July 30, 2014
Here kitty kitty.
Shopping in Arusha and a nice buffet lunch at the Arusha Hotel today for the Kili team.
They’re now heading to the airport and their private flight to the Serengeti.
It’s safari time!
Phil Ershler
Here Kitty Kitty
Elbrus Team Off To Moscow
July 30, 2014
Another note from Mike Hamill over on Elbrus:
Phil,
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- ElbrusTeam. (Mike Hamill)
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- Elbrus Glacier Hike. (Mike Hamill)
We had a great day in the Valley and the team is psyched. A few of the team went on a hike in the valley with Igor and the rest went higher with Sasha and me across the glacier to a lake from above the tram. Great hike and good option for when our extra contingency isn’t required for the mountain. Just cool glacier walking.  Heading on to Moscow in the morning.
Mike
Kili Team Heading Out On Safari
July 29, 2014
This email in overnight from Sheldon and the Kilimanjaro team:
Phil,
Our team made it to Mweka camp at 4:30 last night and had a well-deserved dinner and night of rest.
We departed camp at 6:30 this morning and were at the Mweka gate by 10:00am. Â The entire team re-united for lunch at the Keys Hotel.
The team is strong, happy and healthy. We’re anxious now to get on safari!
Everybody loves the safari!
Machu Picchu Team Wrapping Things Up
July 29, 2014
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- The team at the Machu Picchu Sun Gate.
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- Huayna Picchu is the peak in the center of the photo. (Photo byTye Chapman)
IMG lead guide Peter Anderson called last night to report that the group had safely returned back to Cusco and was settling in at the hotel, soon to be followed by showers and a celebration dinner.
Peter reports that four members of the party elected to climb up Huayna Picchu early in the morning for a final birds-eye view of Machu Picchu. The rest of the team elected to shop and relax in the town of Agua Calientes before the train ride and private bus trip back to Cusco. All are tired and happy. Tomorrow the team will depart for Lima and the long flight back home.
Congratulations to the team for an excellent adventure and great effort in Peru!
George Dunn
Bolivia Team Summits Pequeño Alpamayo
July 28, 2014
Pequeño Alpamayo (Photo by Greg Vernovage)
IMG guides Greg Vernovage and Luke Reilly called to report that the team had a nice climb today of Pequeño Alpamayo (17,482′). Conditions and weather were good. Everyone is back now to the Condoriri Base Camp, and tomorrow they will head for Huayna Potosi Base Camp. Well done, team!
Eric Simonson
Alps Classics Team To Tackle Mont Blanc Next
July 28, 2014
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- Summit of the Rifflehorn, Zermattt. (Photo by Miles Smart)
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- Descending the Breithorn, Zermatt. (Photo by Miles Smart)
Day 7 on the Alps Classics Program…
IMG lead guides Miles and Liz Smart report that the weather has been less than perfect so far during their program, but all in all things are progressing very well.
After initial training and climbing a couple of 4,000 meter peaks in Zermatt, they traveled on to Wengen for a go at the Jungfrau. Now the team is journeying to Chamonix today, to prepare for a final climb, Mont Blanc.
Good luck team!
George Dunn
A Little Rain Can’t Stop Our Machu Picchu Trekkers
July 28, 2014
A nice shot down looking at Machu Picchu.
IMG lead guide Peter Anderson called in to report that the team had safely arrived in the town of Aguas Calientes after successful completing the trek portion of their program. The weather has been less than ideal for the team, with periods of rain each day during the trek, but they were able to make the best of it and complete the trek in good form. Rain this time of year is unusual, but in the mountains, it is always best to be prepared for all conditions and it sounds like the group was well prepared.
They’ll spend one more half day at Machu Picchu today, then ride the train and then private bus back to Cusco for their final dinner together as a team.
Nice job, everyone!
George Dunn
Summit Then Sauna
July 28, 2014
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- Elbrus Team Summit
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- Celebratory lunch.
Mike’s back in the land of wi-fi and sent this quick note –
“We made it back to Cheget this morning and just had a celebration lunch in town and are about to hit the old sauna. The team did well.  We’ll see what the weather does tomorrow but the plan is to head up Cheget ski area.  Attached are a few photos from the climb and lunch.â€
Pretty much a white out on top. The ‘on top’ part is the important piece.
Phil Ershler
Kili Team Summits
July 28, 2014
19340ft. (Ken Maclaurin)
Sheldon called in from the summit of Kilimanjaro at midnight, Pacific Time, last night. Lots of hooting and hollering going on in the background.  All climbers were standing with her on the summit of Uhuru. She also called back later to let me know that everyone had made a safe and successful descent to high camp, Barafu. Repacking had been done and they were all sitting down to a hot lunch prior to making the last few hours hike down to Mweka Camp (10,000’). Long, rewarding day. Super nice to be back to the land of thick air. They will sleep like logs tonight.
Safari’s next.
Phil Ershler
Elbrus Team Summits!
July 27, 2014
100% on the summit this morning. Good weather going up, not so nice coming down. No matter – team’s back at high camp, snug in our hut. Congratulations to Mike, Igor, Sasha and the entire team. They simply can’t do better than that.
Season’s off to a really good start. 19 for 19 ain’t bad. More important, everyone coming home without a scratch. Nice.
Phil Ershler