January 15, 2015
One of our climbers, Nic Dumesnil, was able to send out a couple of sweet photographs from their Cotopaxi climb yesterday. Let’s call them Summit and Shadow. Funny how the view seems to get better the higher you climb!
Phil Ershler
January 14, 2015
Happy climbers on their way to hot showers! (Josh McDowell)
Josh McDowell and team had a very late dinner last night in Mendoza. It’s done. Everyone’s working on flights home and congratulating each other on a job well done. Josh Tapp is putting in their first day on the trail today.
Up north, it was a successful Summit day in Ecuador today. The weather held and the gang climbed Cotopaxi, at over 19,000′. They are already in route to the Hotel La Cienega. Hot showers, a hot meal and a warm bed are on the agenda for tonight. Nice job, gang.
It’s been a good day!
Phil Ershler
January 13, 2015
Josh Tapp and his team at dinner in Mendoza.
Two IMG teams should see each other tonight in Penitentes, albeit briefly. Josh McDowell and team make that final hike out from Plaza Mula to Penitentes. The team will be psyched. All of them stood on the summit, all healthy and all ready to get to the steak and wine of Mendoza. They’ll stop long enough in Penitentes to grab their duffels, buy a Coke or beer and shake hands with Josh Tapp’s team.  He has already left Mendoza and is on his way to Penitentes. Tapp’s team has one night in Penitentes and tomorrow, they begin their hike up the Vacas River valley. One team finishes as another begins. Just as it’s supposed to be. Everyone is excited but for slightly different reasons.
Phil Ershler
January 12, 2015
Time to get caught up with the comings and goings of all the IMG teams. As we posted over the weekend, Josh McDowell and crew all stood on the top of Aconcagua. They are heading to Plaza Argentina today. One more day of hiking tomorrow and they’ll be having a late dinner in Mendoza. Meanwhile, Josh Tapp and his crew are wrapping up details in Mendoza today and heading to the base of the mountain in the morning.
Meanwhile, down in Ecuador, Luke Reilly and team are getting in a technique review day on the lower slopes of Cotopaxi. Besides a great refresher, it’s a nice addition to their acclimatization. Wednesday is their anticipated summit attempt on Cotopaxi.
Porter, the birthday boy, in Ecuador
And, WAY down in Antarctica, Aaron Mainer and team got settled into C1 yesterday. They’ll try to get a carry in to high camp as soon as weather permits. Once that carry’s done, they pretty much just wait at C1 until forecast is favorable, then move back to high camp and try to summit the next day. They want to pick just the right shot!
That enough for now.
Phil Ershler
January 11, 2015
Summit
Great news from Argentina this morning. Josh McDowell and team all stood on the summit of Aconcagua. Clear with very light wind. Pretty much the perfect day for a hard climb. Congratulations to all. They still have two big work days to get back to Mendoza.
Third IMG group of the season is arriving Mendoza today. Josh Tapp and his crew will all be in town today. They’ll spend two nights in Mendoza working on food shopping and packing prior to heading towards the mountain. Forecast is for several more days of nice weather.
Phil
January 10, 2015
As usual at this time of year, it’s busy for IMG trips abroad. Let’s go through the list and get everyone updated before the Seahawks game later today!
Vinson teams have said hello and good-bye at 80 degrees South. Greg Vernovage, Mike Hamill and team flew off the afternoon of the 9th. The plane which came in to pick them up carried Aaron Mainer and his team. These flights were exactly on schedule which isn’t always the case in Antarctica. Our luck continues to hold. Greg’s team is flying home today and Aaron’s crew is likely making their first carry of the expedition. All is good.
Josh McDowell and his crew just called in from high camp on Aconcagua. We shared some weather forecast notes and their plan is to make a summit attempt in the morning. The crew is doing well and ready to take a shot. Big day tomorrow for them. No precipitation is forecast and the winds should stay within a reasonable range.
Josh Tapp and team are on their way to Mendoza, arriving tomorrow. IMG Argentine guide, Martin Lucero, will put his boots back on and join them for his second climb of the season.
Down in Ecuador, Luke Reilly and team are in the town of Otavalo today. It’s market day and you don’t want to miss this famous event while in Ecuador. We’re still missing a couple of bags but hope to see those back at the hotel in Quito later today.
Lots going on but all’s positive.
Phil Ershler
January 9, 2015
Taking the tour around Punta Arenas before their flight to Antarctica.
We’re waiting for final word but signs were saying yes to a morning flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to the Ice. That flight will carry IMG Senior Guide, Aaron Mainer and his team TO the Ice and pick up Greg Vernovage, Mike Hamill and their team and get them OFF the Ice. Greg’s team will be anxious to fly home after another 100% successful expedition while Aaron’s team will be chomping at the bit to ‘get at it’. It’s been a good season for IMG on the Ice. Aaron knows Vinson well and is looking forward to showing his team the summit.
Phil Ershler
UPDATE (11:00am): The plane is flying.
January 8, 2015
Clean up and wrap up is done for Peter Adam’s team. Members had a nice final dinner and are on their way home. Congratulations, again, to all.
Josh McDowell just called in from Camp 2. Still windy but all is good. The team hunkered down and still looking to make a carry tomorrow to Camp 3. Camp 3 is high camp. We’re watching forecasts and starting to strategize about the schedule for a summit push. Josh, Cedric and Leandro are watching the weather and keeping tabs on how the team members are doing. Part science and part art. Throw in a little luck, too. The bottom line is they’re trying to get the team into position to take advantage of the weather when it’s favorable. So far, so good.
Phil Ershler
January 6, 2015
Mountain shadow
Josh McDowell just checked in from Camp 1 on Aconcagua. No carry today up higher. They awakened to pretty good winds and fresh snow. To quote Josh – ‘looked like it was rippin’ up higher’. Logical choice was to take a rest day. That never hurts with the acclimatization, regardless. They’ll carry tomorrow if conditions allow. Regardless, everyone is doing well and ready to keep pushing when conditions permit.
Phil Ershler
January 6, 2015
Sue’s Pyramid
Just spoke with Greg Vernovage down on the Ice. Yesterday was a big day. The team went down from high camp, all the way to Vinson base camp. Then, they were fortunate to be able to fly over to Union Glacier late last evening. Now, they’re ‘living large’ at Union Glacier. Life there is amazingly ‘cush’ as compared to life at high camp. What a difference a day makes.
It’s simply a matter now of waiting until the weather clears for the flight to Chile. Tentative date for that flight is 9 Jan. That’s when our final team of the season will fly on. All’s good on the Ice.
Phil Ershler
