Ama Dablam Team At Camp 1

November 6, 2017

: IMG Guide Austin Shannon at C1 taking a look at Ama Dablam. (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Camp 1 perched in the rocks. (Austin Shannon)

: Looking down the Khumbu Valley from C1 (Austin Shannon)

Austin and Phunuru checked in overnight to let us know that the Team is doing great at Camp 1.Â The weather continues to hold and the Team is in great shape on their summit rotation.Â Ama Dablam has been busy this season but the report from Phunuru is that there is only one Team on the mountain besides IMG and it looks like they will have the upper camps and climbing route to themselves.

Austin said the Team will leave Camp 1 early tomorrow and should take about 2-3 hours to get to Camp 2. â€œHappy, Great Day and Feeling strong!â€ was the message that came in.

The summit rotation is on and we are all excited for the next check in.

All is well on Ama Dablam!

Greg Vernovage

Khumbu Valley Update

November 3, 2017

: The Market in Namche (Tye Chapman)

: Camp 1 with Ama Dablam (Harry Hamlin)

: 2017 Ama Dablam Guide Team. Front row (right to left): Chhewang Lendu, Adam Clark, Ang Karma, Phunuru Sherpa. Back row (right to left): Kevin Kayl, Fura Gyalzen, Harry Hamlin and Austin Shannon. (Harry Hamlin)

The Ama Dablam Team is resting and will be ready to go uphill soon.Â Our 3X3 and 2X2 Teams checked in this morning as well.Â The 3X3 has arrived to Namche in good shape and in time to visit the Market.

The Namche Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in the world.Â The original trade destination for everyone from Tibet and the low lands of Nepal.Â The people from these different regions load up and bring their goods to Namche to trade and sell.Â The market continues to this day and is always a fun stop on the Trek.

Our 2X2 Team is one day behind in Dole today.Â They are also moving well and looking forward to reconnecting with the 3X3 Team tomorrow.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Kick Back And Relax

November 2, 2017

: Climbing Ama Dablam (Austin Shannon)

: IMG Guide Kevin Kayl on Dablam (Austin Shannon)

: Camp 2 on Ama Dablam (Phunuru Sherpa)

The Ama Dablam Team is resting at Base Camp for a few days before heading back up on their summit rotations.Â Rest, recover and get ready to head back up the mountain.Â The reports are that the climbing is fantastic and the mountain is in great condition.Â I will let these great photos that Austin and Phunuru sent in do the rest of the talking for Ama Dablam.

All is well on Ama Dablam and thank you to the Team for sending in fantastic pictures!

Greg Vernovage

Ama Dablam Team Resting At Base Camp

November 1, 2017

Yellow Tower on Ama Dablam (Justin Merle)

Austin checked in this morning from Ama Dablam Base Camp.Â The Team had a great rotation up Ama Dablam, touching Camp 2 (19,350ft.) and spending 2 nights at Camp 1 (18,370ft.).Â The combination of technical climbing and altitude is challenging on this rotation.Â One of the more technical areas of the climb is the Yellow Tower (19,200ft.).Â The Team has done a good job and has earned a few daysâ€™ rest at Base Camp.

The Team is on schedule and doing a good job taking care of themselves.Â We want to give everyone plenty of time to gather strength and be ready for their summit rotation.

All is well on Ama Dablam!

Greg Vernovage

Ama Dablam Team Enjoying Great Weather

October 31, 2017

: IMG Climbers feeling good on their climb to Camp 2 (Austin Shannon)

: IMG Climbers heading for Camp 2 (Austin Shannon)

: IMG Climbers enjoying Ama Dablam (Austin Shannon)

: Harry and some team members on top of Lobuche Peak.

Our Ama Dablam Team continues to enjoy great weather for the climb.Â Austin checked in from the ridge between Camp 1 and Camp 2 last night.Â How cool is that!Â The nighttime temperatures are a little cooler than normal that reflects the clear skies at night.Â The Ama Dablam Team is making good progress with their acclimatization.Â Austin and Kevin touched Camp 2 at 19,350 ft and are spending a second night at Camp 1.Â Adam Clark and the rest of the Team moved to Camp 1 (18,370 ft) for their first night.

Judging from the photos that have been sent in, the Team is having a lot of fun climbing Ama Dablam!

Over in Gokyo, our 3X3 Team trekked to Fifth Lake and will climb Gokyo Ri tomorrow.Â Our 2X2 Team took a rest day at our beautiful Lobuche Base Camp and will head over Cho La Pass tomorrow to Thagnak.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

All Is Well At Camp 1 On Ama Dablam

October 30, 2017

Camp 2 on Ama Dablam. (Austin Shannon)

Austin checked in this morning to let us know that â€œAll is well at Camp 1.â€Â The Team had a good day of climbing up to Camp 1 (18,370 ft) and will spend two nights up high as they acclimatize.Â The plan for the Hybrid Team is to touch Camp 2 (19,350 ft) tomorrow.Â This is a great opportunity for the Team to make gains in acclimatizing as well as learn the route.Â Our Classic Team is enjoying the night at Yak Camp and will be heading to Camp 1 in the morning.

Our Sherpa and Western Guide Team are looking high on the mountain.Â They are interested in establishing Camp 2.7 or a new Camp 3.Â The Team is working hard and climbing strong.

All is well on Ama Dablam!

Greg Vernovage

Lobuche Peak Summits

October 30, 2017

View from the summit of Lobuche (Justin Merle)

Great news from Lobuche Peak (20,075 ft) overnight!Â Harry and Dawa checked in to let us know that they reached the summit of Lobuche Peak.Â The Team started climbing at 4 am.Â It was clear and cold for at the start of the climb.Â This is a great climb!Â High Camp is a short distance from Lobuche Base Camp.Â It takes the team about an hour and a half of trekking to arrive to High Camp (17,300 ft).Â From High Camp, the Team bends around a small lake and onto the rock slabs.Â From the rock slabs, the Team works their way through the rocks and heads up a steep trough that we fix before arriving at Crampon Point.Â By now the sun is coming up and the views are fantastic.Â On the climbers right, they see the North Ridge of Ama Dablam and behind them, Kangtega.Â Up the fix lines, slow and steady the summit brings views of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.Â Lower in the distance is Everest Base Camp.Â This is a great climb to get the big picture of the Himalayan Mountains!

Greg Vernovage

Weekend Himalayan Update

October 29, 2017

: Ama Dablam camps. (Eric Simonson)

: IMG Sherpa heading up to Yak Camp. (Phunuru Sherpa)

: On top of Kala Pattar.

A lot of good stuff is happening this weekend so I thought I would let everyone know how our Teams are doing in the Khumbu Valley.

First up: The 2X2/3X3 Teams trekked to the summit of Kala Pattar!Â Harry and the Team woke early to beat the crowd and take advantage of the great weather they have been having.Â It was a â€œcoolâ€ trek in a few ways.Â They left Gorakshep with a couple extra layers on and slowly made their way to the summit of the legendary peak of Kala Pattar (18,192 ft).Â After their summit, the Teams made their way back down to Gorakshep for lunch before continuing down and aroundâ€¦Down and around means the 2X2 traversed around the lower hill of Lobuche to Base Camp to set themselves up for the Lobuche Peak Climb.Â They were met by LONG time Sherpa Guide Dawa.Â The 3X3 Team continued around Lobuche Peak to a very small village called Dzongla.Â This is a two lodge town where our Trekking Team can get a bit of rest.Â They are heading for the trail less traveled now.

Harry and Dawa checked in from High Camp on Lobuche this morning.Â The weather is trending very well and the Team is feeling strong. Â They are in position to climb Lobuche Peak tonight!

Over on Ama Dablam, Austin and Phunuru let us know that they received a bit of snow yesterday.Â Just enough to put a fresh coat of paint on everything in the morning.Â The morning came and with it, clear skies and warming temperatures.Â Austin and Kevin headed up to Yak Camp (17,000 ft) with the first group of climbers on their first rotation.Â The second group will follow them up with IMG Guide Adam Clark.Â The Teams will climb to Camp 1 (18,370 ft) and sleep tomorrow, then touch Camp 2 (19,350 ft) and descend to Camp 1 for another night.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Puja Day At Ama Dablam Base Camp

October 27, 2017

: Ama Dablam Team with Lama Mingma Dorge from Pangboche (Austin Shannon)

: Tribute at the Puja (Austin Shannon)

: Some of the IMG Guide Team at the Puja with Ama Dablam (Austin Shannon)

: Training day. (Austin Shannon)

It was a perfect day for the Puja at Ama Dablam Base Camp.Â Phunuru and Austin let us know that everyone is doing well and it was a great day.Â The Puja Ceremony is very important to our Team.Â It is time to give thanks and ask for permission to climb.Â Our old friend, Mingma Dorge from Pangboche has been coming to our EBC Camp in the spring and made the journey to Ama Dablam BC from Pangboche.Â He is a wonderful man who has all of our respect.Â Thank you for helping us each year!

After the Puja, the Team rigged up and did some training close to camp.Â Practice and training is important.Â We want to know our systems inside and out, upside down and in a cold shower with the lights off.Â Efficiency is one of the big keys to climbing big mountains.

Tomorrow, the Team is going to start their rotations.Â The plan is to trek up to Yak Camp and see how everyone is feeling and moving.

It is time to do some climbing on Ama Dablam!

Greg Vernovage

Trekkers Arrive At Everest Base Camp

October 27, 2017

: Harry and a couple memebers of the team.

: Kala Pattar Ths Way! (Tye Chapman)

: Khumbu Glacier Panorama. (Tye Chapman)

Harry Hamlin checked in from Gorakshep to let us know that the Team had another great day on the trail and made it to Everest Base Camp.Â Nice job everyone!Â The weather was as good as it gets for the Team.

Tomorrow, the plan is to wake up early and trek to the summit of Kala Pattar and then back down and around to Lobuche Village.Â From Lobuche Village, the 2X2/Lobuche and 3X3 Teams will split up; the 3×3 heading to Dzongla and the 2X2 Team will head up to Lobuche Base Camp to get ready for their climb.

All is well at Everest Base Camp!

Greg Vernovage