3 X 3 Pulls Into Namche

October 13, 2016

: Trekking up Namche hill (Tye Chapman)

: Bridge to Namche (Tye Chapman)

: Namche (Tye Chapman)

Our 3 X 3 trekking team pulled into Namche on a beautiful day.Â They got an early start out of Phakding and worked their way through a few villages to the high suspension bridge.Â The bridge to Namche hill will get your attention, I am not quite sure how high it is off the ground because I just donâ€™t look down!

A couple days exploring Namche and the surrounding sights for our Team.Â Hello to everyone in the Khumbu Lodge from everyone back here in the USA!

Greg Vernovage

Three by Three Trek in Phakding

October 12, 2016

: Trekking to Phakding (Greg Vernovage)

: Lukla Airport (Greg Vernovage)

: Welcome Sign (Greg Vernovage)

The 3 x 3 Trek has moved like clockwork into the Khumbu Valley.Â They flew to Lukla 9,383 ft (2860 m) on schedule and had a fantastic day trekking to Phakding 8,701 ft (2,652 m).Â Phakding is a beautiful place to camp where if you want to sleep with your window open, you can hear the river run.Â Tomorrow, the team has Namche Hill!Â They will wake up early and hit the trail to Namche, crossing a few high suspended bridges and trekking step by step up hill to Namche.

Beautiful days in the Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Beautiful Day In Khote

October 12, 2016

: Heli flight into Khote (Photo: Phunuru)

: Khote (Eric Simonson)

: Heli flight into Khote (Photo: Phunuru)

: View from Khote to Mera Peak (Eric Simonson)

Phunuru checked in from Khote (11,417ft/ 3480m).Â The Helicopter flight went smooth and they are enjoying a beautiful day in the Hinku Valley.Â The Team will get to stretch their legs for a number of days now.Â On the schedule, an acclimatization hike around Khote.

IMG Guide, Phunuru, you may notice is just back from a great climb of Cho Oyu and Kilimanjaro before that.Â Great weather is following him!

Greg Vernovage

Mera Peak on Schedule

October 11, 2016

: Mera Peak Team (Phunuru)

: Mera Peak Trekking Route

Our Mera Peak Team arrived to Kathmandu with all of their gear and flew to Lukla for the start of the Mera Peak Climb.Â The plan is to sleep in Lukla (9,334ftÂ / 2845m) and fly to Khote (11,417ft/ 3480m) in the morning by helicopter.Â This trek starts with some old fashion duffle shuffle and various forms of air travel to get the Team far enough up and out to enjoy the remote Hinku Valley.Â With the monsoon starting to move away, the Team is expecting to get some great views of the Himalayas over the next two weeks!

Greg Vernovage

IMG 2017 Women’s Programs

IMG is proud to announce two brand-new programs for the summer of 2017: an all-women’s Mount Rainier climb via the Disappointment Cleaver and an all-women’s 6-day Mount Shuksan Mountaineering Skills Seminar & Climb.

Join us July 31-August 3, 2017 for our all-women’s climb of Mount Rainier. This program will be identical to our standard 3Â½ day Muir/DC Rainier summit climb. It will be led by female IMG guides, and you will be climbing in the company of other strong women with a common goal.

Join us August 5-10, 2017 for our all-women’s 6-day course on Mount Shuksan. Here’s what our guides say about the climb: “A beautiful hike through dense forest and up into the alpine zone will lead to our camp at the base of permanent snow. The rolling glacier terrain above camp is perfect for training in ice axe arrest, cramponing and crevasse rescue skills. As time allows, we’ll do other training and skills sessions, which may include anchors, self and team crevasse rescue, ice climbing, route finding, glacier travel and fixed line ascension. Our route of ascent is via the Sulphide Glacier, the most direct route up the mountain with the fewest technical difficulties. The broad rolling expanse of the Sulphide Glacier provides a moderate roped glacier approach to the final 600-foot rock summit, which provides an opportunity to experience steeper roped snow climbing and moderate rock scrambling to the summit pinnacle, which is a very spectacular and scenic summit experience. Your all-female IMG guide team will take you through the training process and to the summit of Mt. Shuksan for a classic Northwest mountain experience.”

Inquiries? Feel free to get in touch — we’re always happy to help. Email (office@mountainguides.com) or call (360.569.2609) any time. We can answer questions, put you in touch with one of our female guides, and help you plan the perfect adventure.

Fall Rock Guide Training in Mazama Washington

October 6, 2016

: IMG Guides on Prime Rib of Goat (Photo: Justin Merle)

: Rock Rescue Training at Fun Rock (Photo: George Dunn)

Every fall IMG guides get together for a two-day training session in which they focus on rock guiding skills.Â This year the trainingÂ was held in Mazama Washington, which is located on the east side of the North Cascades Highway.Â Although the town itself is quite small, the rock walls that surround it are far from little.Â Mazama boasts some of the longest multi-pitch sport routes in Washington State.Â There are many different climbing areas in Mazama, but most notable is the Goat Wall.Â It is a 1,500 foot wall, which overlooks the foothills of the North Cascades and towers over the town. Â For shorter routes, there is great climbing on the aptly namedÂ Fun Wall as well as atÂ The Matrix. Â These two areasÂ provide greatÂ single-pitch climbing just seconds from the parking lot.

This year atÂ guide training, the guides worked on rock rescue skills for the first day.Â On day two, they split into teams of 3 and climbed a couple of the moderate multi-pitch routes on the Goat Wall.Â One of the routes is called Prime Rib of Goat.Â It is 11 pitches in length, and is mostly 5.6 climbing with a few 5.9 moves.Â The other route that was used for training is called Inspiration.Â It is a 6 pitch route that is mostly 5.8 with some 5.9+ moves.Â Both routes are considered â€œClassics.â€

IMG gained a permit from the Forest Service just this year and we are planning to use Goat Wall as a fallback rock climbing location when the weather is rainy in the North Cascades. Â IMGÂ will also run trips for people wanting to get out and expand their ability on rock. Â It is an absolutely amazing venue, thatÂ has something for everyone. Â Hope to see you there!

Josh McDowell

Cho Oyu Team is Heading Home

October 4, 2016

: Nangpa la from ABC (Mike Guthrie)

: Carrying a load from ABC (Greg Vernovage)

Mike called from Tingri to let us know that everyone is doing great.Â This Team does not sit in one place for too long!Â After a night of celebration at ABC, the Team started cleaning up camp and then headed downhill.Â The only thing left for the Sherpa is to wait for the Yaks and make loads.Â This is often times much easier if climbers are not around trying to â€œhelpâ€ too much.Â Our Sherpa Team is the best there is and can pack a huge camp in not time. Â Everyone will meet in Tingri tomorrow and have one last celebration meal before heading back to KTM.

This Team had a great season and we are happy to wish them congratulations!

Greg Vernovage

Summit Photos and Packing on Cho Oyu

October 3, 2016

: Summit Photo (Dallas Glass)

: Phunuru on Top (Phunuru)

: Climbing on Summit Day (Phunuru)

The Cho Oyu Team is all back down at ABC after cleaning the mountain.Â A little celebration and packing up as they wait for the Yaks to come up the valley.Â It has been a great season on Cho Oyu and now they just have to make their way back to KTM.Â Our climbers will head in the direction of Lhasa to catch a flight and our Sherpa Team will go back via Kiyrong with all of the climbing gear.Â A few more days and everyone will be back to civilization!

Greg Vernovage

Cho Oyu Summits

October 2, 2016

View of Everest and Lhotse from Cho Oyu Summit (Greg Vernovage)

We received a quick phone call from Mike as he passed through Camp 3 on the way down after a gorgeous climb to the summit of Cho Oyu!Â 19 summits for IMG this season.Â We will get more photos from them as they get back into range.

Some members returned all the way to ABC while a few others are spending the night at Camp 1.Â Tomorrow, the Team will all be together at ABC to celebrate.Â The following day will be spent on packing camp and waiting for the Yaks to come up.

Way to go Team!

Greg Vernovage

It’s Go Time On Cho Oyu

October 1, 2016

Cho Oyu with the moon coming up. (Mike Guthrie)

Mike called on a gorgeous day from Camp 2 on Cho Oyu.Â â€œThere is not a breath of wind and only a couple puffy clouds around us.Â The Team is doing great and we are ready to head up to Camp 3 today.â€

The weather forecast continues to look good and the plan is to take off from Camp 3 at 2:30 am.Â Heading up from Camp 2 is a slow and steady climb.Â It is steep and what is most important is finding your rhythm.Â You need to take one step after another and breathe.

Go get it everyone!

Greg Vernovage