IMG's Himalayan mountaineering programs are organized and directed by Eric Simonson. Eric has been a professional guide since 1973 and has conducted over 100 expeditions around the world, including over thirty to the Himalaya. His teams are led by American climbers and Sherpas who are the best in the business. Since 1991 we have conducted over forty 8000-meter expeditions and have seen over 300 climbers reach the summit of these peaks, including 179 on Everest.

Ang Jangbu and the IMG Sherpa Team
A veteran of dozens of expeditions and an Everest summiter, Ang Jangbu has worked with Eric Simonson on every IMG Himalayan program since 1991 and is a very popular leader. Ang Jangbu Sherpa and his staff put together one of the very best Sherpa teams for IMG. We are proud to have a group of Sherpas working for us who are among the best paid, best led, best equipped, and best trained in the business.

Mark Tucker
Mark's resume includes eight expeditions to Mt. Everest including both Nepal and Tibet, summitting via the North Ridge on the 1990 Peace Climb. A senior Rainier guide during the summer, Mark is one of IMG's most popular trip leaders, with dozens and dozens of international expeditions under his belt. Mark co-led successful Everest expeditions in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Well known as the "mayor of Base Camp," Tucker works hard to make sure all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Under his leadership, over 60 western climbers (and dozens of Sherpas) have reached the summit. For 2008, he returns to lead our next successful Everest expedition!

The IMG Sherpa team
Ang Jangbu and longtime IMG Sirdar (head Sherpa climb team leader) Ang Passang from Pangboche put together one of the very best Sherpa teams on the mountain each year for IMG. We are proud to have a group of Sherpas working for us who are the best paid, best led, best equipped, and best trained in the business. Many of them have been on multiple IMG Himalayan expeditions, they know how to work together as a team and understand exactly what is expected of them.

References

Joining a high-altitude trek or expedition is a serious decision. You should be completely confident in the organization and leadership before you make that decision. Many of you have climbed with us before, and because your experience with us was good, you're considering another climb with us. For those of you who haven't climbed with us before, we strongly encourage you to interview us thoroughly and also talk to our past clients. When you're ready to make the decision, we'll be happy to provide you with a complete list of references. Please also browse comments online from our trekkers and climbers.