July 31, 2015
Team’s back in Moscow and had a great final dinner together after an afternoon of sightseeing. Kremlin and Red Square in the morning/afternoon and then the gang heads off in different directions late tomorrow afternoon. All is well in Russia.
Phil Ershler
July 31, 2015
Dustin called from the Farmhouse. What can we say? A great climb of Kilimanjaro followed up by tons of wildlife viewing.
The team stopped at Olduvai Gorge on their way to the Ngorongoro Crater to see where the earliest known human species walked millions of years ago. It is really amazing how much wildlife can be seen in the Ngorongoro Crater! This is a super volcano packed with tons of wildlife. The team finished off the big five with a rhino sighting today.
A button down shirt for dinner tonight at the Farmhouse and then they’ll wrap things up tomorrow.
Greg Vernovage
Julyl 29, 2015
Machu Picchu Trek Back In Cusco
IMG guide Peter Anderson called in yesterday to report that the entire team was back in Cusco. Early in the morning the team rose for their last day at Machu Picchu. The majority of the team hiked up nearby Huayna Picchu Peak for a great view of the site, others chose to explore Machu Picchu and others stayed down in the town of Aguas Calientes to sightsee and rest. The team caught the train out of town mid-day and then were met by a private bus for transport back to the hotel in Cusco. The team had a celebration dinner last night and are on their way to Lima and eventually back home today. Congratulations all for a great and successful program! -George Dunn
Cordillera Blanca Trek Finishes Final Climb Of Urus
IMG guide Jason Edwards called today after safely returning from the team’s final summit climb of Urus. Urus is a little lower in elevation than Ishinca, but it had some steeper sections of ice/snow that made the climb equally challenging. Jason reports that all are healthy and resting this evening. They will hike out to the town of Juaraz tomorrow and spend a final day in town on Friday. Saturday they start their journey back home. -George Dunn
Classic Alps Climb leaves Zermatt and heading to Wengen
The Alps program guides (Liz Smart, Forest McBrian and Aaron Mainer) report that all is well with their team. After a warmup day on the Riffelhorn, the team hiked in to climb the Weissmies on Tuesday, then back to the hotel in Zermatt for a climb up the Breithorn on Wednesday (today). After the climb they will travel by train to the town of Wengen (near Grindelwald) and will spend the night in a hotel there. Thursday (tomorrow) the team will have a relaxed morning in Wengen and then take an afternoon cable car ride up to the Monch Hut and a planned climb of the Monch the following day. Sounds like fun! -George Dunn
Dustin Checked In From The Serengeti
Wow, I don’t know where to begin. First, the flight to the Serengeti was amazing. We could see hippos and zebras as we were coming in for the landing. Then as soon as we landed we were off for game viewing in very comfortable extended Land Cruisers with a pop-tops. Within the first two hours we saw hundreds of gazelles, zebras, tons of elephants – including many calves, hundreds of African buffaloes, a pride of lions, giraffes, cheetahs – with 4 cubs, hyenas, a warthog, more hippos, many cool birds and I’m sure I’m missing several more!! Needless to say we couldn’t stop talking about all the wildlife. Really amazing. And all so soon after landing!
Oh but it didn’t stop there. Once we arrived at the Serengeti Wilderness Lodge we were blown away once again. ‘Glamping’ is an understatement! Besides the ‘tents’ being very luxurious, the food and staff are also amazing. Tomorrow morning after breakfast we are off for our morning game drive at 7:30. We are very excited for what we will see! We missed a leopard by about 10 minutes today so maybe tomorrow?? I’ll let you know what we see. -Dustin Balderach
Bolivia Team At Huayna Potosi High Camp
Luke called in from High Camp on Huayna Potosi.  It was a nice hike to the High Camp Refugio on Huayna Potosi for the team today. The team will get moving by 3:30 am and walk uphill with the lights of El Alto off to their west. As the sun comes up, the team will work through the bergschrund and look to the east and the jungle. It is a welcome sunrise because the temperatures can be pretty cold at that elevation. A couple more hours and they will be on top! – Greg Vernovage
Three Teams On Top Today
We had three team summits inside Mt. Rainier National Park today. One team summited Mt. Rainier via the Emmons Route, another summited Rainier via the DC Route and our third summit was as team over on Little Tahoma. If you’re doing the math that’s 28 summits today! All teams are making their way out to the trailhead or to their respective camps. Tomorrow brings some sore legs and a guilt free cheeseburger. – Tye Chapman
July 28, 2015
Hiking in the Caucasus
Mike was able to email this team photo. Leisurely day, hiking, eating and relaxing. Always nice to have your contingent days AFTER your summit climb. Knowing you didn’t have to use those extras days, dealing with bad weather, is a good thing.
Phil Ershler
July 28, 2015
We just got a couple photos from Luke as the team passed through El Alto on their way to Huayna Potosi Base Camp. The team stops in El Alto for a quick resupply, coke and pizza before heading back uphill to the Refugio at Huayna Potosi.
Yolanda runs the Refugio and will have it all cleaned up for the team. It is a great place to hang out for the night. Tomorrow, they will pack a bag and head up to High Camp for the summit attempt.
July 28, 2015
Kili on the decent from Mweka Camp. (Greg Vernovage)
Dustin checked in from Moshi after a great last day out from Mweka Camp. He said it teased them with a little mist on their walk out but still no rain. After a bunch of high-fiving and hand shaking, the team loaded up and headed for Moshi.
Back in Moshi, they showered up and did the duffle shuffle for the safari. A few drinks and a nice dinner with the Chagga guides to celebrate the climb.
Switch gears tomorrow and get ready for the Safari!
Greg Vernovage
July 27, 2015
Endless climbing in Peru
IMG Guide Jason Edwards called in today. After the Cedros trek members left for home this past weekend, the climbing portion of the trip began.  The team successfully summited Ishinca, 18,143’ today. They are now safely back at high camp. They will rest tomorrow, then on to a climb of Urus, 17, 783’.
Sounds like great climbing!
July 27, 2015
Machu Picchu
IMG Guide Peter Anderson called in moments ago. His team finished the Inca Trail today, arriving at Machu Picchu in time to see the sunrise over the site.
All are down in town now after the daylong tour and showered up at their hotel in Aguas Calientes. Tomorrow, those that wish will ride the bus back up to Machu Picchu for a dawn hike up the small neighboring peak of Huayna Picchu for a great view from above of the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Â All the team will reconvene in town after lunch for the train ride and then private bus ride back to Cusco. The team will overnight in Cusco tomorrow, then catch their flights to Lima the next afternoon and then eventually on home to the U.S.
George Dunn
July 27, 2015
IMG guide Liz Smart sent us a couple of photos from the first day of training for the Alps Classics program, July 26-August 6.
The team did a rock climbing practice today on the Rifflehorn, a local outcrop just off the Gornergrat railway. The rest of the program does not involve serious rock climbing, but a bit of practice goes a long way towards helping the team on rocky scramble sections of the peaks they do. The team will hike in to the Almageller Hut today for a climb of the Weissmies tomorrow.
George Dunn
July 27, 2015
Ridge climb to the “first†summit. (Greg Vernovage)
Luke just called in after a great day of climbing Pequeno Alpamayo. Great views all around and not a cloud in the sky. The route is in good shape and gave the team no big surprises. PA is not our tallest objective while in Bolivia but certainly poses a few challenges.
The team is back at Base Camp, having some soup.  They will debrief the climb and talk through a few techniques that will be used again Huayna Potosi . The night will be capped off for the gang when our cook staff comes in with dinner.  The team will feast on fresh trout caught out of the lake at Base Camp! A good reward for a great day of climbing.
Greg Vernovage
