Fall Climbing Is Great In The North Cascades

September 7, 2016

: Mt. Shuksan (Austin Shannon)

: Shuksan Summit Pyramid (Austin Shannon)

IMG guide Austin Shannon lead a climb of Mt. Shuksan over the past weekend. Despite some potential inclement weather the team was still able to pull off an ascent of Mt. Shuksan in excellent conditions. Austin reported good snow conditions on the summit and a dusting of snow on the lower glacier. IMG will continue to offer guided programs in North Cascades National Park through the end of September.

George Dunn

Salkantay Trek Team Finishing Up

September 7, 2016

: Team Sampling Guinea Pig

: The Team

: Machu Picchu

IMG Lead Guide Charlotte Austin called in yesterday via satellite phone. The team made is safely over Salkantay trek and hiked down to lower altitudes on the most strenuous day two days ago. Today they Â hiked down through warmer climate zones to the small town of Santa Teresa where they camped near a local hot springs. Today the team opted to visit a coffee plantation in the morning and then take a short private bus ride to the trail head for the final five hour hike into the town of Aquas Calientes. Showers and a restaurant meal are in order tomorrow. The next day the team gets to visit Machu Picchu, the highlight of their journey and a lifetime experience.

George Dunn

2017 Mt. Rainier Dates Released

September 7, 2016

Little Tahoma from The Flats on Mt. Rainier. (Jason Liburdi)

It’s official, our 2017 dates have been released and with just 8 climbers and 4 guides on each climb they go fast!

Let’s cut to the chase:

Denali Expedition Seminar & Summit Climb: Literally a prerequisite for Denali. This program features 6.5 days of learning/training/climbing and generally getting your butt kicked by the winter weather on Mt. Rainier. This program is for you if you have your eyes on Denali or if you’ve got your eyes on an illusive winter summit of Mt. Rainier. Included in the price of the program is lodging for your first night in Ashford and all breakfasts and dinners on the mountain.

AIARE Avalanche Level IÂ & Level II: There are few things like experiencing the mountains during the winter. The beauty, the majesty, the solitude, the vastness. To safely experience the mountains during the winter we need specific skills. Whether we are backcountry skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing, or climbing our ability to assess avalanche hazard and travel in avalanche terrain is paramount to our safety and success in reaching our objectives. Join IMG’s team of certified avalanche educators who work as avalanche professionals throughout the United States to learn and hone your avalanche skills.

Kautz Route: This is a great climb for the climber with a little (or a lot) of climbing experience. This is the best option for those who’d like to return to Rainier to attempt a different, slightly more challenging route.Â 1 day traversing the south side of Mt. Rainier, 1 day climbing the Turtle Snowfield, Summit day up the Kautz Ice Chute and 1 day down to the parking lot. All Kautz climbs now include an Advanced Mountain Day School to help get you prepared for the conditions on the route.

3.5 Day Disappointment Cleaver Route: We believe this program is far and away the most enjoyable way to climb Rainier and is also great introduction to mountaineering. It starts out with a half-day orientation and gear check. On the 1st day of the climb the group will ascend the Muir Snowfield up to Camp Muir (10,000ft). After dinner (usually IMG’s world famous burritos) it’s off to a full night’s sleep in the Gombu bunkhouse. Day 2 features a nice breakfast (usually pancakes and bacon) followed by a 1/2 day training at Camp Muir. After the training the group will move up to High Camp at the Ingraham Flats (11,000ft). Day 3 of the climb is reserved for the summit attempt and then all the way back down to Paradise and on to IMG HQ to hopefully sign the summit board.

4.5 Day Emmons Route: Another great introduction to Mt. Rainier and mountaineering. Maybe just a little tougher than the 3.5 day climb but the extra day on the mountain makes up for it. We’ll take 2 days to get to Camp Schurman (9500ft), 1 day reserved for the summit day and 1 day to get back to the trailhead. A perfect climb for the fit individual looking for a little more adventure.

For the more experienced climbers we have more technical programs like the Fuhrer Finger Route and Liberty Ridge.

Additional programs include: Little Tahoma Seminar,Glacier Skills Seminars, Mountain Day Schools, Advanced Mountain Day Schools and Crevasse Rescue schools are popular programs for climbers looking to get a grasp of the basic skills needed to pursue climbs on their own.

More questions? Don’t miss our Rainier FAQ which should answer a lot of your initial questions.

Ready to sign up? Click here to see our registration forms. Please note that the only way to apply for a position on a Mt. Rainier climb is to submit a completed application form. Absolutely no reservations or holds can be made over the phone.

Tye Chapman

Cho Oyu Team Gets Eyes On Cho Oyu & Everest

September 7, 2016

: The Cho Oyu & Tibet Trek Team (Ang Jangbu)

: Looking over Tingri (Mike Hamill)

: Cho Oyu Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Looking up valley towards Cho Oyu (Mike Hamill)

The IMG Teams had a great day in Tingri.Â They took an acclimatization hike just outside of town where they got views of Everest and Cho Oyu.Â Mike said the Team is feeling great and looking forward to getting up early and heading to Base Camp.Â Regardless of the year, it is always a good feeling to be getting close to â€œhome.â€Â The Cho Oyu Base Camp is one of those places that makes you feel like you are getting closer to your destination

Phunuru and the Sherpa Team are ready for everyone to come on in!Â Base Camp is all set up and looks fantastic.Â When you have been to Cho Oyu as many times as Phunuru has (16 expeditions) he gets an idea of where and how to set up camp.Â The camp is situated on level ground where the sun will hit the tents in the morning for a little warmth.

Time to settle in!

Greg Vernovage

All Is Well In Moshi

September 6, 2016

Sunset Kili and Mawenzi

IMG Senior Guide, Dustin Balderach, and crew are in Tanzania and gearing up for an ascent of Kilimanjaro.Â Check back and follow their progress as they head towards the summit of Kilimanjaro.Â Their first â€˜check inâ€™ from Moshi came in over the weekend.

Â Dustin reports,Â â€œAll is well in Tanzania!Â All climbers and bags made it to K’s Hotel in Moshi! Easy flights all around.Â Theyâ€™re psyched and I’m psyched. Breakfast at 8:30 am tomorrow morning, then gear checks, then an afternoonÂ visit to Moshi for a little shopping and sightseeing. Nice relaxing day tomorrow before we hit the trail.Â Cool night, clear skies. Kili may poke out in the morning. For now it’s timeÂ to catch up on some sleep.Â The team is excited to have feet on the ground in Moshi. Will call from sat phone for a check in tomorrow.â€

Phil Ershler

Cho Oyu Team On The Move

September 6, 2016

: Building Base Camp (Phunuru)

: Double Rainbow over Tingri Plain (Ang Jangbu)

: Gyatso la (17,250â€™) (Ang Jangbu)

: Tashilumpo Monastary (Ang Jangbu)

: Qomalongma National Park monument (Ang Jangbu)

: View of Cho Oyu from Tingri (Phunuru)

The Cho Oyu and Tibet Trekking Team are on the move again today.Â Mike and Jangbu report that the team covered some ground today and have made it to Tingri.Â The morning started with good weather and then clouds came in leading to eventual rain.Â The drive takes the team over Gyatso la (17,250â€™) and past the Everest Viewpoint.Â Mount Everest hid in the clouds today but the Team will have more opportunities to see her.Â Across the Tibetan Plateau and onto the Tingri Plain, the team will take a couple days to stretch their legs and get more acclimatized.

Â I heard from Phunuru over the weekend also.Â He and the Sherpa Team drove towards Cho Oyu and are getting Base Camp set up.Â Other teams are beginning to pull into Base Camp as well.Â Everyone is doing great in Tibet!

Greg Vernovage

Cho Oyu Team Acclimatizing in Shigatse

September 5, 2016

: Trekking above Shigatse (Ang Jangbu)

: Negotiating the sleeping dog (Ang Jangbu)

: Shigatse (Ang Jangbu

The Cho Oyu and Tibetan trekking teams continue to acclimatize and take in the sights in Tibet.Â I spoke to Jangbu briefly and he said the team is doing great, â€œVery nice people.â€Â The rain clouds have been threatening each day but the team continues to get their hiking in and are staying strong.

Tomorrow the climbing and trekking team will head for Tingri.Â Phunuru and the Sherpa team are heading towards Base Camp with all of the supplies.Â Phunuru and the guys will be setting up Base Camp for our team as well as organizing the transport of all the gear further up valley.

Greg Vernovage

Travel Day to Shigatse

September 4, 2016

: Secretary General of CTMA with Cho Oyu and Tibetan Trek Teams (Ang Jangbu)

: Ang Jangbu posing with a Tibetan Mastif (Mike Hamill)

: Yamdrok Lake (Ang Jangbu)

: Yamdrok Lake (Ang Jangbu)

Mike Hamill checked in today:

â€œWe had a great drive from Lhasa to Shigatse today past Yamdrok lake. The clients were quite impressed by the lake and the Tibetan Mastiffs posing for photos in route. Before leaving Lhasa, the Secretary General of the CTMA (China Tibet Mountaineering Association) stopped by to wish us well on our expedition. We plan to get a hike tomorrow morning and tour the Tashilumpo Monastery in the afternoon. All’s well here.â€

The Sherpa plan to head in to base camp tomorrow after a day of shopping in Tingri.

Greg Vernovage

Taking in the Sights in Lhasa

September 3, 2016

: IMG Cho Oyu climbers on the roof of the Johkang Temple with Potala behind (Mike Hamill)

: Cho Oyu sherpa team on the way to Tingri (Phunuru)

: Tibetan opera at Shoton Festival in Norbulingka Palace (Ang Jangbu)

: Monks debating at Sera Monastary (Ang Jangbu)

: Peiku Tso Lake north of Shishapangma on the road between Kyirong and Tingri (Phunuru)

: The old road via the Friendship bridge to Zhangmu and Nyalam is now closed. This year the sherpa team traveled overland to Tingri by crossing into Tibet via Dunche (Nepal) and Kyirong (Tibet).

The Tibet Trek and Cho Oyu Climbers continue to enjoy Lhasa.Â Ang Jangbu is joining the Team into ABC this season and when he is around, we always stay flexible with our itinerary.Â Jangbu said Â â€œWe had a great day today. After learning the Shoton Festival was happening at Norbulingka (Summer Palace) we decided to take the team there instead of going to Drepung Monastery. Â We got a tour of the summer palace, and saw a Tibetan opera and locals picnicking in the park.Â After lunch we went to Sera Monastery to watch the Monks debate.â€

From Mike Hamill, â€œEveryone is doing well and we are headed to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse tomorrow. Heading out the door 9AM Beijing time.Â We have 7 brand new land cruisers to travel in.â€

Further up the Tibetan Plateau, Phunuru and the Sherpa Team have arrived in Tingri.Â They had a good drive around Shishapangma and will be in Tingri for a couple days.Â They will acclimatize and pick up additional supplies before heading to Cho Oyu Base Camp where they will be getting it set up ahead of the teamâ€™s arrival.

Greg Vernovage

Lhasa Tour and the Kyirong Shuffle

September 2, 2016

: Potala Palace (Ang Jangbu)

: IMG Sherpa Team (Phunuru)

: Duffle Shuffle at Kyirong (Phunuru)

: View of the Potala Palace from the roof of the Jokhang Temple (Ang Jangbu)

: Barkhor (Ang Jangbu)

: Potala Palace at sunset (Ang Jangbu)

The Tibet Trek and Cho Oyu Climbing Team had a great day touring Lhasa today.Â It has been a while since we went through Lhasa and there have been some changes, the city has grown but the historical sights are still breathtaking.Â A couple of the big highlights of the day were Barkhor and of course, the Potala Palace.Â Tomorrow, the plan will be to tour Norbulingka in the morning and Sera Temple in the afternoon.

Crossing the border into Tibet, Phunuru reports that the Sherpa Team has cleared customs and will be heading to Tingri in the morning.Â As you can see, the duffle shuffle is a larger scale.Â We need to transfer all gear from the truck in Nepal to the Chinese truck.Â For many of the Sherpa, this is their first time crossing the border in Kyirong.Â They will be traveling around Shishapangma and into Tingri.

All is well and the Teams are enjoying their tours of Tibet!

Greg Vernovage