August 20, 2017
Illimani with La Paz in the Foreground (Greg Vernovage)
IMG Senior Guide Luke Reilly checked in from Bolivia. All continues to go smoothly. A few team members are en route home while Luke and the Illimani Extension team members made their way to Illimani Base Camp.
Luke said they may just kick back and relax and take a rest day tomorrow.
Tye Chapman
August 18, 2017
Luke checked in from La Paz after a great climb of Huayna Potosi. They’re settled in at the hotel, showering up then heading to lunch and a probably some afternoon souvenir shopping. A few team members are heading home tomorrow while others are sticking around for the Illimani extension.
With some reasonable wifi Luke was able to send some photos, enjoy!
Tye Chapman
August 17, 2017
The summit ridge of Huayna Potosi. (Greg Vernovage)
IMG Senior Guide Luke Reilly called in from High Camp on Huayna Potosi after a successful climb to the summit! Some snow fell overnight but as the sun came up the clouds dissipated giving the team great climbing conditions. He mentioned that the climbing on the summit ridge was especially spectacular. Once on top they soaked in amazing views Illimani and other surrounding peaks.
Luke’s plan was to rest up for a couple hours at High Camp before moving on down to Base Camp this afternoon. Tomorrow they’ll load up and should be back in La Paz for lunch!
Tye Chapman
August 16, 2017
Huayna Potosi (Greg Vernovage)
Luke checked in from Campamento Argentino reporting that all is well, though they’re socked in with some fog at the moment. They’re hopeful the weather improves overnight for their summit attempt early tomorrow morning. We’ll know more when he calls tomorrow afternoon!
Tye Chapman
August 16, 2017
Woo Hoo! (Photo Dave Feinleib)
After a brief blip when a bridge high on the mountain collapsed on August 12, causing one IMG climb to miss the summit on August 13, a concerted effort by all three guide services resulted in the reestablishment of the route up Rainier. We are now back in action with the results to show for it. Yesterday’s climb on August 15 summited 7 of 8 climbers. The summit team is pictured here, thanks to Dave Feinleib, a member of the group.
The weather remains clear and calm for the most part, but still cold on summit mornings! We are still requiring that all of our climbers bring everything on the IMG Rainier gear list, it is all used.
Thanks to the guides on yesterday’s climb who helped put this effort together: Sara Cohen, Mike Haft, Kim Haft and Josh McDowell. Thanks also to IMG guides who were working behind the scenes to help put in the route. Jason Edwards and Phil Nicoletti climbed through the night ahead of the team to help shovel and work on the new trail reroute. Justin Merle and Rikki Dunn climbed yesterday afternoon after the climb descended and continued work on the route to create a good solid path all the way to the top.
Thank you, IMG guides! Your efforts are often behind the scenes, but they don’t go unrecognized.
George Dunn
August 6, 2017
IMG lead guide Austin Shannon sent us a couple of photos yesterday during a climb he led on the North Ridge of Baker. Conditions continue to be excellent on the route and it should hold up at least through the end of the month. There is still time to get in some late summer ice!
George Dunn
August 15, 2017
Altiplano & Huayna Potosi (Greg Vernovage)
IMG Guide Luke Reilly checked in from Huayna Potosi Base Camp today reporting ‘all is well’ and that everything went as planned today. They got down to their ride by mid-morning and were in El Alto in time for some pizza and a resupply of rations for their next climb. By early afternoon they were at Base Camp enjoying a little R & R. A very efficient day.
The plan for tomorrow is to get up and moving about 9am and head up to Campamento Argentino, aka high camp. If the weather holds, Luke’s got his sights set on Thursday as their summit day.
Tye Chapman
August 14, 2017
Pequeno Alpamayo (Greg Vernovage)
Luke just checked in from Base Camp after a great climb of Pequeno Alpamayo. The weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky and no wind on top for the Team today.
The climb starts off with a short trek to the tongue of the glacier. Once on the glacier, they climb to the first summit where they get a great view of the rest of the climb. From the first summit they down climb some class 3 rock and head across the saddle to the summit ridge. The summit ridge holds your attention and gives you great views to the East and West.
Everyone is back in camp relaxing and getting ready for their first post-summit dinner. Tomorrow, they will get up early, pack camp, have breakfast and trek down two hours to the pickup point. From there, they load the bus and head to Huayna Potosi Base Camp at 15,300 ft.
Great climbing is happening in Bolivia!
Greg Vernovage
August 13. 2017
Pequeno Alpamayo. (Luke Reilly)
Yesterday, Luke and the Team had a nice climb up Pico Austria (17,454 ft). Luke said it was a great day with no wind and clear skies.
Today, the team had a great day out on the glacier brushing up on some fundamentals. They wrapped things up with an early dinner so they could get to bed early, in anticipation of their early morning wake up call. The plan for the entire team is to head out of Base Camp at 4am for the summit of Pequeno Alpamayo.
All members of the Team are ready to take a shot and the weather looks favorable!
All continues to go well in Bolivia!
Greg Vernovage
August 11, 2017
Pequeno Alpamayo/Condoriri Base Camp. (Greg Vernovage)
Luke just checked in from Pequeno Alpamayo Base Camp. The Team broke camp and hit the trail early today and had a great trek up to 15,000 feet. The scenery is always enjoyable as they head up the valley and see the mountains of Pequeno Alpamayo and Condoriri for the first time.
Trekking over the last hill, they are greeted by one of the most beautiful lakes we get to see on the trip. Trout swim in this lake and with any luck, after the summit climb of Pequeno Alpamayo, they will dine on fresh caught trout out of the lake!
Tomorrow, the Team is planning on taking their acclimatization hike to the summit of Pico Austria (17,454ft). Later, they will finish up rigging their harnesses and training for the climb. The weather has been nice and the Team is enjoying their home for the next few days.
All is well in Bolivia!
Greg Vernovage
