January 5, 2015
IMG guide Mark Allen send a couple of photos today from a private training group. Mark’s team is practicing skills related to future expedition climbing, specifically ascending and descending fixed lines with a mechanical ascender. The team spent today on Dexter Slabs, a natural ice formation outside of the Ouray Ice Park. Conditions look great!
George Dunn
January 5, 2015
The holiday season is over so let’s catch up with all the comings and goings for IMG teams around the world.
The boat ride home
Tye Chapman called in yesterday to say the group had a super day kayaking amongst the icebergs in Lago Grey and that everyone’s excited about their boat ride down the lake this morning and back to ‘civilization’. That said, two nights at Refugio Grey can hardly be called roughing it. One final night in Puerto Natales and they’ll be on their way home. All’s good in Patagonia.
Greg Vernovage called in yesterday, too – from the SUMMIT of Vinson Massif. All members were standing on top of the bottom of the world. They’ve got a big move today to get all the way down to base camp. Nice part is that it’s all downhill. They’ll then fly to the Union Glacier as soon as possible and will be waiting there for the IL76 flight back to Chile. That flight is scheduled for the 9th, weather permitting. Our fourth and final trip for the season, under the leadership of IMG Senior Guide, Aaron Mainer, will be flying in on that same flight. They’ll have time to shake hands as they pass each other on the way to/fr the airplane. All’s good on the Ice.
News is also good on Aconcagua. Peter Adams called yesterday to let us know they had a relatively warm day to SUMMIT Aconcagua. Aconcagua is a very physically demanding climb, more than most people realize, and anyone who summits can be justly proud of the effort and persistence shown to reach the summit. Well done, team. They move today down to Plaza Mulas. That’s base camp on the Horcones Valley side of the mountain. One long, final hike on Tuesday and they’ll likely push straight to Mendoza that same evening. Steak and wine for all.
Josh McDowell’s team on Aconcagua reported in with a strong carry to C1. Plan is for them to move up to C1 today. Forecast remains for clear skies, right into the weekend.
It’s been a safe and successful holiday season for IMG teams abroad.
Phil Ershler
January 2, 2015
Let’s get caught up with the action over the holidays! First, Team Taylor got home in time to celebrate New Year’s back in the States. Meanwhile, Greg Vernovage and team flew onto the Ice and got shuttled, right away to Vinson base camp. They haven’t been wasting any time. Their carry to high camp is already done and they’re back at C1 waiting for the right weather to move up and summit. They probably couldn’t be in a better position. The team is healthy, strong and moving well. All’s good there.
Max Bunce and Team Kilimanjaro are finished, wrapped up and are almost home. Most will be sleeping in their own beds tonight. Super trip for the team and Mike Haft will be heading out with a couple more groups in about a month.
Down on Aconcagua, 2 IMG teams are making their way up the mountain. If weather permits, Peter Adams and crew will be trying to move to C2 today while Josh McDowell and team will be reaching Plaza Argentina (base camp) today. Again – so far, so good.
Tye and team beneath the Towers
We also have to report on Tye Chapman and crew and their trek through Patagonia. I did this trek personally last year with a sensational IMG team (and my wife) and all I can say is – go! Beautiful, enjoyable and you don’t have to deal with high altitude. They’re walking up into the French Valley today. Almost no groups make the extra effort to get up there. They’ll spend the night at the Refugio Paine Grande. Our team watched the Super Bowl there last February. Was that cool or what?!
Phil Ershler
December 31, 2014
From: Max Bunce
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 12:50 PM
To: Eric Simonson; Phil Ershler
Subject: Happy New Year From Tanzania!
The elusive Black Rhino
Happy New Year from Tanzania! The Wildebeasts have arrived. We saw hundreds of thousands on the short grass plains of the Serengeti before we transferred to the Ngorongoro crater under cool, cloudy skies.
We then bagged the fifth of the big five with our sighting of the elusive black rhino.
Here’s to many more adventures with IMG in 2015!
-Max
December 31, 2014
Tye Chapman called in just now from the Refugio Cuernos in Patagonia. Easy 5 hours today on the trail and they’re enjoying the sun, the clear skies and views from the deck of the hut – all while drinking a beer, soda or glass of wine. Terrible way to spend New Year’s Eve.
Happy Birthday Erika!
Most important update was that Tye wanted to say Happy Birthday to his lovely wife, Erika.
Happy Birthday, Erika and Happy New Year to everyone.
Phil Ershler
December 30, 2014
Masai Giraffes eating the Acacia trees on the east side of Serengeti (Eric Simonson)
IMG guide Max Bunce reports that the team departed the Seronera area in the mid-Serengeti, and moved east to the Ndutu Lake area, the home of some great wildlife viewing. This is in the heart of the shortgrass plains, where the millions of zebra and wildebeest are starting to congregate as part of the annual Migration. The team will be heading up to Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow. So far so good!
Eric Simonson
December 30, 2014
Tye Chapman and team had their last dinner in Puerto Natales and then it was time to hit the trail. The walking started yesterday. They lightened their load when they reached Refugio Chileno and then continued up for their first spectacular views of Torres del Paine. Gore-tex was on and off during the day but never too bad. I was there last year with a team and we were simply blown away by the beauty.
Today, they plan to walk up further into the Silence Valley. Almost no one goes up this far but the views are worth the effort.
Phil Ershler
December 30, 2014
Rest day at C1 for Peter’s team on Aconcagua. Winds picking up but not too bad. Hoping to squeeze in that C2 carry tomorrow. An acclimatization day at C1 never hurts.
Josh & Cedric watching over the gear
And, Josh McDowell, Cedric Gamble, Leandro Villegas and team are driving today to Penitentes. A bit of last minute organizing and they’ll begin their approach tomorrow morning. We’ll have Aconcagua teams on the move until the middle of February.
Phil Ershler
December 30, 2014
Planes were flying last evening to/fr Antarctica. Team Taylor is heading home and Greg’s team is on the Ice. We’ll keep you posted as their New Year’s adventure unfolds.
6 of the 7 summits!
This is a great opportunity to reflect back on the story of two of our climbers from the first expedition in November – Dave and Kris Buchwald. We’ve been climbing with Dave and Kris for a while now. The good news is they have now completed 6 of the 7. We’re especially proud to have them climbing with IMG. They show up for each adventure prepared, motivated and ready to work. We couldn’t ask for more. I’m sure they enjoyed the holidays a little bit ‘extra’ this year. I won’t ask the question – “what’s next�
Happy New Year, everyone.
Phil Ershler
December 29, 2014
From: Max Bunce
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 12:21 PM
To: Eric Simonson; Phil Ershler
Subject: Kili blog update
We flew into the Serengeti today and started off our Safari with a bang!
Some of the highlights was a rare sighting of a Serval cat and a pride of 16 Lions. All in a couple of hours! The team is having a great time and looking forward to a full day of game viewing tomorrow!
– Max
