The Icefall Route is in!

April 4, 2021

Meeting with Pangboche Lama Ngawang Paljurin Pengboche (Chhuldim Ang Dorjee Sherpa)

IMG Expedition Leader Jonathan Schrock checked in this morning to let us know that all is well up and down the Khumbu Valley with our IMG Teams.  Yesterday, Team 1 followed the Sherpa tradition of meeting with Lama Ngawang Paljur at the Pangboche monastery for a blessing, before heading on up to Pheriche.  Today they took a short acclimatization hike up the hill behind Pheriche and had beautiful views of Lobuche and Ama Dablam.  This evening included a birthday celebration for Karl, which included a freshly baked cake, always an event that you don’t want to miss.

After three great nights in Namche for acclimatization, Kevin and Team 2 departed Namche and had a beautiful day on the trail to Phortse.  The trek over to Phortse is one of our favorites, with beautiful views of Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest along the way.  Phortse is home to many of IMG’s Sherpa team and is located in a perfect place for spending a night a bit off the beaten trail.  Tomorrow, Team 2 will trek the high trail route to Pangboche for their own visit with the Lama, before moving on to Pheriche.

Sonam and Phunuru looking down the valley towards Pheriche_and Ama Dablam (Eric Simonson)

Higher up the valley, IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa moved to Lobuche Base Camp and reports that our camp site and staff are all ready for the Team 1 arrival tomorrow.   And, even further up the valley, Ang Jangbu moved to Everest Base Camp where he will be working with our advanced team over the next few days fine tuning the camp ahead of our Teams’ arrival.  Ang Jangbu also wanted to let us know the Icefall Doctors have finished the route all the way to Camp 2!  IMG Guides Dawa Tenzing and Sherpa Fura will be departing EBC at 3am to head up the Icefall to Camp 1 and Camp 2 in order to claim our camp sites.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage