Inca Trail trekkers cross the Dead Woman’s Pass

August 24th, 2024

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

: Camp 2 on the Inca Trail (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler checked in by satellite phone to report that the team are doing well. Today they continued their long steady climb out of the Urubamba River valley, ascending on ancient stone steps until they reached the famous Dead Woman’s Pass at 13,780 ft. After a well-deserved rest break, the route then drops down into a basin where the Pacamayo camp is located at about 11,800 ft. This is a nice camp, but there is no easy way “out” from here, as you must ascend up over a pass to either go back or go forward on the Inca Trail! Tomorrow the team will push forward over the next pass and then after that the Inca Trail slowly descends over the next couple days (with plenty of ups and downs) all the way to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu trekkers hit the Inca Trail

August 23, 2024

: Start of Inca Trail (Tyler Nachand)

: Inca Trail Map

: First day on the Inca Trail (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler and the team departed Ollantaytambo on schedule this morning and shuttled to the trailhead where they met up with their porters and staff. First off was the mandatory check in with the government authorities, who carefully review everyone’s permits since the access to the Inca Trail is strictly controlled to avoid overcrowding. Then, it was finally time to start hiking! Today the route climbs steadily to the first camp at Wayllabamba (9,840′). Tomorrow they will continue the ascent over Dead Woman’s Pass (Warmiwañusca in Quechua, the language of the Incas) at nearly 14,000 ft. All’s well on the Inca Trail!

Machu Picchu trekkers head to Ollantaytambo

August 22, 2024

The team at Ollantaytambo (Tyler Nachand)

Visiting Ollantaytambo (Tyler Nachand)

At the llama and alpaca farm (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler reports the Inca Trail trek team had a nice day today, driving north from Cusco and then dropping down a bit lower into the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River. This was a very important part of the Inca Empire and is the home of many fantastic archeological and cultural sites. Today the team toured Pisac and the Ollantaytambo ruins, and are staying at a hotel in the town of Ollantaytambo. Along the way they also stopped at the llama and alpaca farm, where wool is made into local handicrafts. The team is excited to start trekking, and tomorrow they will be heading to the start of the Inca Trail!

Inca Trail Trekkers enjoying Cusco

August 21, 2024

Evening in Cusco on the Plaza de Armas (Tyler Nachand)

Intricate stonework in Cusco (Eric Simonson)

Machu Picchu trekkers and Cusco (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler Nachand and Maximo traveled to Cusco after the Huayhuash trek wrapped up, and they have now met up with our first (of two) trek teams doing the Inca Trail route to Machu Picchu. Today was an easy day, visiting some of the sights around Cusco. Since they are at about 11,000 feet, its good to take it slow for the first couple days! They visited Qorikancha, Saksaywaman, Q’enqo, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Later in the day, after lunch, they visited the Cathedral and Plaza de Armas (central square). All’s well in Peru!

Huayhuash Trekkers are back to Huaraz

August 16, 2024

Jirishanca by moonlight from Jahuacocha (Tyler Nachand)

2024 IMG Huayhuash Trek team (Tyler Nachand)

Today the team wrapped up their trek with a final day on the trail. Last night at their camp at Jahuacocha (13,300′) they had a gorgeous nighttime view of Jirishanca by moonlight. Then, this morning they were up early for a traverse of the Pampa Llamac Pass (14,048′) before descending down to the village of Llamac where their vehicles awaited them for the drive back to Huaraz. Over the last week and a half the team encircled the Cordillera Huayhuash, crossing 8 high passes and seeing some incredible mountain scenery. Congrats to everyone starting with our Peruvian guide Maximo, the two mule drivers Jesus and Vayu, chef Jacinto and assistant Richard, Tyler and our six stalwart trekkers John and Juhn, James, Alexander, Ellen and Catherine. Tomorrow they will be heading back to Lima and connecting to their flights homeward. Well done team!

Huayhuash trekkers gone fishing!

August 15, 2024

Jahuacocha from Yauche with Rondoy and Jirishanca rising above (John Hodder)

Tyler Nachand reports that the team are excited to have done their eighth and final “big” day of trekking. From their camp at Gashpapampa (14,840’) the team traversed around Diablo Mudo Peak, then up and over the summit of Punta Yauche (15,825’). From there it was a gradual descent down to Lake Jahuacocha (13,300’). Their camp tonight is by a tributary stream, where they were able to do some bathing and also some fishing! He said they caught several trout to add to their dinner tonight and they are enjoying the scenery with great views of the famous peaks of Rondoy, Jirishanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash. Tomorrow they will finish the trek and travel back to Huaraz. Well done team, you are almost finished!

Huayhuash Trekker cross San Antonio Pass

August 14, 2024

Huayhuash trekkers at the San Antonio Pass (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler Nachand checked in to report the team had a nice hike from Hatun Cuyoc over San Antonio Pass (16,400′) and then back down into the Callinca Valley to the camp near the village of Huayllapa, at 11,500′. The weather was good and the mountain views incredible! After a big day of trekking everyone was excited to drop down to a lower altitude for a good night’s sleep.

IMG Guides Establish a New Route to Mt Rainier Summit

Aug 12, 2024 –

We are very proud to say that our IMG guides have established and prepared a new route to the summit of Mt Rainier. Over the last week they have put in about 25 “guide days” of work to scout, establish and prepare the route so that on Sunday our 3.5 day climb team could do the round trip. A big shout out to lead guides Max Bond and Porter McMichael who did 4 days of recon last week, to lead guide Peter Dale and his team that descended the route on Wednesday to get it kicked in better, and to Angie Diana, Maia Critchlow, Jackson Hall, Jacob Barstow and Paal Bredal for putting the finishing touches chopping and shoveling on it the last three days so that lead guide Stuart Johnson and his team could ascend and descend it yesterday. Well done, guides, way to think outside the box!

: IMG’s route work team on the Emmons Shoulder Route (Porter McMichael)

: IMG’s climbing team on the summit via the Emmons Shoulder Route on Sunday (Stu Johnson)

: IMG Emmons Shoulder Route

The “IMG Route” departs Ingraham Flats descending to the base of the Cleaver about 350 vertical feet, there is no need to first ascend to “High Crack”. There are a couple fixed ropes on the new route, but no ladders are needed at this time. The guides are also working on a variation from Muir via the “Low Gap” across Cathedral Rocks linking the Cowlitz Glacier and the Ingraham Glacier lower down so an ascent to the Ingraham Flats will not be necessary. Stay tuned for more!

Huayhuash Trekkers cross another high pass

August 12th, 2024

: IMG Huayhuash trekkers at the 3 Lakes viewpoint near Siula Pass (Tyler Nachand)

: IMG Huayhuash trekkers approach Lagoon Viconga camp (John Hodder)

After crossing the Siula Pass yesterday, Tyler reports that the team had another spectacular day of high altitude trekking, a bit shorter than the previous days. Today they climbed up and over the Paso Portachuelo (15,670’) and then dropped down to the Lagoon Viconga camp at 14,470. The team is on schedule and each day are becoming better acclimatized, so each pass is a bit easier than the previous one.

With the support of our team of donkey and mule arrieros, who expertly manage the dozen or so pack animals carrying the loads, along with the cook crew and guides Tyler and Michel, they are having a fantastic time!

Huayhuash Trekkers cross Siula Pass

August 11, 2024

: On the approach to the Siula Pass (John Hodder)

: The teams donkeys in camp at Lagoon Carhuacocha (John Hodder)

: Huayhuash Camp (John Hodder)

Tyler Nachand reports that the Huayhuash team had another great day of trekking, starting from the Lagoon Carhuacocha camp and climbing up and over the famous Siula Pass (15,740’) and then descending to the Huayhuash Camp (14,100’). They had some clouds and precipitation up on the pass in the form of graupel, but by the time they reached the camp the weather had cleared up. After multiple 6-8 hour trek days so far, tomorrow the team is looking forward to a slightly easier day. All’s well in Peru!