March 31, 2026
Cheers! (photo: Lama Temba)
Ang Jangbu reports that the EBC Trek Team checked in from Pheriche yesterday afternoon, everyone is doing well! Today was the acclimatization hike around Pheriche and tomorrow the team will continue on to Dzongla (4800m/15,700ft) where they’ll get some good views of Lobuche Peak!
All smiles (photo: Lama Temba)
It’s been a long winter, but spring has arrived at IMG headquarters and our first crew of climbers with it!
This first program is a Winter Expedition Prep Seminar. This seminar is an excellent training opportunity for future Denali/McKinley climbers, and covers the skills you’ll need to reach the summit.
It feels so good to be back in the saddle (and in the sun, no less!) and getting climbers out into the beautiful mountains we all love. Check back in over the next few days to see their progress on the mountain.
Here’s to a stellar season in 2026!
March 25, 2026
Commencing the trek at the entrance of Pasang Lhamu Gate (photo: Pasang Tshering)
Ang Jangbu checked in yesterday to report that the team landed in Lukla yesterday morning in fine weather and started their trek to Phakding! Today the team headed to Namche, home of the legendary Namche Bazaar. Tomorrow will include a nice acclimatization hike around Namche. So far so good!
March 23, 2026
Visiting Boudhanath Stupa in the evening (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that our Everest BC trekkers have arrived safely. Today they did their gear checks and had a chance to visit some of the sites around town, before heading to a restaurant near Boudhanath Stupa for dinner.
Next up in the morning is their helicopter flight to Lukla, where they will be meeting up with IMG trek sirdar Pasang Tshering and assistant Lama Temba with the goal to reach Phakding on their first day of trekking. All’s well in Nepal!
January 19, 2026
On the summit of Orizaba (Tyler Nachand)
Tyler reported that the team had a sweet climb of Orizaba. The route was in good shape and the weather was great. After tagging the 18,491 ft summit of Orizaba, they descended back to Piedra Grande for a 12-hour roundtrip.
Then, it was into the 4×4 for the ride down to Tlachichuca for showers and their celebration dinner. Tomorrow morning they’ll be heading to the airport for flights home. Well done team!
January 18, 2026
Rocky trail to Mulas (Max Bond)
Max Bond reports from Aconcagua that they’ve descended to the Plaza de Mulas Base Camp at about 13,800 ft, on the opposite side of the mountain from where they began (the “360 route”). Now they are enjoying the thick air and some tasty food and beverages and planning to hike out the Horcones valley tomorrow and make it back to Mendoza by evening.
In Mexico Tyler Nachand reports that the Orizaba team had a nice break between climbs visiting Puebla and Tlachichuca,
Dinner in Tlachichuca (Tyler Nachand)
and are now heading back to the hills. Today they will drive by 4×4 up to the Piedra Grande Base Camp at about 14,000 feet, planning on an alpine start for climbing Orizaba tomorrow.
Best wishes to the teams!
January 17, 2026
Well done team (Max Bond)
Max reports from Camp 3 that the team had a good day, reaching the summit and then descending back to Camp 3. It was very cold for the ascent, but warmed up near the summit as they got less wind. All total, it was a 14 hour roundtrip, 9.5 up and 4.5 down.
Everyone is doing well, with the plan for another night at Camp 3 and then down to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp in the morning. Way to go!!
January 17, 2026
Ixtaccihuatl summit with smoking Popocatepetl in the background (Tyler Nachand)
Tyler reports that the team had a nice climb of Ixta yesterday. The weather was good, and the team did the round trip in about 14 hours to the 17103 ft (5213 m) summit.
After descending to the vehicles, they continued down to the beautiful city of Puebla, where they overnighted at a hotel. This morning everyone is feeling better after a good night sleep, some good food, and lower altitude! On the schedule today is to explore Puebla and then drive to Tlachichuca, the small town at the foot of Orizaba (Citlaltépetl).
Puebla Cathedral (Porter McMichael)
January 16, 2026
On the way to Camp 3 (Max Bond)
Max checked in to say that the team had a nice climb today up to Camp 3, also known as Berlin, at about 19,500 ft. There is plenty of snow on the route this year, so they have been wearing boots and crampons, which is nicer than hiking on talus and dirt!
Berlin Camp 3 (Max Bond)
The team is tucked in, ready to get up early for the summit day tomorrow. It has been windy but the forecast is reasonable for tomorrow, so fingers crossed!
January 16, 2026
Acclimatization hike above Camp 2 (Max Bond)
Max Bond reports that the team are doing well after a couple nights at Camp 2 (about 18,000 ft). Yesterday they took a hike a bit higher up to stretch the legs and assess their acclimatization.
Looking down on Camp 2 (Max Bond)
Everyone is feeling good so the plan is to move up to the high camp (about 19,500 ft) in preparation for the summit bid. Fingers crossed for decent weather, best wishes team!
