Climb Mt. Shuksan with IMG – Summer 2019!

January 30, 2019

IMG Guide Kevin Kayl on the summit of Shuksan (Harry Hamlin)

Climb one of the highest non-volcanic peaks in the Northwest with IMG! Mt. Shuksan (9,127′) boasts some of the most spectacular terrain in all of the Cascades and it’s the perfect mountain for a true alpine adventure.

Upward to the summit of Shuksan

Choose from four options:

4 Day Sulphide GlacierÂ – great for beginners!

4 Day Fisher Chimneys – for climbers with experience following 4th class rock and moderately steep snow/ice.

4 Day North Face – for climbers with steep snow/ice climbing and 4thÂ class rockÂ skills (offered as a privateÂ climb only).

6 Day Women’s Skills Seminar & Summit Climb via the Sulphide Glacier – any skill level!

: IMG Guide Austin Shannon leading the way on Shuksan

: Shuksan Summit (Dallas Glass)

Email: office@mountainguides.com or call 360-569-2609 for more info or register here!

Hitting the Trail on Aconcagua

January 30, 2019

Ready in Penitentes

Rikki was able to fire off one last photo early this morning before they jumped in the 20-minute van ride to the trailhead.Â Considering the shorts and t-shirts, it looks like a nice day for a stroll in the Vacas Valley to the Pampa de LeÃ±as camp.Â The terrain today is a gradual uphill walk on a rocky trail, nothing too challenging and a nice way to start the trip.Â I’m sure they packed some luxury food items in the mule loads for dinner tonight which probably included some steak, fresh veggies and maybe a bottle of wine.Â Nice work getting out of the gate.

Luke Reilly

KCC Training and Climbing in Nepal Next Winter

January 29, 2018

Great ice on a beautiful day for training in Phortse (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa checked in after completing the Khumbu Climbing Centerâ€™s (KCC) training this winter. Phunuru sent a few photos of our Sherpa Team training on ice and building anchors. Phunuru is heading back down to Kathmandu as we speak, and will be soon be on his way to Tanzania to lead IMGâ€™s February Kilimanjaro climb.

Ice Climbing during the KCC (Phunuru Sherpa)

If you are looking for a different sort of Mt Everest experience, this is the time of year to go to the Khumbu. Very few tourists, cold and clear, and fun ice climbing! After training on the ice, take advantage of your acclimatization and head farther up the valley for a visit of EBC or winter climbs of Lobuche and Island Peak!

Anchor building in Phortse at KCC training (Phunuru Sherpa)

There is a lot of great climbing in the Khumbu Valley during the winter. If you are interested in heading over to Nepal and doing some climbing, get in touch with Greg Vernovage.

IMG Denali Prep Seminar & Summit Climb!

January 29, 2019

: Camp Muir

: Wind-scoured upper mountain

We don’t know about you, but we are having serious Rainier withdrawals here at IMG! We have been keeping ourselves busy purchasing new gear for our rentals and posting lots of inspiring pictures of our different trips around the world. Still, we are most excited to get back on the mountain closest to home. Our first Denali Prep Seminar of the season is two short weeks away and while that one is full, we do have room on the following:

March 2-8
March 16-22 (2 spots)
March 30 – Apr 5
April 13-19
April 27 – May 3

This is an excellent way to spend quality time on Rainier without the crowds while acquiring mountaineering skills you can take anywhere in the world! Learn all about building snow anchors, expedition camp building, glacier travel & route finding, crevasse rescue, avalanche hazard evaluation, and more! When the weather and conditions cooperate, the seminars train out of Camp Muir and conclude with a summit push via the Ingraham Glacier.

Email: office@mountainguides.com or register here!

Heather Garland

The Finer Side of Ouray Ice Climbing Programs

January 29, 2019

Andy & Justin share the fine art of sipping espresso

IMG guides, Andy Polloczek and Justin Merle, take time out to explore the finer side of espresso sipping in town before heading out for a day on the ice. This week they are climbing with the Veteran’s Seminar, a group of returning climbers who come back year after year to enjoy Ouray and climb with the best.

Programs operating in the Ouray Ice Park are full for the 2019 season. If you’re interested in climbing with IMG in Ouray, we will happily accommodate backcountry-based private programs. Please contact us, and we’ll help put together a guided iceÂ climbing program forÂ you: office@mountainguides.com

George Dunn

Mt. Whitney with IMG!

January 29, 2019

The Mountaineer’s Route – Mt Whitney (IMG Archives)

Mt Whitney (14,495â€™) in Californiaâ€™s Sierra Nevada is the highest peak in the lower 48. IMG only climbs it in the spring, before the crowds, and only by the Mountaineerâ€™s Route! With terrain up to 45Â°, this is truly a mountaineer’s challenge.

Email: office@mountainguides.com and sign up today!

Mt Rainier Update

January 29, 2019

View from the Paradise â€œeastâ€ webcam on January 28, 2019

Mt Rainier National Park is open as far as Longmire, but the road to Paradise is not yet open to the public. The weather was nice yesterday (Monday) and the NPS managed to get a good start on plowing the Paradise Parking Lot, which is covered by about 5 feet of snow that has fallen since plowing ceased December 22. The Mt Rainier weather report for the next couple days looks good, so hopefully the Park road crew will be able to finish the job soon. We are expecting the snow to start falling again by the end of the week.

IMG is looking forward to our upcoming programs on the mountain with an AIARE Level 1 avalanche course February 8-10 and a Denali Expedition Seminar February 16-22. All systems are go for these programs!

Eric Simonson & George Dunn

Ready, Set, Go for Aconcagua!

January 29, 2019

: Loading up the van (Martin Lucero)

: Thumbs up in Mendoza (Rikki Dunn)

The next Aconcagua team hit the road this morning to Penitentes.Â Rikki Dunn and Martin Lucero are at the helm.Â With a small team of five, this is certainly going to be a special experience.Â This is Rikki’s second trip on Aconcagua this season, I guess he just can’t get enough.

Now that all the food packing and gear prep has been completed it’s time to start making their way to basecamp.Â The van ride to Penitentes is a pretty one; once the team arrives they will finalize mule loads and wrap up today with a big plate of food and maybe a glass of wine.

Tomorrow morning everybody will switch out their flip flops and sandals for a pair of hiking boots and hit the trail.Â First stop along the way to basecamp is Pampa de LeÃ±as.

Luke Reilly

Carstensz Pyramid in 2019!

January 28, 2019

: 2018 IMG Carstensz Team on the Summit! (Jonathan Schrock)

If you missed this excellent Carstensz Pyramid Trip Report written by IMG Lead Guide, Jonathan Schrock, when we first published it, here’s another chance! We’re sure you’ll agree, Carstensz Pyramid is nothing short of an absolute adventure. You don’t have to take our word for it though, email Greg Vernovage: Everest@MountainGuides.com and come see for yourself!

Don’t fall in Lake Titicaca!

January 24, 2019

Lake Titicaca from Copacabana (Greg Vernovage)

If someone falls into Lake Titicaca, it is tradition not to rescue them but to let them drown as an offering to the Earth Goddess Pachamama. Legend has it that the first Inca rose from the lake’s depths.Â We will visit Lake Titicaca before heading to the Cordillera Real Mountain Range to climb 3 great peaks.Â We still have space available on both of our Bolivia trips happening this summer.

You have questions and we have answers.Â Send Greg Vernovage an email at Everest@MountainGuides.com