June 13, 2024
IMGD climbers breaking above Windy Corner (Audrey Simonson)
IMG Denali Teams 6 and 7 led by Timm and Porter are at 14K Camp today! Team 6 is resting and will make their final move to 17K Camp when the time is right, hopefully in the next few days. Team 7 made it to 14K camp yesterday and today made a back carry to 13K to pick up their cache.
All’s well in Alaska!
June 12, 2024
IMG Lead Guide Riley Gilson reported spectacular clear weather and beautiful views from the summit of Rainier this morning. The team spent the first two days of their 3.5 Day Summit Climb in moderate winds but persevered to IMG’s Ingraham Flats Camp yesterday to be in the best possible position for a summit attempt this morning. The team woke up to calm winds and made it to the top as the sun was rising. Congratulations team!
June 12, 2024
Phunuru reports that the team had a nice climb today to Uhuru Peak, the true summit of Kilimanjaro. They departed Barafu Camp about 1am as planned, reaching the Crater Rim at dawn. It’s good to see some snow up on the summit, which made everything looks very alpine for their traverse around the Crater to Uhuru Peak, the true summit. Their descent went smoothly and now everyone is back down in the Mweka Camp at treeline for the night. Tomorrow they will be up early for the final part of the descent to the Mweka Gate and then back to Moshi. Well done!!
June 11, 2024
Phunuru reports that the team made it up to the Barafu Camp today in time for some well-deserved rest this afternoon. After getting packed for tomorrow and an early dinner, they all bedded down for a short sleep, with the plan to be up at midnight and walking at 1am. This should put them near the summit in time for the sunrise! The spectacular weather has been holding for the team, though it has been a bit windy at times. We’ll wish the team the best for the climb and look forward to hearing from them later today.
June 10, 2024
IMG Kilimanjaro Team at Lava Tower for lunch (Phunuru Sherpa)
Phunuru checked in this evening and said the team was doing well and they were all settled in for the night at Barranco Camp! On their way to Barranco Camp today they ascended to Lava Tower which sits just about at 15,000′ for a hot lunch and rest for acclimatization. Tomorrow the team will get an earlier start and go up and over the famed Barranco Wall while on their way to Barafu Camp!
All’s well in Tanzania!
June 10, 2024
Camp 14K with Hunter in the background. (Riley Gilson Photo)
Team 4 led by Forrest Baldwin and Team 5 led by Rowan Stewart have arrived back in Talkeetna, they will be headed home in the coming days.
Team 6 lead by Timm Philliips is moving to 14 Camp today, Team 7 lead by Porter McMichael is carrying to 13.4 today. Good Luck teams!
June, 9th 2024
The entire team, and Kilimanjaro crew at Shira Camp. (Phunuru)
Phunuru reports that the team had a nice hike today up to Shira Camp about 12,300 feet. After leaving the Machame Camp they climbed out of the forest into the moorland zone, where they start to see the “weird plants” like Lobelia and Groundsel that only live at high altitude near the Equator. The Shira plateau is a remnant of an old volcano and marks the point where the team will start traversing around the south side of the mountain (for the next three days). Everyone is doing well and the entire team got together for a group photo. Between the climbers, Chagga guides, porters, cook team and camping team, it’s a good size group. Unlike mountains in other places where you can climb on your own, on Kilimanjaro you are required to hire the local staff which is a big benefit to the local economy. All’s well in Tanzania.
June 8, 2024
IMG climbers on the summit (Justin Merle)
It’s no lie that the spring season down here in Washington has been a bit rough for us with consistent stormy weather. With that being said, we’ve been able to reach the summit a few times this spring in good fashion… and this morning is one of those times!
IMG Lead Guide Tyler Nachand and the rest of the team reached Mt. Rainier’s crater rim at 4:45 this morning! The team had a gorgeous sunrise from the summit and had a swift and safe descent off the mountain! Hopefully with good weather continuing through the next week, more summit success will come our way.
June 8, 2024
Phunuru checked in this morning reporting that the team had a great day trekking through the jungle to Machame Camp, the first stop on their adventure to the summit of Kilimanjaro! All’s well for the team, now all they have to do today is eat a lovely dinner and have a good sleep to rest for their climb to Shira Camp tomorrow.
June 8, 2024
IMG Denali 2024 Teams Arriving to the Summit (Riley Gilson)
Late last night we got the call that IMG Denali Team 5 led by Rowan Stewart reached the summit of Denali with his team! The climbers are all down safely to 17K Camp and are making their descent back to 14K Camp where they will spend some time regrouping and organizing themselves for the rest of the descent.
Team 6 led by Timm Phillips is planning on making their first carry to 13K today and will return to their camp at 11K. Team 7 led by Porter McMichael is at Ski Hill Camp making their way up the Lower Kahiltna Glacier.
All’s well on Denali!
