Trekking from Phakding to Namche

October 17th, 2017

: Ama Dablam/3X3/2X2 Team on their way to Namche (Austin Shannon)

: Namche Suspension Bridge (Tye Chapman)

: Prayer Flags in Namche (Tye Chapman)

: Namche with Thamserku (Tye Chapman)

The Namche Hill is no joke! Â The Khumbu Valley Teams had a great day trekking up to Namche from Phakding.Â The Namche Hill is the first real test for everyone as they gain altitude and approach Namche (11,900 ft).Â The key is to take a few deep breathes and concentrate on your feet.Â The challenge of this section of the trek comes when you are breathing and stepping and the scenery is amazing, the suspended bridge is higher off the ground than anything you have crossed before and letâ€™s not forget about the horse and Zopkyok or Jopkyo (Pack animals that are not cows but not yaks either). Are coming at you at times.

This is a great day of trekking and arriving at the Khumbu Lodge in Namche is like arriving home!Â The view from the lodge is fantastic and it is a great opportunity to sit around and enjoy your successes.Â You are in the Khumbu Valley now.

Tomorrow, the Team will take an acclimatization hike to the Everest View Hotel and eat lunch in Khumjung, home of a beautiful new monastery that has the Yeti hair and the Sir Edmund Hillary School.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Mera Peak in Thagnak

October 17th, 2017

: Moon over Mera from Thagnak (Eric Simonson)

: On the way to Thagnak (Eric Simonson)

: Doing a little outfitting in Thagnak (Eric Simonson)

The Mera Peak Team checked in after a perfect day of trekking.Â The Team has settled into Thagnak (4350m) for the next couple of nights.Â Kevin said that the Team is feeling great and excited to climb.Â One of the toughest things to do on a trek is to take it slow and be patient when you feel so good.Â This Team is feeling great and looking forward to seeing what is around the corner.Â With our itinerary, we like to take it nice and slow, take a ton of pictures, and absorb the culture and scenery.Â This Team is doing all of that.Â The first week to 10 days will be the most important part of their climb.Â Acclimatizing is key when it comes to standing on top of Mera Peak and enjoying the trip.

Slow and steady; All is well in the Hinku Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Carstensz Team Ready to Fly in Timika

October 16, 2017

: Timika Market for Fresh food including fish and vegetables (John Dahlem)

: Helicopter at Nasidome Camp (Greg Vernovage)

The 2017 Carstensz Pyramid Team checked in from Timika overnight to let us know that the Team is ready to fly.Â Jonathan Schrock called to let us know that the Team was going to enjoy a quick nap before doing some rigging and training.Â Timika is the launch site for our Carstensz Pyramid Team.Â They will be ready when the weather clears and the Helicopter pilot gives them the thumbs up.

Our plan is to fly into Nasidome (12,200 ft) in the next day or two and take a conservative acclimatization schedule up to Yellow Valley (13,700 ft).Â the logistics for Carstensz Pyramid can be complicated but everything is going well for our Team.

All is well in Timika for Carstensz Pyramid!

Greg Vernovage

Ama Dablam, 3×3, and 2×2 Teams in Phakding

October 16, 2017

: 2017 IMG Ama Dablam, 3X3, 2X2 Team (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

: Rooftop Meeting (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

: Boarding the Helicopter to Lukla (Austin Shannon)

: Happy to be in Lukla, Time to eat! (Ang Pasang Sherpa)

It has been a busy weekend for our Teams in Nepal.Â While our Mera Peak Team hit the trail, our Ama Dablam Team and 3X3/2X2 Teams were doing gear checks and having the rooftop meeting.Â All went well and the Teams prepared to launch from KTM.Â With the clouds coming and going from Lukla and KTM, the Teams made the decision to jump on Helicopters and get to Lukla.Â Great decision!Â Everyone made it into Lukla with their gear and had a great trek to Phakding.

Austin and Harry checked in to let us know that the weather was perfect and the Team is doing great.Â The walk to Phakding is not very strenuous and getting the fresh air in the mountains is a welcomed feeling after being on Airplanes for the last couple days.Â Everyone is excited to get a good night sleep and take on the Namche Hill in the morning.Â The schedule for tomorrow is up at 6am for coffee, pack the trekking duffle and have it ready for the porters before breakfast.Â This Team has an extra bonus.Â Long time IMG Sherpa Ang Pasang is trekking with them.Â Ang Pasang lives in Pangboche and has as much knowledge on climbing Ama Dablam as well as many other peaks in the Himalaya.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Mera Peak in Thagnak

October 16, 2017

: Mera Peak Team Trekking below Khote (Phinjo)

: Along the Hinku Khola below Khote (Eric Simonson)

The Mera Peak Trek and Climb is in Thagnak following a couple great days on the trail.Â After jumping on the helicopter in KTM to get to Lukla, the team enjoyed the day in Lukla before flying to Khote.Â As our information says, we use the helicopter to put our team in the Hinku Valley so we get more time to enjoy the scenery.Â Kevin said the weather has been fantastic and when the Team saw the Himalayan mountains for the first time, they simultaneously stopped and took a deep breath.Â â€œItâ€™s beautiful up here and we are excited to see what is next!â€Â Slow and steady, the team has made their way to Thagnak (4350m).Â They will spend a couple days acclimatizing and taking in the views.

All is well in the Hinku Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Mera Peak Team On The Move

October 13, 2017

The team having a snack in Lukla. (Kevin Kayl)

We received a call early this morning from Kevin and the Mera Peak Team.Â Â The weather was socked in this morning in Kathmandu so the Team made the call to jump on helicopters and make their way towards Lukla.Â Great decision!

The Team landed in Surke, where they were met by Phinjo, then they trekked a short distance up to the lodge in Lukla.Â Now the Team is in position to make their next move to the Hinku Valley.Â This is a great trip with a lot of scenery and adventure along the way.Â The Hinku Valley received a little snow a couple days ago and the weather is showing improvement for at least the next week.

Kevin said the Team is doing great!

All is well with the Mera Peak Expedition!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Team Back In Dunai

October 13, 2017

: The team at Base Camp. (Mike Hamill)

: Putha Hiunchuli. (PK Sherpa)

: The team on the summit. (Pega Sherpa)

: Base Camp (Pega Sherpa)

: The team approaching the summit. (Mike Hamill)

: One of the team’s camps along the way. (Pega Sherpa)

The Putha Hiunchuli Team arrived back to Dunai after a few long days of trekking out.Â The exit from Base Camp is challenging but the Team was motivated to get to lower elevations.Â Pega Sherpa and Mike managed to get a few photos out from Dunai where they had internet.

The photos speak for themselves on summit day.Â The Putha Hiunchuli Expedition has been a great success and they are in the home stretch and scheduled to be back in KTM in the next couple days.Â Mike said the Team enjoyed perfect weather for the entire trip and had an incredible summit day.

We are all excited to see more photos and hear stories of visiting the â€œwild westâ€ of Nepal.Â From everyone at home, we want to send huge congratulations to the Team on their successful climb.

All is well with the Putha Hiunchuli Team!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Summits

October, 9 2017

The view looking south from Chhoila La towards Putha Hiunchuli in the Dhaulagiri Himal. (Adam Angel)

We received a great phone call from Mike on the summit of Putha Hiunchuli last night.Â The Team had a great climb!Â Mike said the route was straight forward and the Team did a great job climbing through knee deep snow near the top.Â A special thanks to the Sherpa who worked so hard at camp and breaking trail.

The team descended from the summit to Camp 1 where they took a good break before coming all the way back to Base Camp.Â That is a long day of climbing and the Team will sleep well tonight!Â The plan will be to pack up camp and head towards KTM.

Congratulations to the Putha Hiunchuli Team!

Greg Vernovage

Kili Team Wraps Up with the Big Five!

October 6, 2017

: Group at Ngorongoro Crater Overlook (Dustin Balderach)

: Lioness on the Serengeti (Dustin Balderach)

: Buffalo in Ngorongoro Crater (Dustin Balderach)

: Ostrich in Ngorongoro Crater (Dustin Balderach)

: Hippos and Lions on Rocks (Dustin Balderach)

IMG’s Kili team is relaxing at the Farm House after a third amazing day on Safari. The team spotted a Black Rhino in the Crater rounding out the Big 5 for us.

To sum up: Close Leopard encounter in the Serengeti on day 1. Check. Lots and lots of close and cool lion encounters every day. Check. Angry buffaloes a plenty. Check. Herd of elephants – including lots of babies — passing right in front of our vehicle. Check. Lone Black Rhino roaming the Crater. Check.

That’s the Big 5 and I haven’t even scratched the surface of what we saw. You can’t really ask for any more, but super comfortable accommodations, terrific food, and Kilimanjaro beers around a camp fire under a full moon certainly added to the amazing experience.

The group said it feels like two entirely different trips (climb and Serengeti) and I couldn’t agree more. No better way to work off the soreness of the climb than with 3 days and nights of world-class game viewing. After a final dinner tonight we’ll head to the airport tomorrow stopping for a few souvenirs in route. Another amazing and successful trip to Tanzania!

Dustin Balderach

Day 2 Of Safari Did Not Disappoint

October 5, 2017

: Elephants resting. (Dustin Balderach)

: Female Lions. (Dustin Balderach)

: Hippo Pool. (Dustin Balderach)

: Male lions. (Dustin Balderach)

: Sunset on the Serengeti. (Dustin Balderach)

: Dinner at their wilderness camp. (Dustin Balderach)

Dustin called in again after he and his team had wrapped up dinner at their deluxe wilderness camp on the Serengeti.Â He reports that they had an excellent day on safari. He proved it by sending in the above photos.

The sunset was capped off by some time under the stars around the campfire.

Tomorrow they’ll head to the Ngorongoro Crater and keep their eye out for their main objective at this point, a rhino.

Tye Chapman