February 19, 2018
To the Top! (Nickel Wood)
Good news from Aconcagua. Eric, Leandro, Anna and team reported a good day to stand on the summit of Aconcagua. Cold morning but not windy. Snow right from the get go. Everyone is back now at high camp, having hot drinks and something to eat. Tomorrow is the big drop to Plaza Mulas and likely pizza for a late lunch. Congratulations to everyone for all their team work and all their efforts. Very nicely done.
Phil Ershler
February 16, 2018
IMG Senior Guide Dustin Balderach checked in today reporting that they had a successful journey from Puerto Natales, across the Chile/Argentina Border, to El Calafate yesterday.
The team followed it up with another great day today, exploring the Perito Moreno Glacier area, and just generally appreciating that they’re in the midst of the Southern Patagonia Ice Fields. The boat tour, right up next to the face of the glacier, was a highlight for most of the team.
Tomorrow, they’ll load up and head to El Chalten, their home for a few nights. Once in El Chalten, they’ll hit the trail for an afternoon hike.
All is well in Argentinean Patagonia!
Tye Chapman
February 16, 2018
Luke and Team on the Summit (Luke Reilly)
Luke, Jay, Martin and team are a wrap. They’re ‘living large’ in Mendoza and arranging flights home. Great teamwork, great summit day and another great success. Done.
Eric, Anna, Leandro and crew are taking a rest day at C2 today. They made a strong carry yesterday to C2 (high camp) and now they’re strategizing on their summit bid. Winds are forecasted to remain reasonable for the next several days so Eric’s in no hurry, and wisely so. Likely move on Saturday to high camp and then, weather permitting, team will likely take a shot Sunday morning. Regardless, they’re doing well and right where they should be and with a good forecast, to boot.
Phil Ershler
February 15, 2018
We have had a busy week packing gear and food for this Spring on Mount Everest. It is always a fun time of the season when we get everything together in one place. Eureka tents, Outdoor Research Gear for our Sherpa Team, JanSport Backpacks, Adventure Medical Kits, Jetboil Stoves and a whole lot of food; brought together to repack and ship to Nepal.
As you can imagine, we’ve been collecting and acquiring gear over the past few months in a few different places, so the first objective this week was to collect all the gear and get it to one place. The next task was to put together the burly boxes we use for the shipment. Then, it was time to take a trip to a couple of our favorite stores to buy some food. After the shopping spree, we had the gear, the food and the boxes all in one place. On to phase 2, ripping and tearing the gear apart, recycling all the cardboard & plastic, minimizing the size, weight and amount of trash we ship. After this, we pack it all in the boxes, record what is in each box, then load it up and take it all to the airport.
I’m now happy to report that the packing is done and our shipment has been delivered to our shipping agent. This is just the start of the long journey to Everest Base Camp. From the USA, our food, gear and oxygen will make its way over to Kathmandu where Ang Jangbu and the Team will receive it and repack it again for the trip up the Khumbu Valley.
All is going well with the 2018 Everest Expedition!
Greg Vernovage
February 14, 2018
Anyone who has trekked and climbed up the Khumbu Valley will remember Lama Geshe from Pangboche. He welcomed many climbers into his home and helped send us on our way, blessing each person. Lama Geshe had the best laugh in the Khumbu Valley and anyone who had the opportunity to hear this, would laugh along with him. Pure joy. We remember Lama Geshe today and send our condolences to his family.
Lama Geshe’s written prayer:
‘A request to all Sentient Beings’
Give up all intentions to harm others from your heart and do your best to Benefit them all. If each and every one feels the Universal Responsibility to do so, we will all enjoy the feast of PEACE!
We all repeat after you one more time Lama Geshe, “Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hung Hriâ€
Greg Vernovage
From: Dustin Balderach
To: Tye Chapman
Date: Wed, Feb 14, 2018
Subject: Back in Puerto Natales
Hey Tye,
We couldn’t have asked for a better last day in Torres del Paine National Park. The heavy rain and extreme winds we ‘endured’ yesterday afternoon from the comfort of the Refugio Grey died down overnight, and we awoke to a rare ‘splitter’ day here. As in not a cloud in the sky. The type of day you get once or twice a season in Patagonia. Perfect. Especially considering on the agenda for today was a boat ride on Lago Grey.
Once aboard, we cruised up near the different faces (or branches) of Grey Glacier where it spits into Lago Grey. Truly an amazing sight. Then we went the length of the lake taking in perfect panoramas of the entire Paine massif. Views constantly change with new peaks popping up just as others faded. Huge granite peaks with hanging glaciers and branches of the Southern Patagonia Icefield pouring into lakes. The stiff pisco sours chilled by glacier ice didn’t hurt.
Once ashore our private transport picked us up and we enjoyed more fantastic views on the drive back through the park. We could see everything! Lots of stops for photos added to the commute time but I didn’t hear any complaints.
We are stepping out the door to head to our ‘farewell to Chile’ dinner. Tomorrow we’ll head across the border into Argentina with our destination being El Calafate for a couple nights. The group is looking forward to Argentina and checking out the Fitz Roy area this weekend. Chile has been great to us, but here we come Argentina!
Dustin
February 14th, 2018
Room with a View (Peter Bilodeau)
Luke and team returned to Penitentes without issues. They’ll finish the gear sorting as soon as mules arrive and then it’s onward to Mendoza. Plaza Mulas, base camp on the Horcones side early this morning and they’ll be dining on steak and Malbec tonight. A life of extremes is not such a bad thing.
We talked a lot about forecasts during this Aconcagua season but we do like good forecasts. Eric Remza and crew made their move to C2 today. That’s huge. They’re now at a point where they can sort of ‘pick their shot’. Just got off the phone with Eric and he said it was a sweet day and minimal wind at C2. He also talked about how well the members were doing and how much everyone was pitching in to help get camp up the minute they arrived. These guys are really climbers and not trekkers. These guys are active, contributing team members and they will deserve their success. Back to the forecast – it’s good. The next few days don’t show precip and they don’t show any big winds. Remember, Aconcagua is famous (or infamous) for the Viento Blanco – the White Wind. Snow, cold – no huge problem. Wind – big problem. We ‘think’ the team’s in a great position. Maybe they carry tomorrow to high camp, throw in a rest day somewhere and get serious about taking a shot Sunday or Monday.
Eric will keep me posted so I can share their plans as they continue to unfold. Again, everyone’s contributing, staying reasonably healthy and the weather is not making their job more difficult. That’s all good.
Phil Ershler
February 13th, 2018
Camp 1 (Peter Bilodeau)
Talked to both Luke and Eric today. As planned, Luke and team were able to descend to Plaza Mulas without issue. Time now to let someone else do the cooking and to put on their light hiking shoes. They’ll be in Mendoza tomorrow evening.
Eric and team still have their climbing boots on and they continue to make steady progress. They carried to C2 today and will likely move up tomorrow. Team is doing well.
All is well on Aconcagua.
Phil Ershler
February 13, 2018
Dustin and the team getting some last minute instructions before a kayak tour.
IMG Senior Guide Dustin Balderach called in with a smile in his voice. The team is having a great time in the Grey Glacier area. Their trek from Refugio Paine Grande to Refugio Grey yesterday was blustery but beautiful. The trail took them high above Lago Grey exposing them to the winds from the north that blow down glacier and across Lago Grey. Things calmed down a bit in the afternoon, which allowed the team to hop in the kayaks and take a late afternoon tour. Nothing makes you feel small like kayaking next to huge icebergs and the face of a massive glacier…even at a safe distance!
Today, is the last day on the trail in Torres del Paine for the team. They didn’t waste it. The team trekked up alongside the Grey Glacier up to the viewpoint just past the second suspension bridge. The weather didn’t look that promising for the afternoon, so they opted to make their way back to the refugio…and boy where they glad they did. A pretty good storm kicked up in the afternoon. Driving rain and wind gusts in the 75mph range were made enjoyable by the wood burning stove, hot lunch and comfy couches inside the refugio.
Tomorrow, they’ll hop on the Grey III boat and make their way across Lago Grey to the awaiting van that will take them to back to Puerto Natales. Showers, souvenir shopping and a celebration dinner awaits.
All is well in Patagonia!
Tye Chapman
February 12, 2018
Aconcagua Summit Cross (Nickel Wood)
Weather has been our friend this season. Luke Reilly just called from the summit of Aconcagua. Essentially no wind on top. Crew will descend to high camp shortly for the night. Tomorrow’s goal is Plaza Mulas, base camp on the Horcones Valley side of the mountain. The team has to climb just a bit from high camp and then it’s a straight shot down to Mulas. The mountain boots come off there and the approach shoes go back on for the final day out to the road and Mendoza. Team should arrive Mendoza later on Wednesday. A BIG congratulations to everyone. What a great accomplishment!
Final team for the season is working their way through the camps now. Eric Remza and crew are making their move today to C1. That’s around 16,000’. Carry and a move, carry and a move and that will get them to high camp. Forecast is still favorable so they should be able to make good progress. Regardless of the weather, they’ll still need time to acclimate and the plan for a carry and a move to each camp is what makes that possible. You throw in a rest day, if needed, and weather days, if required, and you eventually arrive at high camp. We’ll keep tabs on their progress as Luke and his crew will be off the mountain and into Mendoza before we know it.
Good news today.
Phil Ershler
