September 15, 2024
Phunuru reports that the weather was excellent today, enabling the team to climb up to 5900m for acclimatization, before returning to Camp 1 for a second night. Meanwhile, Chhiring and Mingma took loads up to Camp 2 today and dropped back to Camp 1. Tomorrow the plan is to move to Camp 2 for a couple nights up there. So far so good!
September 14, 2024
Phunuru reports that the Sherpas and members had their team puja this morning with the local Lama for good luck, before an early lunch and starting their first acclimatization rotation. The weather cleared up in the afternoon and Phunuru, Ang Karma and the climbers headed up Camp 1, taking about 4 hours to get there. Their plan is to spend two nights at C1 and then move up to C2 and spend a couple nights up there. Chhiring and Mingma Sona will come up to Camp 1 tomorrow, with the goal to get some loads pushed up to Camp 2 to support the team up there.
September 12, 2024
Front row seats at Manaslu Base Camp (Phunuru)
Phunuru reports that our team is doing well and have been enjoying the Base Camp as they acclimatize to the 15,750 foot elevation. They are staying active with some climbing practice and hiking in preparation for their first trip up to Camp 1 (about 19,000 ft). So far so good!
September 9,2024
Join IMG’s Porter McMichael and team on Mt Vinson for an amazing trip to the top of Antarctica. We have one space available, plan to leave home the day after Christmas for the December 30 flight to the Ice. Scheduled return flight back to Punta on January 10. This is the trip of a lifetime! At 16,050 ft, the Vinson Massif is the highest peak on the Antarctic continent and one of the most unique of the Seven Summits.
September 8, 2024
Leaving Samagaon (Phunuru)
On the way to Manaslu Base Camp looking back down towards Samagaon (Phunuru)
Manaslu from just below Base Camp (Phunuru)
Welcome cake at Base Camp (Phunuru)
Phunuru and the team departed Samagaon this morning and ascended the trail up to Manaslu Base Camp, with some great views along the way! For the history buffs out there, this trail was significantly improved by Russell Brice back in the old days before Manaslu became so popular, and now it is an excellent route. Phunuru says the mountain conditions look good and the Base Camp does too. They were welcomed by their cook team who made them a special cake!
September 7, 2024
Manaslu area map
On the trek to Samdo (Phunuru)
Phunuru reports that the team did another acclimatization hike, this time heading up the valley towards Samdo (about 12,700 ft) and the Tibet Border. This is the trail to the Larkya La Pass, on the Manaslu circuit trek. After visiting Samdo the team returned to Samagaon (Sama). Depending on the weather, their plan is to take a rest day and then head up to Base Camp.
September 5th, 2024
Phunuru reports that the Manaslu team are doing well in Samagaon (about 11,500 ft). The team has been hiking around town including a trip up to Birendra Lake. They also stopped by the local gompa for a puja blessing. Good news from up on the mountain, the fixing sherpas have now opened the route to Camp 2! The Base Camp staff are working on getting that camp ready to go, so the IMG team will be moving up in the next couple days.
September 5th, 2024
Tyler reports the Inca Trail team went back up to Machu Picchu this morning for the climb of the nearby peak of Waynapicchu. This small rocky peak is quite exciting to climb, with a great view back down toward the Citadel. Now the team is headed back down to Aquas Calientes where they will be catching the train for the ride back to Cusco.
September 4th, 2024
Yesterday the team traveled the rugged traverse of the ridge and visited the archeological sites of Runkuracay, Sayacmarca, and Phuyupatamarca en route to the 3rd camp at Winayhuayna (11,930′).
This morning the team was up early with headlamps on the trail, in order to reach the Sun Gate at dawn! Dropping down further they toured the Machu Picchu Citadel, before descending by bus to the hotel in Aguas Calientes (6,724′) for showers, a nice lunch, and some rest. Tomorrow the team will go back up to Machu Picchu to climb the small peak of Waynapicchu (8,835′) in the morning, before they catch the train back to Cusco in the afternoon. Well done team, you survived the Inca Trail!
Sept 3, 2024 – Ang Jangbu and Phunuru report from Kathmandu that our Autumn 2024 Himalayan season is starting! First up are the Manaslu climbers, now on their way to the eighth-highest mountain in the world (8,163m). After a day of gear packing and preparations in Kathmandu, the team headed to the airport today for the helicopter flight to Soti Khola and then on to Samagaon. The team will spend several days in Samagaon doing some acclimatization hiking, before they move up to the Base Camp. Meanwhile, the sherpa team hit the trail a few days ago from Dharapani with additional equipment and food. They trekked over the Larkya La Pass to reach Samagaon from the west. All’s well in Nepal!
