2019 Everest Blog is Live!

February 22, 2019

Mount Everest from the summit of Lhotse (Phunuru Sherpa)

The 2019 IMG Mount Everest Expedition Blog is live! We have been hard at work getting ready for the expedition this Spring and the blog is now on the website. We will be posting updates as often as possible throughout the season so you can follow along with the progress of our EBC Trek, Lobuche Climb, Lhotse and Mount Everest climbs as well as some private side trips off the beaten path including Gokyo and Mera Peak.

There is a lot going on this Spring in Nepal and we appreciate all of those out there following our expedition and supporting our team from home.

Greg Vernovage

Join IMG’s 2019 Cho Oyu Expedition!

February 22, 2019

The view from the summit of Cho Oyu (Greg Vernovage)

In case you missed our February Newsletter, here are the dates for our next expedition to the world’s 6th highest mountain!

The 2019 Cho Oyu (26,906′) trek & climb will begin by flying from Kathmandu to the capital city of Lhasa in Tibet. We’ll then explore the deep cultural history of local towns while we acclimatize. Friends and family who want to visit Tibet but are not up for the big climb are welcome to join for the trek!

Expedition Dates: August 26 – October 7, 2019

Email Greg Vernovage: everest@mountainguides.com for more information

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Shuksan Sunsets, Skills Seminar, & Summit Climb

February 20, 2019

Sunset from Mt. Shuksan (Viki Tracy)

Ladies! If you’ve been thinking about how amazing it would be to climb a mountain with other ladies, then 2019 is your summer! We still have room on our August 2-7 Mt. Shuksan Womenâ€™s Skills Seminar & Summit Climb. There truly is no better way to spend time in the pristine landscape of the North Cascades than on an IMG Women’s Seminar, acquiring new skills and forging the bond of the ‘sisterhood of the rope’!

Emily Johnston is one of IMG’s most requested guides for good reason!

In early August, the mountains are in prime condition for learning crevasse rescue techniques, snow anchor systems, route finding skills, fixed line ascension/descension, belaying/rappelling, and much more. So, we invite you to join us on Shuksan’s Sulphide Glacier this summer for an epic adventure, outstanding sunsets, and memories that will last a lifetime!

Sign up now while there is still plenty of time to train!

Contact: office@mountainguides.com or 360-569-2609 for more information.

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That’s a Wrap in Patagonia

February 20, 2019

Patagonia Panorama (Jonathan Schrock)

Our several trips to Patagonia this season are getting wrapped up.Â Jonathan and the Fitz Roy Extension group are currently on their way home from Calafate.Â They had a fantastic last few days of the trip.Â Weather was a little hit and miss and it wasn’t looking like the Fitz Roy group was going to show its face.Â Right at the last minute, things cleared up and their patience paid off.Â Johnny made some good logistical moves, shuffled some days around, and took advantage of their last day in Patagonia for a hike up to the impressive lookout of the towers.

: Approaching the Lookout (Jonathan Schrock)

: Group Photo in Front of Fitz Roy

: Photo Opportunity (Jonathan Schrock)

Brisk temperatures along with clear blue skies sounds pretty refreshing to me.Â Good work to all the trekkers this year in Patagonia.Â Keep an eye out in the next IMG newsletter for our 2019/20 Patagonia trip dates.Â If you’ve never been to Patagonia, it should make it onto your list, just look at these photos!

Luke Reilly

Aconcagua Summit!!!

February 19, 2019

Summit Photo

I received a Garmin inReach text yesterday at 3:05PM local time in Argentina, “All is well. 100% on top!”Â After all the hard work and patience, everything has paid off.Â Robert, Leo and his crew of climbers have successfully topped out on the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere and they’ve done it in great style.Â I’m awfully proud of this team for sticking together, working hard and accomplishing the goal that they set out to do.

: Morning sun at 20,500′ (Robert Jantzen)

: Storm clearing over the summit (Robert Jantzen)

: Moonrise over Ameghino from 21,000 feet (Robert Jantzen)

They are all currently down at the Plaza de Mulas basecamp.Â Tradition is to eat some pizza and have a soda or a beer.Â There may be a backcountry shower or two lined up this afternoon as well.Â The plan now is to organize and reorganize all the gear for the mules, and then hit the trail in the morning for the long walk out to the highway.Â Some people dread this walk, but I always thought it was a great way to unwind after a couple weeks on the mountain and reflect on the climb before hitting civilization.

Luke Reilly

First Denali Prep Seminar Facing Tough Conditions

February 19, 2019

Denali Prep Team # 1 (Eric Simonson)

IMG Lead Guide, Kevin Kayl, radioed in this morning from near Panorama Point where the first Denali Prep Seminar of the season spent the night on the mountain. (Knowing just where to hike/camp in this area is essential as the face is prone to avalanche.) They were breaking down camp and reviewing options for today. In ideal conditions, they’d head up the Snowfield in the direction of Camp Muir. However, there is fresh snow falling and considerable accumulation in the forecast (up to 30″ at Paradise in the next 24-36 hours) with heavy winds and zero visibility, so Kevin and his assistant guides (Leanne Sebren, Keith Rumberg, and Phil Nicoletti) will carefully assess current and potential avalanche hazards and the team’s ability to travel uphill safely.

We will continue to monitor the weather for them and hope for improvements. Fortunately, this is exactly the type of terrain and weather-related decision making the prep seminars are designed to teach!

Register now for one of the following seminars:

March 2-8
March 30 – April 5
April 13-19
April 27 – May 3

Email: office@mountainguides.com or Call: 360-569-2609 for more information.

Heather Garland

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Best Safari Day Ever

February 16, 2019

Team at the Ngorongoro Crater overlook (Phunuru Sherpa)

Phunuru reports today was the best day he’s had on safari yet, which is saying something since he’s done at least ten of our Kili climb and safari trips now.

The day started with a huge migration of thousands of zebra and wildebeest coming right by their camp this morning. After that, out on the Serengeti grasslands, they saw a dozen cheetahs, two leopards mating, and watched jackals chase and take down a wildebeest, along with tons of other animals and birds. Continuing to the east they visited Oldupai Gorge, then descended into the Ngorongoro Crater where they were able to spot three rhinos to round out their “Big Five” sightings.

At the Lodge, with pool and internet. Perfect. (Phunuru Sherpa)

After two nights in our luxury safari camps, this afternoon the team is at our Safari Lodge for the last night of the trip. They will have a leisurely morning tomorrow before heading back to Arusha for a final packing session and a transfer to the airport in the evening, to begin their long journey home. Well done team!

Eric Simonson

Powered by Pancakes

February 15, 2019

High Camp on Aconcagua

Rob checked in this afternoon and reported that their carry to Camp 3 today was successful and that the team was moving well.Â He also mentioned that the carry was powered by pancakes.Â It’s always smart to start off the day with a hearty meal in the mountains and pancakes definitely will check that box.Â They will be taking a rest day tomorrow and will start formulating the plan of when to move up to high camp for the summit bid.

Luke Reilly

The Huemul Circuit

February 15, 2019

: Smiles All Around

: The Team

Charlotte and Co. have made it back into civilization and they were able to get some photos sent my way.Â I couldn’t help but post some of these pictures from the last four days they spent out on the trail.

: Sunset in Patagonia (Charlotte Austin)

: Tyrolean in Patagonia (Charlotte Austin)

The trek that they did is called the Huemul Circuit and it was the first time IMG had ever run a trip in this area.Â After chatting with Charlotte and looking at these photos, I don’t think it will be the last!Â One of the days on the trail involved a Tyrolean over a river, looks pretty exciting.Â Everybody just landed in Buenos Aires on their way back home from Calafate.Â Safe travels to all.

Luke Reilly

Passing Ships in the Night

February 15, 2019

Happy in Patagonia (Jonathan Schrock)

Charlotte and her team were in El Chalten last night, Johnny and crew in Calafate.Â Today they’ll do a flip flop and pass on the highway to give each other high fives.Â Charlotte’s team woke up on a beautiful bay yesterday and walked the 12 miles back into El Chalten.Â This was the first time IMG has done The Huemul Circuit and it was a big success.Â Keep an eye out for a trip report from Charlotte and dates for next year.Â They enjoyed final meal and beer together last night and are getting ready for their flights home this afternoon.

Jonathan has wrapped up the first portion of his trip on the Torres del Paine “W” trek and part of the team is headed back home.Â A couple of the trekkers decided to join our Fitz Roy Extension to the trip.Â They’re heading over to Chalten as we speak to start exploring the Fitz Roy Massif.Â Fitz Roy must feel pretty special with as many photos as IMG groups have taken and will take of it this year.

Luke Reilly