February 26, 2015
We received a couple of photos from our ‘just completed’ Aconcagua crew and wanted to get them posted before we officially say good-bye to this Aconcagua season. Great team and great effort getting to the top after all the new snow. Well done, everyone!!
Phil Ershler
February 26, 2015
…10 hours later Mike Haft called in from the summit of Kilimanjaro. 100% success. By now all team members are at Mweka Camp sacked out in their tents enjoying the thick air! Tomorrow they’ll head down to the trailhead and then on to the hotel for the long awaited shower!
The safari awaits!
Tye Chapman
February 25, 2015
Heading home.
Talked to Mike Hamill today but not on the sat phone. This time we used Skype from the team’s hotel in Mendoza! Mike, Ian, Leandro and all their Aconcagua crew are safe and back in Mendoza. They arrived late last evening after hiking out from Plaza Mulas and jumping into their private ground transportation back to Mendoza. They’re done!
This wraps up our 2014/15 Aconcagua season. Everyone’s safe and all expeditions were able to reach the summit. No small accomplishment for a mountain as demanding as Aconcagua. Mike promised to get me a summit day photo or two and I’ll put up an additional post when they’re received. Some of the team will be spending a couple of extra days in Mendoza – relaxing and enjoying the warm sunshine and likely taking in a trip or two to some of the wineries. It’s all good.
Next season’s adventures will be upon us before you know it.
Phil Ershler
February 25, 2015
Mawenzi at sunrise on summit morning
IMG Guide Mike Haft called in from High Camp on Kilimanjaro early this afternoon as they set out on their summit bid. Mike reports that “a few hours ago, as we got into their tents for a short sleep, the weather shifted a bit. A few clouds and some light snow rolled that worried us a little, but when I got out of my tent I was thrilled to see nothing but stars. A lot of stars”
Summit day on Kili is a tough day, usually 7 or 8 hours to the top and a few more down to camp. We’ll hear from Mike tomorrow once they’re all in camp.
Tye Chapman
February 24, 2015
The first Rainier program of the year, a Winter Ascent Seminar, is up at Camp Muir having a blast. They started out here at IMG with a gear check on Saturday. Then on Sunday they went straight to Camp Muir. It’s a long day to go all the way to Muir in the winter, especially with heavy packs. They had great weather, took it slow and steady, and pull into Camp Muir at 4:30 in good form. They bumped into Phil and Sue Ershler on the snowfield; it’s always nice to see a friendly face, even if he is the boss.
Yesterday was a spent scouting and exploring the Camp Muir area. The team spent some time climbing on and around The Beehive. Afterwards, IMG Guides Josh McDowell and Cedric Gamble scouted Gib Ledges. They didn’t like what they saw so they opted to give the Ingraham Direct a shot today. Given the weather forecast, their only window for getting on the upper mountain was likely today. They gave it a shot, but once they got through the Cathedral Gap and up to The Flats, Josh and Cedric didn’t like the conditions and opted to turn around at 11,300ft. Pretty safe bet they enjoyed the sunrise!
Unless the weather forecast improves, the rest of the week will be spent learning skills like climbing on fixed lines, anchor building, crevasse rescue and avalanche safety.
Tye Chapman
February 24, 2015
Karanga Camp (Allison C. Schwartzman)
More good news from Tanzania, IMG Guide Mike Haft reports from Karanga Camp that the team had a blast climbing the Barranco wall in great weather today. They had a huge lunch this afternoon made up of fried chicken, fried bananas, frybread, and more fruit than they could eat. The team was still pretty full at dinner time so they kept it simple with some rice and beans.
Tomorrow’s a pretty short day up to High Camp, 3 hours is all, so they’ll likely be in camp by noon. They’ll spend the early afternoon relaxing, then get an early dinner and likely get to bed by 5pm in anticipation of the 11pm wake-up call.
Summit day is just around the corner and everybody is doing great. We’ll hear from Mike again tomorrow afternoon before they head towards the summit.
Tye Chapman
February 23, 2015
Heading down to Plaza Mulas
Long, cold, hard day yesterday for Mike Hamill and his crew. But, it was a successful day. Mike and part of the crew were able to push through all the new snow and reach the summit. Super effort out of everyone. Reports are that winds today up high are in the 70 mph range. The team threaded the needle and now are all down safely to Plaza Mulas, base camp on the Horcones side of the mountain. Everyone will be back in Mendoza later tomorrow evening.
It took a great team effort yesterday and we’re glad to have them off the mountain – safe and successful.
Phil Ershler
February 23, 2015
Perfect day on Kilimanjaro
“Pretty much a perfect day on Kilimanjaroâ€. That was the message from Mike Haft and his team just a few minutes ago. Long pull up to the Lava Tower at around 15,000 ft, but that effort was rewarded with a hot lunch in the sunshine. Sweet. It’s all downhill from there, literally, to Barranco Camp at about 13,000 ft. They capped off a great day with a birthday celebration for Mark, one of our team members. Banana cake at 13,000 ft. on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Probably a lot worse ways to celebrate your birthday.
Barranco Wall in the morning and it should be another terrific day. Mike said everyone was walking well, eating well and having trouble wiping the smiles off their faces. All is very good on Kilimanjaro.
Phil Ershler
February 23, 2015
The Winter Expedition Ascent Team heading up the Muir Snowfield
Our first Winter Seminar of 2015 kicked off on Saturday with the team meet ‘n’ greet & gear check here at our headquarters in Ashford. Sunday morning the team shuttled to the trail head at Paradise and spent the day making their way up the Muir snowfield in beautiful weather without wasting any time! They’ll spend this week training and climbing out of Camp Muir, while learning the fundamentals of expedition style climbing in a winter alpine environment.
Becky Kjorvestad
February 21, 2015
The summit push on Aconcagua.
We wanted to update everyone on two more trips this weekend. Most importantly is our team on Aconcagua, led by Mike Hamill. They pulled into high camp today. New snow has fallen but that’s ending and winds are forecasted to be at their lowest ebb tomorrow.  So, the team’s pumped to make an attempt in the morning.
And, over in Africa, Mike Haft and his Kilimanjaro crew had a good first day on the trail. Everyone got to Machame Camp without issue, other than some afternoon drizzle. Guess that’s why they call the lower areas of Kilimanjaro the cloud forest. Tomorrow is the Shira Plateau and some spectacular views of the mountain.
Phil Ershler
