2024-2025 Mt Vinson Expedition-Last Call!

September 9,2024

: The blue ice runway of Patriot Hills (Greg Vernovage)

: Vinson Camp 1 (Emily Johnson)

: Topping the headwall with Sue’s Pyramid in the background (IMG)

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.

Manaslu climbers arrive to Base Camp

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!

Manaslu climbers trek to Samdo

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.

Manaslu climbers getting ready in Samagaon

September 5th, 2024

: Manaslu climbers at the lake (Phunuru)

: Hiking in Samagaon (Phunuru)

: At the gompa in Samagaon (Phunuru)

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.

Waynapicchu summits!

September 5th, 2024

: Looking down at Machu Picchu from the summit of Waynapicchu (Tyler Nachand)

: Steep trail up Waynapicchu (Eric Simonson)

: Waynapicchu from Machu Picchu (Eric Simonson)

: View from the train heading down the Urabamba River to Cusco (Eric Simonson)

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.

Inca Trail trekkers reach Machu Picchu

September 4th, 2024

: At the Machu Picchu citadel with the rocky peak of Waynapicchu rising behind (Tyler Nachand)

: The team at Runkuracay ruin near the second pass (Tyler Nachand)

: Looking down on the Winaywayna ruins from near the third campsite (Tyler Nachand)

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!

Manaslu climbers on the way!

: Unloading in Samagaon (Phunuru)

: Samagaon view from the helicopter (Phunuru)

: Ready for the duffel shuffle (Phunuru)

: The IMG Manaslu Team at the hotel in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu)

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!

Inca Trail trekkers across Dead Woman’s Pass

: On the Inca Trail heading to the Dead Woman Pass (Eric Simonson)

: Rugged hiking on the Inca Trail (Eric Simonson)

Sept 3, 2024 – The Inca Trail team continued the gradual ascent out of the Urubamba River valley, all the way to the famous Dead Woman’s Pass (13,780 feet). Then, a nearly 2000 foot drop down the rugged stone steps of the Inca Trail led them to the second camp at Pacamayo. Tyler reports the weather has remained dry, though they had some clouds which kept the temperature nice for hiking. Everyone is acclimatizing normally and doing well. Next up is the most rugged section of the route (a few thousand more stone steps!) as they continue traversing the ridge that leads to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu trekkers hit the Inca Trail

September 1st, 2024

: The Inca trail sign (Tyler Nachand)

: Inca Trail Map

IMG leaders Tyler Nachand and Maximo Henostroza report that the team were out the door early from the hotel in Ollantaytambo, on their way to the trailhead at about 8200 ft. Once they arrived, the trekkers needed to show permits and passports, since the number of trekkers permitted to start the Inca Trail each day is limited. While they were getting checked in, Maximo was getting the local Quechua porters and camp staff squared away for the journey. They started the hike at the Urubamba River (one of the highest tributaries of the Amazon) with the goal of a long gradual ascent to the first night’s camp at Wayllabamba (9,840′). Tyler said that it was a bit cloudy today, which was going to keep it a bit cooler. Maybe they will get a sprinkle. We’ll see!

Inca Trail trekkers head to Sacred Valley

August 31st, 2024

: Machu Picchu trekkers visit the Sacred Valley near Pisac (Tyler Nachand)

: Visiting Ollantaytambo (Tyler Nachand)

: At the llama farm (Tyler Nachand)

The team departed Cusco this morning and traveled to the Sacred Valley, one of the main centers of the Inca culture. They visited ancient archeological sites at Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and made a visit to the llama and Alpaca farm (and some shopping at the woolen mill gift store!). Tonight the team are enjoying their final hotel night before hitting the Inca Trail in the morning. All’s well in Peru!