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
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
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
December 28, 2013
Sunset on Kilimanjaro and Mawenzi (Eric Simonson)
IMG guide Max Bunce reports that the team’s decent to Moshi went smoothly, and that everyone is now ensconced back at the hotel. It’s time for some showers and beers, and a barbeque dinner tonight. Tomorrow morning the team will head into Arusha, then continue on to their lodge at Ngorongoro Crater. From there the team will continue the next day to the Ndutu area of the eastern Serengeti, and then on to Seronera (central Serengeti) the following day for their New Years celebration!
Eric Simonson
December 28, 2013
From: Greg Vernovage
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2013 8:30 AM
To: Phil Ershler
Subject: The Gang is all Here!
Phil,
The gang is all here. Last pieces of luggage are in and gear checks complete.
Team Vinson
This team is dialed! Just finished the Flight briefing and bags will get weighed and taken this afternoon. We have made it through the first challenges of Vinson, arriving in Punta Arenas with our luggage.
The weather here is perfect, no wind and a few clouds in the sky. We are going to take a late lunch and stand by this evening. Late lunch includes the standard trip to Lomito’s for a burger! Perhaps one of the best burgers on the world tour.
They are quite optimistic that we will fly tonight….so the hurry up AND wait begins at 6:30 pm.
That is the latest from Punta Arenas.
Greg Vernovage
December 27, 2013
The view from above
Don’t know if anyone’s seen the weather forecast lately for the Aconcagua area but it’s quite good. Highs in the upper 90’s in the Mendoza area and no precipitation in sight for the next week, at least. Luke and team are at high camp. Plan is to take a summit shot tomorrow morning. Josh and team pulled into base camp today and will make tomorrow a rest day and stay in camp. Bottom line – all’s well in Argentina.
Phil Ershler
December 27, 2013
The new and “improved†sign at the top of Uhuru Peak (Max Bunce)
IMG leader Max Bunce called on the sat phone to report that the entire IMG team reached Uhuru, the highest point on Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft; 5,895 m). The weather was cold and clear, so they were glad to have their warm parkas with them. Up high on the route there was still some snow on the ground from the storm last week, but the trail was kicked in well. The team are now on the way back down to Mweka Camp, at the treeline (about 11,000 feet). There is nothing better than a good sleep in the thick air of lower altitude, after a big day up high. Well done, team!
Eric Simonson
December 26, 2013
Sunrise over Mawenzi peak, on the way to the summit of Kilimanjaro (Eric Simonson)
IMG guide Max Bunce called to say that the team had all made it up to the Barafu Camp (about 15,000 feet) and are doing well. They had a short day today, moving up from Karanga to high camp in time for lunch, followed by an easy afternoon resting and preparing for the summit climb. After an early supper they will get some sleep, in preparation for their midnight departure. Max reports that the weather is good and that while some snow remains on the upper mountain up towards the crater rim, the trail has been well kicked in by climbers over the last few days. The trip to the summit normally takes 6-7 hours, so we will hope to hear from them shortly after sunrise from the top of Africa!
Eric Simonson
December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas from IMG and from all our teams in the field. All our climbers wish to send back Christmas greeting to family and friends. They have nothing but good news to share. We’ll make this a ‘group blog’ post from our teams scattered across the world.
Antarctica
So, to all our friends from everyone at IMG and our climbing teams, Merry Christmas. Happy to report that everyone’s healthy and excited about doing what they love to do in some of the most exotic regions in the world!
Phil Ershler
December 24, 2013
Team dinner in Mendoza
Aconcagua Team 2, led by IMG Senior Guide, Josh McDowell, is heading to Penitentes today. Josh is joined by our Argentine friend and guide, Leandro Villegas. They grabbed their permit early this morning and began the 3 hour drive up towards the border. They’ll finish packing mule loads this afternoon and their approach to base camp begins Christmas morning. Pretty novel way to spend the holidays. Everyone’s good and ready to hit the trail.
Phil Ershler
