December 23, 2014
South Side of Aconcagua
I spoke with team leader, Peter Adams, last night. Gear checks – done. Final shopping/packing – done. Climbing permit – in hand. Today (Tuesday) the team is driving from Mendoza to Penitentes, at the base of the mountain. Final prep there and hotel night tonight. The walking begins in the morning. Three days and close to 30 miles to get to base camp (Plaza Argentina). Time, soon, to go for a little walk.
Phil Ershler
December 23, 2014
High Camp Panorama (Rob Marshall)
Mike called last evening from HIGH CAMP on Vinson. It was a good day, with good weather and the team putting in a good performance. Always nice to hear. Forecast was reasonable for today. Plan is to make a summit attempt today (Tuesday). Wind is often the determining factor for whether a summit attempt is reasonable.
Mike will call later today and we’ll post the news as soon as we hear. Keep your finger’s crossed and wish Team Taylor luck today.
Phil Ersher
December 22, 2014
Sign at the Machame Gate (about 5800 feet) at the beginning of the climb (Eric Simonson)
IMG guide Max Bunce called on the sat phone to report that the team all made it up to Machame Camp, at the treeline just below 10,000 feet. They had a nice hike up today through the forest, and everyone is doing well. He said they had a few showers during the afternoon, but did not get very wet, and that now in the evening it was clearing up and looking good. Tomorrow they will climb up to the Shira Plateau, and get the first big views of Kilimanjaro from “up closeâ€!
Eric Simonson
December 21, 2014
First team dinner in Mendoza
Time to kick off the IMG Aconcagua season. IMG guides Peter Adams, Jonathan Schrock and Martin Lucero have their team together now in Mendoza, Argentina. Sunday was the first ‘official’ day of the expedition. The guides were finishing final shopping/packing today as the last of the team was arriving. Everyone’s now together and with all their luggage. Always a good thing. They’ll wrap up gear checks, final packing and secure the required permit to climb Aconcagua.
Aconcagua is a big climb, a true expedition. While not technically demanding, members need to physically quite fit and ready to work as part of a team for two weeks. No small task. Second group will be heading down in a week. It’s show time.
Phil Ershler
December 21, 2014
Life inside a tent
The good fortune continues. Mike and Team Taylor made a carry Saturday up to high camp. It went well. Sunday was a rest day at C1. Forecast is reasonable so the plan for Monday is to make the big move up to high camp. Then, it’s game time. The guys will watch the weather and be ready to take a shot at the summit the first reasonable day.
Phil Ershler
December 19, 2014
IMG senior guide Max Bunce is back in Moshi, getting ready for our annual Holiday Kilimanjaro trip. This year the plan is for the team to summit Kili on December 27. Then, they go on safari and will be enjoying New Year’s eve at the fabulous Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge perched on the edge of the Crater! It is going to be a fun trip, and we are looking forward to following along.
Max Bunce (top left) and Ken (top right) with the kids!
Today Max and climber Ken Goodwin visited the Center for Street Children in Moshi to drop off some school and sports supplies that IMG guide Jenni Pfafman helped to organize. The rest of the team rolls in today and we’ll be hoping that everyone shows up with all their luggage!
Eric Simonson
December 19, 2014
Climbing towards Camp 1.
Looks like Mike and team are off to a really good start. They left Punta Arenas yesterday morning and were able to fly on the IL 76 to the Union Glacier at about 80 degrees S. latitude. Then, it wasn’t long before they boarded another flight on one of the Twin Otters over to Vinson base camp. Mike left me a message last night saying that weather was good and that their plan was to move up to C1 today.
Just a great way to begin the expedition.
Phil Ershler
December 18, 2014
IL-76
IMG Senior Guide Mike Hamill called in today with good news… the team was set to fly onto the ice as scheduled, always a win for a flight to Antarctica.
Once on the ice, teams usually head to Union Glacier Base Camp for a bite to eat. If the weather is favorable, they’ll sort their gear and grab a twin otter flight to Vinson Base Camp. If the weather isn’t cooperating, they’ll set up right there at Union Glacier for the ‘night’. Remember they’re about as far south as you can get, so they’re working with about 24 hours of daylight!
More from Mike as the team makes progress.
Tye Chapman
December 17, 2014
Senior Guide, Mike Hamill, reports in, yet again, from Punta Arenas, Chile letting us know that all members have arrived, gear has arrived, last minute shopping/packing is complete and that the team and he are ready to roll. Briefing for all of the folks flying to Antarctica happens this afternoon (Chilean time) and that they’ll likely be flying south soon. Weather report is currently favorable for flying. Equipment has been picked up and loaded into the plane so all’s in order.
This is a fun time for the group. Everything’s done so the pressure’s off, at least for a while. They can enjoy Punta, think about the upcoming project and have one more hotel night before it’s time to go to work and start sleeping at below zero temperatures. And, what an absolutely ‘cool’ place to spend Christmas!
Phil Ershler
December 10, 2014
It’s December and guides are starting to arrive in Ouray for the winter season. We’ve been out exploring some of the area classics–the backcountry ice is coming in quite nicely, and some normally thin routes are in as fat as they’ve been in a long time. Currently the weather is temperate and clear, and low snowpack is making for easy approaches to climbs in South Mineral Creek–the road is often closed by this time of year. Today Mark Allen, Pat Ormond and I went out to climb the Direct North Face, up in South Mineral. Several pitches of great, fun, rambly climbing with a couple steep pitches thrown in. I’d never climbed up in that area–it was nice to explore something new! Yesterday I went out with some friends to climb in Eureka–ended up climbing the classic Stairway to Heaven, which is in great shape, with nice plastic ice and 800 feet of enjoyable climbing–nice to get out on old favorites as well! The rest of the Eureka climbs are looking great too!
The Ouray ice park is still working on building a base of ice and should be open later in the month, giving us access to an unparalleled ice climbing instruction venue. The backcountry is climbing well; December is a great time to beat the crowds and have some backcountry ice adventures! In January we’ll be in full swing running the gamut of ice climbing programs from beginner to advanced to custom. Come on out and climb in Ouray with us!
Justin Merle
