EBC Trekkers Enjoying Namche

November 22, 2017

: Just another day in the Khumbu! (Sonam Dorje)

: The views just keep getting better! (Sonam Dorje)

IMG Guide Harry Hamlin checked-in overnight reporting that he and the team had a great day exploring Namche and the surrounding area. After breakfast they enjoyed some local trekking. They stopped at the Everest View Hotel, for you guessed it, an Everest View. After a few photos,Â they ventured a little further stopping at the Monastery Khumjung and finished the day with a tour of Khunde. They were back in Namche by the early afternoon for a little shopping, some pastries and/or a nap.

Tomorrow they’ll load up and head up the trail to Tengboche where they’ll visit the famous Tengboche Monastery. The views of Ama Dablam and the surrounding mountains only get better!

Tye Chapman

Phakding â†’ Namche Hill → Namche Bazaar

November 21, 2017

: Photo opp!

: The old suspension bridge beneath the new bridge en route to Namche. (Harry Hamlin)

IMG Guide Harry Hamlin checked in from Namche Bazaar reporting that is was another perfect day for trekking in the Khumbu Valley. The team did great on the trek from Phakding, up Namche Hill, into Namche.

They’re at some real altitude now at 11,300ft. which is why they’ll be hanging around Namche for an extra day.Â The body needs a little time to adjust. They won’t be sitting around though, they’ll explore Namche and the surrounding area.

All is well in the Khumbu!

Tye Chapman

EBC Trekkers Arrive In Lukla

October 20, 2017

: The team is ready to go!

: One of the many suspension bridges along the trail to EBC. (Sonam Dorje)

: On the trail to Phakding. (Tye Chapman)

: Across the bridge to Phakding. (Tye Chapman)

Our final team of the autumn trekking season in Nepal all safely arrived in Lukla (9300ft.) with all of their duffel bags. A great start to an Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Loop Trek!

After a cup of tea in Lukla, they hit the trail and are now in Phakding (8500ft.). Trekking from Lukla to Phakding is quite enjoyable, and ironically, generally downhill. The trail winds through the forest and several small villages before arriving at their final suspension bridge of the day which takes them across the Dudh Kosi River into Phakding.Â It’s about a 3 or 4 hour hike which is perfect after their early wake up call at the hotel and flight to Lukla. It’s always nice to hit the trail and stretch the legs!

Tomorrow they’ll get their first dose of altitude as they climb the Namche Hill into Namche Bazaar (11,300ft). More on that tomorrow.

All is well in Phakding!

Tye Chapman

Mexico Team Wraps up, Ecuador Team Gives Antisana a Go

November 20, 2017

: Final Dessert in Mexico City

: IMG Climbers on Antisana (Romulo Cardenas)

: Looking Towards Summit of Antisana (Romulo Cardenas)

: Lunch at Romulo and Patriciaâ€™s Home (Romulo Cardenas)

Time to catch up on news down south.Â Dallas Glass is home and so is the team.Â Success on Orizaba wasnâ€™t easy but Dallas and team did great.Â Icier than expected, the climb (and descent) demanding time, strength and skill.Â The guides and our climbers delivered.Â Result was a safe, successful and incredibly rewarding ascent.Â They earned this one.

Luke, Romulo and team in Ecuador took their best shot at Antisana.Â A mere 300 ft from the summit, they found the final bergschrund just too wide, too broken to get around.Â Super shot on a beautiful mountain but just a pinch short.Â They been enjoying the last of their time in Ecuador visiting old friends of IMG and having lunch at Romuloâ€™s home.Â His wife, Patricia, is a super cook.Â Luke will be saying good-bye to a couple of our climbers who need to get home.Â We have 4 climbers staying to take a shot at Chimborazo.Â They make it home the day after Thanksgiving.Â Weâ€™ll keep you posted as to how it goes.

Phil Ershler

From the Top of Mexico

November 17th, 2017

Pico de Orizaba

Nice sat phone call early this morning from Mexico — Dallas Glass called from the summit of Orizaba to let me know that all was well at the top of Mexico.Â Not a lot of folks recognize that Orizaba is actually the third highest peak in North America, topped only by Denali and Logan.Â Regardless, Dallas said they got a little bit of a late start as the mountain was a little â€˜firmâ€™ right now.Â They had some running belays and even â€˜pitched outâ€™ a section or two just to be on the safe side.

They will take their time getting back down to the hut, where theyâ€™ll be met by their 4 wheel drivers and vehicles.Â Itâ€™s just short of two hours back to the town of Tlachichuca and showers and clean clothes and cold drinks and a nice, home-cooked, sit-down dinner with the Reyes family.Â Theyâ€™ll all sleep well tonight.

Phil Ershler

On to the Next Summits

November 16th, 2017

Cayambe Summit (Matt Oâ€™Bryan)

Time and recuperate is the order of the day for both our teams â€“ in Ecuador and in Mexico.Â Our Mexico crew had a hotel night in the city of Puebla and traveled today to the village of Tlachichuca.Â After a nice lunch prepared by the Reyes family, they headed in 4-wheel trucks up to the high hut on Orizaba.Â Tomorrowâ€™s summit day again for this crew.

Team in Ecuador is going to tackle Antisana next.Â Just a little south of the equator, itâ€™s a beautiful mountain at just shy of 19,000 ft.Â Tomorrow night or Saturday night, depending on weather.

Both teams are still doing well with everyone reasonably healthy, and both groups optimistic about their chances for a second successful summit climb.

Phil Ershler

Mexico and Ecuador

November 15th, 2017

Team on summit of Cayambe â€“ 19,000â€™

Good news from both IMG expeditions in South America but only one photo, so far.Â Luke, Romulo and their Ecuador team reported â€œa little bit of everythingâ€ from a weather standpoint this morning but no matter —- they stood on top of Cayambe and headed already for the hot springs in the village of Papallacta.

In Mexico, Dallas reported similar success on Ixta but his weather report was â€œwe had pretty much perfect weatherâ€.Â Theyâ€™re making their way to the city of Puebla.

â€˜Iffyâ€™ weather or â€˜perfectâ€™ weather â€“ the important news is that both teams are off the mountains and safe and that each was successful in reaching their goal!!

Phil Ershler

Ecuador Team Heads to Cayambe

November 13, 2017

: Team on the Equator

: At the Top of Imbabura

: Top of Fuya Fuya

While Dallas Glass is with our Mexico expedition, Luke Reilly is down in Ecuador, leading another IMG team to his favorite local.Â Nice to report that all is well on the equator.Â Luke and team arrived without issue and have been spending the last few days touring Quito and the town of Otavalo and putting in the time/effort to work on their acclimatization.

Fuya Fuya and Imbabura were their acclimatization hikes outside of Otavalo.Â Then it was on to Cayambe and the high hut there.Â Thatâ€™s where the team is tonight.

Luke reports a strong group and a congenial one.Â Allâ€™s good down south.

Phil Ershler

Mexico Team in Place for First Summit Bid

November 13, 2017

A Smoking Popo from the Slopes of Ixta (Charlotte Austin)

IMG Senior Guide, Dallas Glass and team are off to a good start down in sunny Mexico.Â Had a brief â€˜scareâ€™ with one of our members missing both duffels but a little patience and persistence and all was resolved, albeit at 3:00 in the morning.Â Resolved is in the key word.

Team met in Mexico City on Saturday evening and headed out for their first dinner together.Â The evening started at the Maria Cristina Hotel with a little meet and greet, followed by a review of the weekâ€™s itinerary, dinner and then to bed. Â They got out on schedule Sunday morning and headed to Amecameca and onward to Cortez Pass for their first acclimatization hike.Â Did the same the next day but continued up towards high camp with a carry, mostly of water.Â Now the crewâ€™s at high camp on Ixta, all doing well and feeling pretty strong.Â Tomorrow is their summit attempt.Â If the weather holds, they should do well.

Phil Ershler

Ama Dablam Team Back In Lukla

November 13, 2017

The runway at the Lukla Airport. (Bhushan Karnik)

Things are winding down nicely for the Ama Dablam Team. Over the weekend they trekked from Ama Dablam Base Camp to Namche and then on to Lukla. Lukla is the end of the trail for these guys. If all goes as planned they’ll be on a plane to Kathmandu tomorrow morning (this evening PST).Â Once in Kathmandu they’ll get cleaned up, do the duffle shuffle, and hopefully get their flights changed to get home a little earlier.

All is well in Lukla!

Tye Chapman