January 23, 2019
Aconcagua behind them (Nickel Wood)
Third Aconcagua trip for the season is complete. Team finished their walk out from Plaza Mulas today, did a ‘duffle shuffle’ again in Penitentes and then loaded the trailer, jumped in the van and then it’s all downhill to Mendoza.
Fourth expedition will be heading out this week. We’ll share their progress with you once everyone is together and on their way!
Phil Ershler
January 23, 2019
Craig John on the summit of Mount Everest (2018) for the second time (20 years later)
Join IMG Senior Guide, Craig John, for nine days of hut to hut trekking in Iceland this summer! From the historical capital city of ReykjavÃk to the recently-formed craters Magni & Móði, Craig will lead you through a majestic landscape of gorges, waterfalls, lava flows, and more. And in the evenings, you can relax while he shares stories of his winter exploits in New England’s White Mountains, summers on Rainier, and what it’s like to summit Everest (twice!).
Limited space remains.
For more information or to sign up, contact Greg Vernovage.
January 22, 2019
Last Stretch into Base Camp (Nickel Wood)
Spoke with Nickel and Tincho from base camp on Aconcagua this morning. Everyone’s down and safe at Plaza Mulas and enjoying being cooked for by Grajales Expeditions, our service provider on the mountain. Air is thick and relatively warm and only one day of walking with a light pack separate the team from showers, steaks and a hotel bed in Mendoza.
We’ll confirm tomorrow or the following day that all’s well in Mendoza and that the team is readying for flights home.
Phil Ershler
January 22, 2019
IMG Client, John Wild, sent New England Program Directors, George Dunn & Craig John, the following email after his recent winter ascent of Mt. Washington in NH with IMG Guide Dan Riethmuller:
George/CJ,Â
The summit climb of Mt. Washington this past weekend was a great experience. It was a first class climb with a first class guide. Dan did a fantastic job getting us up and down without any problems. I will definitely recommend this climb and will be back on Mt. Washington in the future.
Best Regards,
John Wild
Well done!
IMG Office
January 21, 2019
Sky over Aconcagua (Peter Adams)
Our third expedition on Aconcagua is back at high camp, safe and sound, after a ‘hell of a go’. Got into the base of the Caneleta this morning but winds and low temperatures kept the crew from making a safe ascent. At the end of the day, discretion always has to win out over valor. 7,000 m is VERY high and summit day is VERY tough. You have to come home intact with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Congratulations to the team for giving it their all.
Base camp tomorrow and they will be eating steak in Mendoza late the following evening. Well done!
Phil Ershler
January 21, 2019
Phunuru Sherpa with Ama Dablam in the background (Nathan Berry)
Check out the great trip report written by IMG Guide, Nathan Berry about the 2018 Ama Dablam Expedition! This is an excellent write up about the climb and conditions on the mountain. If you are ready to head to Ama Dablam in 2019, we have a fantastic team coming together and are looking forward to getting back on Ama Dablam this Autumn! Please click on the link to read more about the 2018 Expedition.
https://www.mountainguides.com/amadablam-tr2018.shtml
Contact Program Director, Greg Vernovage if you are interested in joining the 2019 climb:Â Everest@MountainGuides.com
January 21, 2019
The Alaska Range from Denali (Mike Haft)
If you’re looking for the hands down best winter mountaineering seminar available, look no further than IMG’s Denali Prep Seminar. You’ll learn all of the skills necessary to take on everything from an intermediate route on Rainier to Vinson to Denali itself. We only offer a handful of these seminars each season and many have already filled, but we still have room on our March 2-8 program. That means room for you! Email: office@mountainguides.com for more info or sign up here!
Heather Garland
January 21, 2019
IMG Vinson 2019 (Luke Reilly)
The season down in Antarctica is now complete. Weather cooperated, the team stayed healthy and well-prepared. It all made for an excellent adventure with all members standing on the summit in pretty much perfect conditions. Everyone has now returned to Punta Arenas, Chile and some are starting flights home today. Great way to end the season. I have a feeling the team will be telling stories of this trip to family and friends for quite a long time.
We’re taking reservations now for next season. Antarctica and Vinson Massif are truly the adventure of a lifetime so maybe the 2019/20 season is the time when you finally decide you want to stand on the top of the bottom of the world.
Sign up here!
Phil Ershler
January 18, 2019
Chimborazo (Romulo Cardenas)
Let’s get everyone updated on the progress of groups ‘down South’ before the weekend.
Vinson – doing some serious ‘relaxin’. Team is at Vinson base camp waiting for the Twin Otter to be able to fly them over to Union Glacier camp. A bit too foggy now but the IL 76 is not scheduled to come in until the 20th so the team couldn’t be in a much better position. Vinson is ‘in their rear view mirror’ and they have plenty of time to make that flight. All is good.
Aconcagua – team has moved into C2. Both the carry and the move have gone well and the team is getting used to their higher sleeping altitude. A carry to C3 tomorrow is likely, conditions permitting. Now, the jockeying with the weather is beginning. Trick is to be at high camp (C3) when the forecast looks reasonable for a summit attempt and, of course, balance that with the time constraints of any expedition. They’re doing well and are where they should be.
Ecuador – done. Team is flying home. Probably saw more and did more than they had imagined. Not quite the summit of Chimborazo but everything else could not have gone much better. Thought we’d share just one more photo of the elusive Chimborazo to wrap up the expedition. Thanks to all the team members for joining IMG in Ecuador. Next opportunity to experience this trip is June. Hope we’re writing about the trip you’re on in a few months.
Phil Ershler
January 16, 2019
Final steps to Vinson summit (Phil Ershler)
Time, again, to relay updates from our teams in South America and Antarctica.
Let’s start with Vinson Massif. I literally just spoke with Luke Reilly and team on the summit of Vinson. Not a puff of wind and all members doing well and standing on the summit. High camp tonight and Vinson base camp tomorrow. That’s everything we could hope for. Congratulations.
Jay Lyons and Romulo Cardenas called me earlier today from Chimborazo. Two out of three summits for the team isn’t bad. Wanted that third but it just wasn’t to be. Everyone’s safe and pleased with their efforts.
Nickel Wood and team called to say the carry went quite well today to Camp 2. Team performed well and made the carry in good time. One more night at Camp 1 and they expect to move into Camp 2 tomorrow. Good, steady progress on Aconcagua.
That’s all for now!
Phil Ershler
