Another Great Day in Patagonia

February 5, 2016

: Team at the Towers

: View in the Silence Valley

: Critters

Heard from Tye and our Patagonia team yesterday afternoon. Sounds like they’re having way too much fun.

Phil Ershler

Hey Phil,

Another great day in Torres del Paine! Clear skies and just a heck of a day on the trail. We all went as far as Japanese Camp then a few continued up to the big lookout in the Silence Valley.

Tomorrow is a relatively easy day, which will be nice after a couple tough days. We’ll head primarily downhill and over to Refugio Los Cuernos. The forecast looks good for tomorrow.

I could keep typing but you and anyone reading this blog post has already skipped ahead to the photos!

Bottom-line is we’re having a blast!

Tye

Crystal Mountain Backcountry Skiing is Primo

February 5, 2016

Crystal Mountain Backcountry

â€œÂ I went out skiingÂ with Amy and Clay today in the Crystal Mountain area and had a blast. Great skiers/riders and great snow conditions. We got in two laps on East Peak in storm conditions with about a foot or so of new snow, and were bummed when the light started to fade signaling the end of our day. Conditions are primo right now, snow like this won’t last long.â€

IMG Lead Guide and Crystal Mountain Patroller Peter Dale

Catching Up South Of The Border

February 4, 2016

: Torres del Paine

: Luke and crew ready to take off

Letâ€™s catch up on IMG teams south of the border.

Itâ€™s always good news when a team is finishing a successful expedition with everyone having reached the summit, nary a scratch and everyone having become new friends.Â Success by anyoneâ€™s definition.Â Jonathan and team returned to Mendoza late last evening, grabbed bags of â€˜McDonald’sâ€™ and went to bed.Â Physically, mentally and emotionally relieved.Â Sleep must have come very easily last night.Â Congratulations to them all and safe travels home.

Luke and team were able to spend about 20 minutes talking with Jonathan and crew in Penitentes.Â They finished preparing their gear into mule loads for the trip in.Â 60 kg is enough for one of those big guys.Â They should arriving at Pampa de Lenas about now, their first camp on the 3 day approach.

I also spoke with Tye after his first day on the trail in Patagonia.Â I did this trip personally a couple of years ago with a custom group of old customers/friends and enjoyed every minute of it.Â They spent last evening at the Refugio Chileno but went up further yesterday to get their first view of â€œThe Towersâ€Â A little drizzle earlier in the day but Tye parted the skies for the â€œTowersâ€ view.Â Totally spectacular.Â Even further up tomorrow, to the Silence Valley.Â A bit more work but thatâ€™s one of the reasons theyâ€™ll have the area pretty much to themselves.

Phil Ershler

Carstensz Climbers Return To Timika

February 3, 2016

Greg called to report that the helicopter flights went on schedule this morning (in Papua) and the team are all back to Timika.Â He also sent some photos:

Way to go, team!

Eric Simonson

Updates from Aconcagua

February 3, 2016

Lukeâ€™s crew last night in Mendoza

Two IMG Aconcagua teams: we pass each other this afternoon in Penitentes â€“ one heading home and the other beginning their climb.Â Jonathan Schrock, Martin Lucero and team are finishing their hike out now and heading for Mendoza this evening.Â Luke Reilly, Nickel Wood, Leandro Villegas and team will begin their approach hike tomorrow.Â A landslide had this road closed all of yesterday but the delay was only temporary and wonâ€™t majorly impact our teams.

We congratulate Jonathanâ€™s crew and wish Lukeâ€™s team the best of luck for a safe and successful expedition.

Phil Ershler

Carstensz Climbers Return To Base Camp

February 3, 2016

: View of Carstensz from Sumantri (Dan Zokaites)

: Looking down on BC from base of the Carstensz route

: View of Sumantri and Ngga Pulu across the valley

: Rappelling down on Carstensz

Greg called from Base Camp to report the team made a successful descent, arriving back before it got dark.Â They took it slow and easy on the way down, with many rappels down the fixed ropes. Â Greg said everyone was safe and sound, after a long day.Â Weather was cloudy with a few sprinkles, but not too bad.Â The team has the helicopter on call for tomorrow morning, so weâ€™ll keep our fingers crossed that the conditions will allow them to be flown out on schedule.Â So far, so good.

Eric Simonson

Patagonia Trekkers Heading to Los Torres

February 2, 2016

Photo opp on the bike ride this afternoon. (Tye Chapman)

All anybody is talking about around Puerto Natales is how unseasonably warm it’s been these past few days. Its normally jacket weather but it’s been in the 80’s recently without the wind, a dramatic difference form my time here these past few years!

Today was a free day for the team to explore town a bit. Â A couple folks walked around, while a few of us rented bikes and ventured out a little further. We all picked up a few souvenirs, that much is certain.

The afternoon was spent putting the final touches on getting packed up and ready for tomorrow. We met up with our local guide, Tadeo, and had a quick briefing about the the trek.

Tomorrow looks like a little rain with some sun mixed in, which truthfully is probably better than the recent heat wave! We’ll take it as it comes,

The goal over the next couple days is to see Los Torres and the Silence Valley, a personal favorite of mine.

If you’re looking for an update on Michal’s bag, it arrived to Punta Arenas late this evening. We dispatched a driver to make the 7 hour round trip drive… Hopefully we’re able to get it in time. If not, he’s borrowed and bought enough to get by. Not a perfect situation but lemonade nonetheless.

That’s all for now. We’ll check in by sat phone tomorrow.

Tye Chapman

Carstensz Summits!

February 2, 2016

: Looking down the summit ridge on Carstensz

: The Tyrolean Traverse on Carstensz

IMG guide Greg Vernovage called on the sat phone from the summit to report 100% on top.Â Congrats to John, Robert, Sean, Valari, and guides Greg and Brury.Â Well done, team!Â Greg said they had some rain and snow along the way and there were a lot of clouds around.Â Â They are now on their way back down to the Base Camp.Â Weâ€™ll keep you posted.

Eric Simonson

Mt Washington Ice Climbing

January 31, 2016

: photos by Craig John

On Sunday Joe M. and I climbed Odell’s Gully on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. The route is close to 1200 ft. long and contains three full pitches of WI 3. After the 2 Â½ Â hour hike to the base of the route Joe and I roped up and set the first anchor of the first pitch of WI3 (water ice of sustained 70 degrees with some steeper bulges). The second pitch was the crux with 200 feet of sustained climbing. After the third pitch of ice we entered the upper gully which provided moderate snow climbing on a mix of deep snow up to our knees alternating with firm snow that provided great cramponing. When weÂ got to the top of the route we were hit by Mt. Washington’s famous winds which only increased as we approached Lion’s Head, our descent route. On the descent down Lion’s Head we ran into several parties that climbed the hiking route to the summit and were hesitant to down climbÂ a 20 ft.Â steep section of Lion’s Head route. I pulled out the rope and set up a hand line to aid everyone as they descended this section. Joe rappelled it and I down climbed. Forty minutes later we were at the parking lot and said our good byes….but only for two weeks when he returns to the Mt. Washington Valley to take on the steep ice of Champney Falls and Mt. Willard.

Craig John

Summit of Aconcagua

February 1, 2016

Summit of Aconcagua

Just off the sat phone with Jonathan Schrock and team.Â 100% on the top.Â Great conditions this morning but snowing with minimal visibility for the descent.Â No matter, the entire team reached the summit and all are back safely now at high camp.Â A big congratulations to Jonathan, Martin, Lexi, Bruce and Rick.Â Nice job.

Phil Ershler