January 10, 2017
Lead Guide Justin Merle sent a few photos directly from the Ice Park today.
The Ice Park is in great condition right now and should be excellent climbing through the middle of March.
Justin says the natural ice outside the Park is also very good. Time to come for a visit!
http://www.mountainguides.com/ouray.shtml#top .
George Dunn
January 10, 2017
The Crew
Josh, Nickel, Leandro and team are DONE. It’s a wrap. 10 fingers and toes, the summit and new friendships – that works for us. The crew is in Mendoza – cleaning up, packing up, eating a lot and changing flights for home. IMG wants to say thanks to each member for their contributions to the team and wish them a safe journey home. They done good.
Phil Ershler
January 9, 2017
Leaving the White Continent
A short and final word from the Ice and our final Vinson team for the 2016/17 season. Greg let me know that the IL 76 is heading in today and that the team will be in Punta Arenas, Chile by this evening. That’s means this season is a wrap. Two expeditions, two great teams and two summits. Just the way we like it.
Our congratulations, again, to all our climbers and our thanks to them for being positive, contributing team members, helping in carries and the camp chores. And, a big thank you to Greg Vernovage for another safe, successful and fun trip to the ‘top of the bottom of the world’.
Phil Ershler
January 08, 2017
Time for a 3 for 1 blog post. First, Greg and crew are still sitting pretty at Union Glacier at about 80 degrees S. in Antarctica. With a little luck, the IL76 flies tomorrow. Weather is the ‘boss’ so we won’t really know until tomorrow. Vinson is in their rear view mirror so no problem, one way or the other.
Greg and team hope to see one of these soon — the Russian Ilyushin76 cargo plane
On Aconcagua, Josh reported that the team has made their descent to Plaza Mulas, base camp on the Horcones side. They’re doing some repacking, resting and a bunch of eating. They’ll be in Mendoza late tomorrow evening and back at the hotel there for the night. All is totally good with the crew.
Josh’s IMG team on the Summit of Aconcagua
In Ecuador, well, travel was an epic for Luke and two of our climbers. Their flight was delayed for over 24 hours but they arrived, got reunited with the rest of the team and things are in full swing in Ecuador. They’ve visiting Old Town, the Otavalo Market, a weaver friend in Peguche, had dinner at the Hacienda Pinsaqui, hike Fuya Fuya yesterday and are getting in another hiking/acclimatization day on Imbabura today. Everything’s a ‘go’.
Phil Ershler
January 7, 2017
High Camp on Aconcagua.
Good news from Aconcagua. I spoke with Josh from the summit and again when the team was back safe at high camp. Pretty much a perfect day for a summit attempt on Aconcagua. “Relatively†warm with minimal wind on the summit. Looks like the chess game was well played. Some water and food now, but mostly sleep. They can drop straight down to Plaza Mulas tomorrow, their last day with full packs.
A big congratulations is in order to Josh, Nickel, Leo and all our climbing team members. A huge effort is necessary to summit Aconcagua and not just for one day. The team worked hard from the start, kept a great attitude and did what was required. Everyone should be very proud.
Phil Ershler
January 6, 2017
After having seen and done it all most of the group opted to sleep in, pack up and sip on a cup of coffee this morning. A few managed to wander up the trail to the viewpoint. All reconnected for a tasty lunch before boarding the Grey III for their boat ride back to their van & subsequent ride back to Puerto Natales.
Once back in Natales it was showers and some quick souvenir shopping before their celebration dinner at Cormoran de Las Rocas. Some steaks & wine were consumed and favorite parts of the trip were shared.
Tomorrow they’ll grab some breakfast and hop in the van for the ride back to Punta Arenas to start their long journey home. They’ll get home on Sunday, just in time to call in sick to work on Monday.
Tye Chapman
January 6, 2017
Cold Mountain
Josh McDowell called in to let us know that the team did well today in getting up to high camp, C3. They’re settled in, packing, eating, drinking and generally getting ready for a big summit day. They’re in the right position to take advantage of the last of the forecasted “calmer†days for the next several. Let’s hope the forecast holds true and that everyone stays healthy and can put it all together for their summit attempt. Nothing is easy about Aconcagua. It is, perhaps, one of the more underestimated of the Seven Summits. Not technical but quite physically demanding.
Good luck to all.
Phil Ershler
January 6, 2017
MOST of the team touring Old Town
Time to check in with our January 2017 Ecuador expedition. MOST of the team arrived late last evening. Operative word there is ‘most’. IMG Senior Guide, Luke Reilly, with 2 of our climbers were/are stuck in Dallas. Flight got cancelled and they overnighted near the airport. No major issues. IMG’s Ecuadorian guide partner, Romulo Cardenas, met the arriving members at the airport and got them squared away for the night. Team is with Romulo now, touring Old Town Quito and heading north past the equator to the town of Otavalo this afternoon.
With any luck, Luke and our 2 climbers will arrive Quito this afternoon and head directly to Otavalo.
Phil Ershler
January 5, 2016
Chris Meder called in from Refugio Grey this afternoon to report yet another great day in Torres del Paine. The team explored the Grey Glacier area today, enjoying every minute! They were on their way to dinner when Chris called so I didn’t get a ton of details other than “everyone is having a blast”. I think I was getting the brush off.
Tomorrow is their last day in Torres del Paine and it’s not to be wasted. They’ve seen and done it all so tomorrow can be as casual as they want – a few might head up the trail a bit to get the sunrise, others will sleep in a bit and stretch the legs to the lookout, while others might enjoy a cup of coffee and some time reading in the lounge. Bottom-line is they have a boat to catch tomorrow so they’ll all reconvene for lunch before hopping on the Grey III boat and heading back to their awaiting van ride back to Puerto Natales for their celebration dinner.
One more check-in tomorrow and this trek is a wrap.
Tye Chapman
January 5, 2017
Artistic ice
Josh and team are ‘working their plan’. The team moved to C2 today. Our great Argentine guide, Martin, stayed at C2 with the crew to make sure all was good. While Martin was taking care of the crew, Josh and Nickel, each grabbed a big pack full of group gear and continued up to Camp 3 (high camp). A huge effort by these two guides to help put the team into position. As has been forecasted, winds are lessening and supposed to stay ‘lower’ for the next couple of days. Josh’s plan is to move to high camp tomorrow with the team, using a bit of extra porter support. Signs say Saturday will likely be the best day for a summit attempt and that’s exactly what the team hopes to do. It is indeed a ‘chess game’. Winds need to stay at a reasonable level and our team needs to stay healthy.
So far, so good.
Phil Ershler
