IMG Kilimanjaro Team reaches Machame Camp (~10,000′)

December 22, 2023–

IMG Kilimanjaro Climbers in high spirits at the Machame Gate (Phunuru)

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru checked in and let us know the team has settled in at Machame Camp after an enjoyable day walking through the rainforest. The team moved well and were in great spirits after reaching camp in 4 hours and 45 minutes! Climbers look forward to a restful night before continuing their journey out of the rainforest towards Shira Plateau (~12,000ft), in the zone of “weird plants” like the Lobelia and Groundsel.

Walking through the rainforest towards Machame Camp (Phunuru)

Spacious tents at Machame Camp (Phunuru)

IMG Kilimanjaro Team excited for the journey ahead (Phunuru)

Kilimanjaro climbers ready to go!

December 21, 2023–

IMG Kilimanjaro team commences their journey over breakfast (Phunuru)

IMG senior guide Phunuru Sherpa reports from Moshi Tanzania that the December Kilimanjaro team have arrived with all their luggage. Good news! Today the members finished packing and weighing their duffel bags and had a chance to visit the town. Also, Phunuru and Kassim (our head Chagga guide) inspected the new tents that we sent over and worked on getting all the camping gear packed up. Phunuru says that the weather is quite warm, that the countryside is green from recent rains, and that there is some fresh snow on the summit of Kilimanjaro. Sounds like excellent conditions! They will be departing at 8am tomorrow morning for the Mahame Gate where they will get checked in with the Park and then start their climb. All’s well in Tanzania!

IMG Climbers enjoying the market in Moshi (Phunuru)

All packed up, ready to go (Phunuru)

Vinson climbers return to Base Camp

December 14th, 2023–

Vinson Basecamp (Eric Simonson)

IMG lead guide Porter McMichael reported that the team has safely descended from High Camp back to Vinson Base Camp. Everyone is doing well, tired and happy! It sounds like the summit day was clear and very cold, with air temps about -38C (recall that the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales cross at -40 so the temp was basically the same using either scale!). On the summit they had no wind, so it was perfect, but down lower they encountered 10mph winds that made for a bitter wind chill (estimated at minus 66 F). That’s why climbers bring all that warm gear!

They are now waiting to fly back over to Union Glacier Camp. Their flight from Union Glacier back to Punta Arenas is scheduled for December 18.

Eric Simonson

Vinson team on Top!

December 13th, 2023–

Porter sent us an Inreach on their descent from the summit: “100% on Top”. Congrats, team!

Last steps to the summit of Mt. Vinson (Eric Simonson)

They made it back to High Camp last “night” (actually it is 24 hour daylight) after their big summit day. After a good rest, their next goal will be to get back down the fixed ropes to Low Camp, and then continue down Branscomb Glacier to Base Camp. We’ll keep you posted!

Eric Simonson

Vinson Climbers at High Camp

December 19th, 2023–

Nearing High Camp with Mt Shinn in background (Eric Simonson)

IMG lead guide Porter McMichael reports that the team successfully moved up to the High Camp, where they are now dug in waiting for a good summit window. Everyone is doing well and they have plenty of food and fuel. The weather has been a bit windy, so they are hoping it calms down further.

Eric Simonson

Vinson climbers reach Low Camp

December 10th, 2023–

IMG lead guide Porter McMichael let us know that the team had a smooth trip up to the “Low Camp” area (9100 ft) where they are now dug into a Denali style camp. They hauled sleds with them on this move, ascending the Branscomb Glacier which turns to the left up onto a shelf below the mountain.

Looking down the Branscomb Glacier towards VBC (Porter McMichael)

They are taking a rest day currently and then it’s just a waiting game to pick the best weather window for the move up to the “High Camp” (12400 ft). We’ll keep you posted!

View down the Branscomb Glacier below Low Camp (Porter McMichael)

IMG climbers reach Vinson Base Camp

December 7th, 2023–

Porter McMichael reports that the flight in the 757 to Union Glacier went smoothly. After landing they paid a quick visit to the facility, before boarding the Twin Otter ski plane for the flight back to the north to the Sentinel Range and Mt Vinson Base Camp on the Branscomb Glacier at about 78° 31? S latitude. After all the travel, they are finally at the mountain!

The 757 on the ice at Union Glacier (Justin Merle)

They have set up a camp now, and the plan for tomorrow is to do a carry part way up to the Camp 1 site. Depending on how people feel, they’ll be moving up there in the next couple days. So far so good from Antarctica!

The Twin Otter ski plane at Mt Vinson Base Camp (Porter McMichael)

Mt Vinson climbers are on their way!

December 6th, 2023–

Porter McMichael reports that the team wrapped up their preparations yesterday in Punta Arenas with a chilly walk on the waterfront.

The IMG Vinson team in Punta Arenas (Porter McMichael)

This morning they were transferred to the PUQ airport where they loaded up into the Icelandair 757-200. Parked next to it is the Ilyushin Il-76 which is still used for cargo flights to Union Glacier (this plane was used for passenger flights too, for many years, prior to 2015).

The Icelandair 757 and IL 76 at Punta Arenas airport (Porter McMichael)

Now they are on the way to Union Glacier, about 4.5 hours of flying!

On the way to Antarctica (Flightaware)

Mount Vinson climbers ready to fly to The Ice!

December 5th, 2023–

IMG 2023 Mt. Vinson team (Porter McMichael)

IMG senior guide Porter McMichael reports from Punta Arenas, Chile at the southern tip of South America, that the Mt Vinson team have all arrived with their bags, and are doing well! Yesterday they did their gear checks and today they are doing their final packing and weighing of their duffel bags, in preparation for the ALE flight tomorrow to Union Glacier. The Union Glacier Base Camp set up at about 79 degrees south, barely 600 nautical miles from the South Pole, and is distinguished by a large area of blue ice which allows for wheeled airplanes to land. After the team gets to Union Glacier, they will fly by a smaller ski plane to the Mt Vinson Base Camp. So far so good from way down south!

Union Glacier Camp location

Eric Simonson

IMG Ecuador Team Stands on Top of Chimborazo Amidst Challenging Conditions

November 16th, 2023–

Climbers patiently awaiting their summit climb at the Carrel Refuge Hut (16,000ft) on Chimborazo (Romulo Cardenas)

Congratulations to our strong and driven Ecuador climbers for their successful climb of Chimborazo (20,561′)! The team woke up to overcast and snowy conditions but decided to poke into the storm and make a summit attempt. Climbers reported challenging conditions with a mix of snow, wind, and freezing temperatures, yet, were able to persevere and safely stand on top of Ecuador’s tallest peak. Climbers felt good on their descent and eagerly arrived back to BaÃ±os where they were welcomed with hot springs and nice food. Team members look to relax and celebrate their success before departing home in the next couple of days. Nice work to our Ecuador climbers!

IMG Climbers at the summit of Chimborazo (20,561′) after hard efforts overcoming cold, windy, and snowy conditions (Romulo Cardenas)