Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

July 23, 2015

Shira Plateau

The Kili Team broke out of the jungle and moved onto the Shira Plateau at 12,000 feet.Â Dustin said the morning was overcast and the afternoon gave them a first glimpse of Kilimanjaro. The team is moving well and handling the altitude.Â On the menu last night for dinner was spaghetti.Â â€œThe cooks are feeding us very very well!â€ A good dinner and a look at the stars.

Tomorrow is a big day for the team, they will touch 14,500 feet which is great for acclimatization!

Greg Vernovage

Swim In Lake Titicaca – Why Not!

July 22, 2015

: Incan Ruins on Sun Island (Greg Vernovage)

: Flipping over Lake Titicaca. (Luke Reilly)

: Team Photo Sun Island

It was a matter of time!Â After running this Bolivia Program for a number of years now, this has finally happened.

There have been 1 or maybe 2 brave teammates who have decided to take the plunge in Lake Titicaca where it is understood that if you fall in, you are not to be rescued as it is considered a sacrifice.

Luke just called in to let me know that â€œAll is well.â€Â How is the team shaping up?Â â€œGood, they all went swimming today on Sun Island.â€Â (followed by laughter) We like to feel a team out in the early stages of an expedition.Â I think this team is gelling nicely and will undoubtedly have a great time tomorrow when they get to our first camp at 14,500 feet.

Greg Vernovage

Elbrus Team Takes A Hike

July 22, 2015

Hiking in Russia.

Mike Hamill reports that things continue to go smoothly. After spending a full day touring St. Petersburg with a cultural guide, the team flew from there to Mineralnye Vody and then drove up into the Caucasus mountains.

After their first night in the town of Terskol, they used today as an acclimatization opportunity, hiking up about 3000 vertical feet to an observatory. Good way to give the lungs and the legs a little work out.

More training and acclimatizing will be in store for tomorrow. Terskol’s at around 7000 ft so even spending a few nights sleeping there helps.

All’s good.

Phil Ershler

Kilimanjaro Team Hits The Trail

July 22, 2015

: Machame Gate – 5,900 ft. (Greg Vernovage)

: Landmarks and estimated times

Perfect day for Dustin and the Team on Kilimanjaro! Dustin just called in from their first camp at Machame Camp at about 10,000 feet.

Out of the gate, it was a little overcast but no precip for the entire day. Perfect temps! The team is doing fantastic and were moving into the tents for a little rest before dinner Dustin said. A good night sleep and walking by 7am.

Greg Vernovage

Living Large On Lake Titicaca

July 21, 2015

: Lake Titicaca looking towards Sun Island (Greg Vernovage)

: Copacabana (Greg Vernovage)

Luke just called in from Copacabana.Â Last night when we spoke, Luke mentioned that the ferry might be exciting with a little wind.Â The route was fine and the ferry ride across to Copacabana went smooth.Â After arriving and getting settled in, the team took a hike to see all of Copacabana at once.

Luke said the sunset over Lake Titicaca is insane tonight after the wind that came through.Â Tomorrow is the ride to Sun Island.Â I always like to grab a bag of popcorn from the local shops for the ride.Â It is the biggest popcorn you will ever eat!

They are doing great!

Greg Vernovage

Updates From Around The World

July 20, 2015

: An airy pitch on the Jegihorn on 7/20 (Matt Farmer).

: La Paz

: The Elbrus Team

: Classic face of Alpamayo

Elbrus (Russia)
Always exciting to have the team together and begin another adventure.Â IMG Senior Guide, Mike Hamill, is back in Russia with a super nice crew.Â Everyone got in on either the 18^th or 19^th , in good shape and with all their luggage.Â Everyone got together on the 19^th for their first dinner as a team and then played tourist on the 20^th, spending the entire day with their tour guide and seeing the sights of St. Petersburg.Â Crazy to go to Russia and not see as much of the country as we possibly can.Â One more evening in town tonight and then early flights to Mineralnye Vody tomorrow morning.Â A few hours driving will take them to the village of Terskol, in the Baksan Valley, and right below Elbrus.Â The adventure has begun.Â â€“ Phil Ershler

Cordillera Blanca (Peru)
Jason Edwards continues to check in daily during the Cordillera Blanca trek. All is well and theyÂ are progressing exactly according to schedule. On 7/19 the group camped at the Alpamayo base camp. Jason marveled at the number of really spectacular peaks they saw during the trek this day. He affirmed that this is one of the most beautiful treks he has led in his lengthyÂ career. On 7/20 the team hiked for 6 Â½ hours today, with a high point going over a pass of 15,800â€™. They are camped at 13,800 and all is well. â€“ George Dunn

Matterhorn (Switzerland)
IMG Guide Matt Farmer reports they are just back to Zermatt after a successful three day tour including a summit/traverse of the Dri Hornli, Weissmies, & Jegihorn. Tomorrow, Farmer, guide Aaron Mainer and two of the team will go to the Hornlihutte for a summit attempt Wednesday. The other two members of the team will join the guides at the hut for their attempt on Thursday. Farmer reports that route conditions and the weather forecast are favorable for the ascents. Good luck team! – George Dunn

Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
I just got a text message from Dustin at the Keys Hotel in Moshi: â€œAll is well at the Keys!Â Everyone is accounted for and baggage arrived as well.Â No problems.â€ This is music to our ears!Â The team is all together in Moshi now and will hit the ground running tomorrow with gear checks and a walk around town to stretch their legs.Â Long flight over to Tanzania. â€“ Greg Vernovage

Huayna Potosi (Bolivia)
Just off the phone with Luke and Andy in La Paz.Â Everyone arrived with their luggage! Gear checks are done and the team had a great walk around the City of La Paz today.Â Not a cloud in the sky and up at the park when I asked if they could see Illimani?Â Luke just laughed and said how can you miss it! The welcome dinner tonight and out the door early tomorrow morning to acclimatize on the shores of Lake Titicaca! â€“ Greg Vernovage

Cordillera Blanca â€œCedrosâ€ Trek Reports In

July 19, 2015

Trek leader Jason Edwards has been calling in each evening from the trek.

On July 17 he reported a good day for the team, not as demanding as the previous day. They got just a bit of rain during the day, just enough to put rain shells on for about 5 minutes.

Jason reports that is is normally warm enough during the day to hike in short sleeve shirts, but in the evening after the sun goes behind the ridge, a fleece jacket and shell is necessary. Sounds like great conditions!

Cordillera Blanca

On July 18 Jason called again briefly to say that all was well and the team was right on schedule. They had a shorter trekking day today with an â€œactive rest dayâ€ to help the team restÂ up and prepare for their hike over the highest pass on the trek, Yanayacu Pass, at 15,680â€™ on Sunday the 19^th. From Sundayâ€™s camp the team will have a grand view of the North faces of the Alpamayo and Pucahirca group, some of the most spectacular peaks in the range.

George Dunn

Salkantay Trek Update

July 19, 2015

Mystical Machu Picchu. (Photo by Peter Anderson)

The IMG Salkantay trek arrived in Agua Calientes on Saturday.Â Today (Sunday) they are heading to Machu Picchu for a complete tour of the area.Â The team did great and reports that guide Juan de la Cruz did a fabulous job.

The only odd occurrence on the program was snow flurries at the top of Salkantay Pass during the trek! Congratulations to the team.

George Dunn

Craig John’s 200th Rainier Summit!

July 18, 2015

It was beautiful morning, when IMG guide Craig John, reached the summit of Mt. Rainier for his 200th time. Craig, or C.J. (as he is known by friends), and his team reached the summit of Washingtonâ€™s highest peak at 6:30 am on Friday, July 18, 2015. In doing so, he joined a very short list of people who have summited Mt. Rainier 200 times or more.

: On the way to 200!

: Craig’s 200th summit!

: Post climb celebration!

C.J. has been guiding since 1987, and has led expeditions all over the world. Even though he lives in Maine and spends a large number of days guiding in other countries, he devotes a portion of every summer working on Mt. Rainier.

Reaching the summit 200 times, requires a lot of daysâ€¦ 600 days in fact! That does not include the nearly 75 climbs in which he did not reach the summit, due to bad weather, impassable glaciers, or needing to take a climber down early.

C.J. is a great guide, and a great friend. From everyone at IMGâ€¦ Congratulations C.J.!!!

Josh McDowell

Peru Cordillera Blanca Trek Off On Its Way!

July 16, 2015

Taken at 12,000’…enjoying the beautiful country and mountains of Peru! (Photo: Jason Edwards)

Jason Edwards called in last night via satellite phone.Â The team all arrived safely in Lima with ALL baggage and made the trip to Huaraz.Â They spent their first day in the field yesterday, visiting Lago Churup a high mountain lake then camping just below.Â Today the trek starts in earnest, trekking towards the Huaripampa Valley.

UPDATE: July 16, 2015, 3pm Pacific Time:

Jason just called in with todayâ€™s update.Â The team had a long day today, 2,800 vertical feet of climbing over 7 Â½ hours.Â But all are excited to be on the trail and looking to an easier day tomorrow.Â Tomorrow they head over Tupa Tupa Pass to Jancapampa at 11,500â€™.

Good luck to the team!

George Dunn