January 5, 2014
Summit cross
Josh called at 9 am Seattle time Sunday morning. 100% on top of Aconcagua. Shirt sleeve summit day. That’s about a 1 in 100 occurrence on Aconcagua. Great news.
Phil Ershler
100% Summit On Aconcagua
Vinson Team In Position At High Camp
January 4, 2014
Old guide heading for the summit
Greg, Aaron and team are at high camp on Vinson Massif. They made the move today from Camp 1 and are now melting ice like crazy, rehydrating, eating and prepping for a possible summit attempt in the morning. They’ll wait until the sun has begun to warm up high camp before setting off. Of course, it’s all weather dependent, especially with the winds. As of now, it looks like they may have a shot. And if not tomorrow, there’s the next day or the next. The trick now is to pick the right shot. Keeping our fingers crossed for the weather to cooperate.
Phil Ershler
Aconcagua Team 2 Prepares For Summit Bid
January 4, 2014
Josh, Leandro and team arrived early today at high camp. Resting, eating and drinking have been the order of the afternoon. Forecast calls for winds to be their lowest tonight and tomorrow morning. It’s time to take a shot at the summit. Team feels good and ready. Wish them luck.
Phil Ershler
Aconcagua Team 2 Carries To High Camp
January 3, 2014
C2
IMG Guide Josh McDowell (aka McD) called in today reporting great conditions on the mountain. Clouds in the distance and light winds let the carry go pretty smoothly today. They hung around for a little bit at High Camp to do a little training then made their way back to C2 where they’ll sleep tonight. If all goes as planned they’ll move up to HC tomorrow then, weather permitting, they’ll head for the summit early Sunday morning.
Back here stateside Phil Ershler and Josh Tapp were busy going over the last minute details and packing list for the next Aconcagua team. Tapp leaves tomorrow morning and will meet his team (Team 3) in a few days.
That’s all for now.
Tye Chapman
Aconcagua Team Ready To Carry To High Camp
January 2, 2014
High on Aconcagua.
Josh McDowell called in this afternoon. The crew enjoyed a rest day at C2, but they’re chomping at the bit and anxious to move up. Plan, as of now, is to make a carry to 3 tomorrow, moving up the next day. Then, we see what the wind looks like and try to pick the best day for a summit attempt.
Phil Ershler
New Year Greetings From IMG & Teams Abroad
January 1, 2014
Happy New Year to friends and family from IMG teams on 3 continents.
- Max checked in on his way to the airport. Kili’s a wrap. 100% on the summit and great animal viewing in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Pretty hard not to have fun on a Kilimanjaro trip.
- Josh and team are at C1. Clear but still breezy. No precip in sight for the foreseeable future. Luke and team are back in Mendoza and making their way home. Josh Tapp hits the road with the season’s third expedition this weekend.
- Greg and Aaron are with their team at C1 on the Ice. Weather’s not perfect and it’s windy up high but C1 is exactly the right place to be “weathering the stormâ€, so to speak.
Happy New Year!
Phil Ershler
Out With The Old…uvai
After-lunch nap
December 31, 2013
Olduvai Gorge, thousands of wildebeest in Ndutu, and New Year’s in the Serengeti. They even watched some cheetah and lions devouring a buffalo they’d taken down. Max and team are starting the new year off in style.
Phil Ershler
Animals Sighted By Kili Team
December 29, 2013
Rhino in Ngorongoro Crater (Max Bunce)
From: Max Bunce
Sent: Sunday, December 29,2013 11:36 AM
To: Eric Simonson; Phil Ershler
Subject: Sopa Lodge
Hi all,
We are in the Sopa Lodge in Ngorongoro, quite a place! Had a wonderful dinner and saw lots of great animals today including a rhino! Everyone is having a blast!
Max
Vinson Team At Base Camp
December 29, 2013
Cockpit of an IL76
IMG guides Greg Vernovage, Aaron Mainer and their team are on a roll. They took off last night aboard an IL76 from Punta Arenas, Chile, heading south. A short night was spent at Union Glacier, approximately 80 degree S. latitude. This morning they were on another flight aboard a Twin Otter heading for Vinson base camp. Their camp is now built and the team is preparing for a carry tomorrow to C1 at around 10,000 ft on Vinson. Like most expedition climbs, a carry and then a move to a higher camp is sort of standard procedure. Greg reported clear skies and almost no wind. Remember, it’s light 24/7 that far south at this time of year. No headlamps required on a Vinson climb.
Phil Ershler
Aconcagua Update
December 29, 2013
Aconcagua
No summit yesterday. A medical emergency required Luke’s team to return to high camp from the Canaleta. His team is now down at Plaza de Mulas and begins their hike out tomorrow.
Josh’s team had an enjoyable rest day at Plaza Argentina yesterday and are making their first carry to C1 today. Winds definitely picked up last evening but are forecasted to relent somewhat later today.  Still no precip in sight.
Third team of the season will be heading to Mendoza at the end of next week with Josh Tapp at the helm. The Aconcagua season is definitely in full swing.
Phil Ershler