July 20, 2018
Team went to the hut yesterday and got in a hike before dinner. The cook took good care of the team when it came to meal time. Visibility was a bit reduced but conditions generally were very good. Another hut/acclimatization day tomorrow.
All is good in Russia.
Phil Ershler
July 19, 2018
Phunuru Sherpa called this afternoon from their Serengeti Wilderness Camp reporting that the team arrived to the Serengeti yesterday and got right to it by seeing tons and tons of animals. Zebras, elephants, wildebeests, gazelles… the list goes on and on. They pulled into their camp with just enough time to shower up before dinner. After dinner they fell asleep to the sounds of the Serengeti just outside their tents.
Today the team enjoyed a morning game drive before returning to their luxurious wilderness camp for lunch. After lunch, they hopped back in to the pop-top Land Rovers and hit the road for an afternoon game drive.
Phunuru said they’ve seen more animals than they can count and that they’re looking forward to seeing the famous Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow.
Tye Chapman
July 19, 2018
Reasonable weather yesterday to get in some more acclimatization and also do some technique review on the lower slopes of Elbrus. Team is asleep now in the village of Terskol and looking forward to heading up to the hut on Elbrus tomorrow. A couple of gondola rides, a bit of hiking and they’re there. At least two nights at the hut before taking a summit shot. You just can’t shortcut acclimatization! Elbrus isn’t technically difficult but it’s a demanding summit day. Best to go in with our guns loaded, so to speak.
Jonathan and Sasha report group is strong, healthy and getting along well. Most of the ‘prep’ is done. A little luck weather-wise about 3 days from now would really be nice.
We’ll let you know how it goes.
Phil Ershler
July 19, 2018
Charlotte checked in this morning to let us know that it was a great day on the Potaniin Glacier. The Team rigged their gear and reviewed important techniques they will need for their climb to High Camp and climb of Mount Khuiten (14,350) and Nairandal Peak (13,714).
The weather is trending in a good direction for the team and the plan is to stay on schedule and trek up the glacier to High Camp tomorrow morning. After training today, the team made their way back to Base Camp and while repacking the gear they need for High Camp, had the opportunity to enjoy the landscape. Camels and yaks graze near camp and the Golden Eagles were hard at work surveying the landscape for their next meal. If it is warm enough, you might head down to the stream to clean up your face and wash your feet.
Base Camp is a pretty nice spot!
Greg Vernovage
July 18, 2018
Time to catch up with our team over in Russia. After finishing up a great day of touring in St. Petersburg, the team got on a plane and headed to the city of Mineralnye Vody. Sasha Sak, another guide friend with whom we work in Russia, met the team at the airport with their private ground transportation and they then made the 3-4 hour drive to the Baksan Valley and the village of Terskol.
Next day was the team’s first acclimatization hike. There’s an observatory a couple thousand vertical feet above the valley and it makes for a perfect acclimatization hike. Plus, if the clouds cooperate, the views of Elbrus are pretty darn good.
The crew is on the lower slopes of Elbrus today. More acclimatization and an opportunity to get in a little technique refresher. We’ve got the time, we need the acclimatization, so – why not?
So far, so good.
Phil Ershler
July 18, 2018
Charlotte checked in early this morning from base camp in Mongolia. The trek from the park entrance to the base of the Altai Mountain Range is fun and scenic. The trek starts out with a walk up a gentle slope before crossing a stream. After crossing the stream, they will climb a steeper hill and find the lake where they can take lunch. The team then heads up the hill to a stone monument that has been built by local people where it is good luck to circle the mountain clockwise, 7 times, each time circling and placing another small rock on the monument for good luck. An easy downhill for 45 minutes, finds the team at Base Camp where they will have a full view of the Altai Mountain Range and Mount Khuiten.
The team will settle in for a few days, training tomorrow and a short hike up the hill for acclimatization. Charlotte said the team is “healthy and stoked to be at Base Camp.â€
Greg Vernovage
July 17, 2018
The team received their summit certificates.
IMG Guide Phunuru Sherpa called in from Moshi reporting that all is well. The team enjoyed their final day on the trail this morning, though they made quick work of it! The team was back in Moshi for lunch and some afternoon decompression. After some down time, the team got cleaned up and enjoyed a nice celebration dinner.
Tomorrow they’ll head to Arusha for their flight to the Serengeti. Bring on the safari!
Tye Chapman
July 17, 2018
Charlotte checked in from Mongolia to report that the team did a great job traveling and the doing the duffle shuffle today. After arriving to Bayan Olgii, the team loaded the vans and made their way towards the Park entrance. The team is now settled in for the night after having a nice drive with the company of unseasonable light rain. (Not a bad thing since it keeps the dust down during the drive.)
It is a beautiful cool night and the plan for tomorrow will be to finish the drive to the Park entrance (7,400ft) and trek to Base Camp (10,000ft). Charlotte reports that the team is incredibly strong and having a great start to the trip!
Greg Vernovage
July 16, 2018
The 46th annual JanSport Climb of Mt. Rainier is officially underway. Sixteen climbers from all over the world, representing JanSport in a variety of ways, converged on IMG on Saturday for the start of their climb. We kicked things off with a gear check and a BBQ. On Sunday the group of 16 separated into their respective teams – the Emmons Team and the DC Team, named after the respective routes they’ll be climbing.
On Sunday the Emmons Team, led by Luke Reilly, Rikki Dunn, Willie Webster and Nicole Sims, hit the trail and made their way to the Inter Glacier, while the DC Team, led by Emily Johnston, Justin Merle, Harry Hamlin and Kevin Kayl, went up to Paradise for a Mountain Day School.
Today the Emmons team moved up to Camp Schurman (9500ft) in advance of their summit attempt, while the DC Team hit the trail at Paradise, and made their way up to Camp Muir (10,000ft).
While the teams won’t attempt the summit on the same day (Emmons Tuesday / DC Wednesday) they’ll come off the mountain on the same day and will reconvene to celebrate and swap stories from their climbs.
Go Team JanSport!
Tye Chapman
July 16, 2018
IMG Lead Guide, Betsy Dain-Owens reported that our Huayhuash trekkers reached Lima on Saturday, and were homeward bound yesterday. The team wrapped up their experience with a celebration dinner prior to departing Huaraz, our base of operations for our trips in Northern Peru.
Many thanks to our strong trekkers for their efforts during the trip! It sounds like they had a wonderful trek and were able to make a number of small side-trips along the way to further explore the area. A few last savory Huayhuash pictures are attached to remind us why we go to such beautiful destinations.
We’re already working on our next year’s Huayhuash trek dates, which we plan to post by mid-August—so stay tuned! We’ll also run one of our other Northern Peru treks next summer, Alpamayo! This is another spectacular 10-day trek that has received rave reviews in the past.
Congratulations to all!
Jason Edwards
