July 26, 2018

IMG Senior Guide Adam Clark checked in after a great day trekking around Sun Island. The team took the morning boat ride to the South Side of the Island this time. The drop off point for the South Side is a small dock and no villages. From there, the team can take a mellow hike uphill reaching 14,000ft. Great for acclimatization! Adam reported perfect weather and great views of the Cordillera Real mountain range.

After the hike, it was time to have a traditional lunch right on the shore of the lake. With the sun up, it stays warm and it is one of those times during the trip that you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery. The team is doing well and will head out to Tambo Condoriri (14,500ft).

This will be their first camp en route to their first climb, Pequeno Alpamayo.

All is well in Bolivia!

Greg Vernovage

July 25, 2018

IMG Lead Guide, Charlotte Austin checked in with a very happy team from Bayan Olgii. The van ride was smooth and the sites along the way beautiful. The team was up and packed early this morning from White River Camp and made their way back to Bayan Olgii. Along the way, the road continues to follow White River with a few twists and turns and bumps. All worth it as they hit the desert and see old ranches and beautiful landscape.

Back at Bayan Olgii, they checked into the hotel and grabbed a quick shower before heading to a local family’s yurt for dinner. This family is talented! The food is amazing and just when the team thinks it just can’t get any better, the whole family comes back into the yurt dressed in traditional clothes with traditional instruments.

Beautiful music and singing to end the night. An early bedtime and up to catch the flight back to Ulaanbaatar in the morning.

This is a great trip and if you are interested in securing your spot for next year, you can find the 2019 Mongolia dates on the website!

Greg Vernovage

July 25, 2018

Time to enjoy the Baksan Valley. The climb is done and the pressure is off. Part of the team decided a horseback ride was in the cards. And, the weather was good and they got that view from the top of the Cheget Ski Area.

Moscow soon!!

Phil Ershler

July 25, 2018

OK, we live in the Pacific Northwest so we are used to rain. There is a reason the rain forest grows so thick down at the base of Kilimanjaro (and in WA State!). It’s because it rains sometime, even during the “dry” season. That’s why on Kili you need to be ready for any weather!

Phunuru reports the team got off to a good start today, hitting the trail at Machame Gate on schedule. We would expect them to push up through the clouds about treeline, which is their goal for today at Machame Camp (about 10,000 feet).

Looking good!

Eric Simonson

July 24, 2018

Our Mongolia team enjoyed some fantastic weather during their climb and it held out for their trek to White River Campground in Mongolia. Charlotte checked in to report that it was a great day, visiting a local family in their Ger (Yurt) and taking in the beautiful White River. The river is correctly named because of the glacial silt that is present in the water. It is a unique experience trekking down this valley because you are accompanied by the 2 hump camels, yaks, horses, and a ton of goats and sheep.

The team was settling in for the night and Charlotte said that there was a beautiful lightning storm in the distance giving them a final show before they head towards Bayan Olgii in the morning. The vans will have the team departing right after breakfast and will take them through desert land.

All is well in Mongolia!

Greg Vernovage

July 24, 2018

Phunuru Sherpa reports from Moshi that our next Kilimanjaro team members have arrived and are doing well, and that everyone is excited to start the climb. We’ve been having a good Kili season so far, but it has been rather unusual with significant snow up high on the mountain left over from the rainy season. For that reason, we’ve had our teams this summer bring microspikes for their boots, to give them better grip on the snowy and icy trail, and this group will do the same.

First up for the team are their gear checks and packing their backpacks and duffels, and then getting the porter loads weighed. Then, the team will be heading into Moshi to visit the town and hit the local market. Tomorrow morning they will be taking 4×4 vehicles up to Machame Gate to start the climb. So far, so good!

Eric Simonson