Lobuche Peak Summits!

November 2, 2013

IMG guide Erica Engle called on the sat phone from Lobuche Base Camp to report that the team were all down and safe after a great summit day.Â She said the weather, conditions, and views were excellent, and they enjoyed climbing with Pangboche’s Everest all-stars Mingma Tshering and Tashi Tshering.Â The plan for tomorrow is to head over the Cho La pass (5,420 metres 17,782 ft) to Gokyo.Â Sounds like there has been plenty of traffic over the pass, so the trail is now well established after the snowstorm.

Eric Simonson

A Good Day In Myanmar

November 2, 2013

We had another great day in Bagan. We climbed the 777 steps to the Mt. Popa shrine, enjoyed a beautiful Bagan sunset, then finished with dinner at a restaurant owned by the sweetest family you could ever meet. I think they gave us twice as much food as we ordered (but didn’t charge us anything) and gave all the women beautiful bracelets as a gift. The food was wonderful and fresh, and the prices better than reasonable.

Tomorrow morning we fly to Heho, then drive up to the Pindaya caves and Kalaw. The trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake begins on Monday, and we’re all looking forward to it.

Jenni Fogle

Myanmar Trekkers In Chin State

November 1, 2013

: Family at their home in Chin Village near Kanpalet – Note the woman’s tattooed face. (Jenni Fogle)

: Shaman trying to cure woman near Kanpalet. (Jenni Fogle)

: Top of Mt. Victoria. (Jenni Fogle)

IMG guide Jenni Fogle managed to send a few photos and a report from their visit to the western part of Myanmar:

“We just returned to Bagan from three amazing days in the Chin State. We stayed in a remote lodge near the town of Kanpalet and took day trips from there, including a hike to the top of Mt. Victoria, just over 10,000 high and the highest in Chin State. We also visited villages where women still have faces tattooed from the days that the king would take the most beautiful women from Chin villages. At the age of 18, the women would have their faces tattooed to protect themselves from the king. In one town we were able to witness a shaman performing a ceremony to help a young woman bear children. By reading an egg heated over fire, he could determine who was causing her to not be able to bear children, and remove the curse. Everywhere we go, we are greeted with smiles and curious looks. It’s easy to see they are not used to western visitors here…we only saw a couple other foreigners the whole time. We made the jeep drive back to Bagan today and will visit the Mt. Popa shrine (777 steps to the top) tomorrow.

Jenni Fogle

Patagonia Should Be On Everybody’s List

October 31, 2013

I could write a long winded blog post on why I love Patagonia, but you’d just skip to the photos anyways!

Join me this February for a trek you’ll never forget.

Tye Chapman

In random order here you go…

: Los Torres

: Torres del Paine National Park

: In the Bader Valley

: Salto Grande

: Robin flying a kite in the Bader Valley

: Refugio Los Cuernos

: View from dinner.

: Panorama of Lake Nordenskjold

: Los Cuernos in the morning light.

: Los Cuernos

: Lakeside at Refugio Los Cuernos.

: Lake Nordenskjold

: Not a bad lunch spot in the French Valley.

: Lago Grey

: Trekking alongside Glacier Grey.

: Edible berries.

: Pisco Sours anyone?

: French Valley

: Los Cuernos from Lago Pehoe

: Evening light on Los Torres National Park

: Penguins!

: Panorama

: An old rustic boat at a local ranch.

: Sunbreak.

: Fun clouds.

: Lake Pehoe

: Flower in French Valley.

: Rainbow.

: Condors flying above.

: Iceberg in Lago Grey

: Bader Valley

: On the trail in the forest fire area from 2012

: Heading into the Bader Valley.

: Glaciar Grey

Next Stop Delhi

October 31, 2013

Raj and Brenda

Our last dinner in Kalimpong was just completed. Raj, our lead guide, handed out katas to the team. Brenda Gordon climbed Cho Oyu with us last month, stayed for this trek and was joined by her husband Dave.

It has been a super trip. Flights to Delhi tomorrow. Some members will fly home while others will stay one extra day to visit the Taj Mahal. What a way to end a great couple of weeks in India and Sikkim.

Phil

Jenni Can’t Get Enough Of Kilimanjaro

October 30, 2013

: The elusive Rhino. (Jenni Fogle)

: Jenni Fogle

: Jenni shooting on safari.

: Karanga camp. (Jenni Fogle)

: On the crater rim. (Jenni Fogle)

: Serengeti sunset. (Jenni Fogle)

There are so many places to see in the world – how do we decide where to go next? Last winter I had the amazing experience of climbing Kilimanjaro and going on safari in Tanzania not once, not twice, but three times. I was very excited about the trip, but also a little nervous about guiding the same trip three times in a row. Would I be bored by the end of it? Not a chance.

Kilimanjaro is one of the most unique mountains I have climbed. The variety of terrain is fascinating, the African guides and porters are friendly, hardworking and fun. The climb is challenging, and the summit attainable without the need to carry a heavy pack. We arrived every afternoon to find the smiling faces of our porters and cooks, camp set up comfortably and the dining tent waiting with hot tea and delicious snacks. After completing my first climb of the mountain, I looked forward to the safari, but didn’t see how it could top the experience of the mountain. It’s hard to say which I enjoyed more, but I can at least say I loved the safari as much as the climb. We saw so many animals before even arriving at our first camp that I was completely amazed.Â Every day was a new adventure. We saw leopards sleeping in trees, birds that could have come from a Dr. Suess book, lions hunting, wildebeests and zebras migrating and countless other animals in their natural environment. We ate like kings, slept like logs, and took thousands of pictures trying desperately to capture what can’t possibly be captured in photos.

I look forward to going back this winter for two more climbs.Â I hope you will join me in January or February 2014!

IMG guide, Jenni Fogle

Where is Jenni now you ask? Leading a trek in Myanmar of course.

Myanmar Trekkers Prepare For Mt. Victoria

October 30, 2013

Kanpalet and Nat Ma Taung (Google Earth)

IMG guide Jenni Fogle reports by sat phone that the team traveled west by jeep into Chin State from Bagan (near Mandalay), and now have reached the village of Kanpalet in the hillcounty.Â They have a couple days to explore this area, which is inhabited by the tribes of Dai, Upu, and Ya clans.Â This is a very remote and rugged areaâ€¦.truly a step back in time.Â The people all do intricate facial tattooing and are known for their weaving skills.

Tomorrow the team will head for Mt. Victoria in Nat Ma Taung National ParkÂ and then on to the town of Mindat.Â Â At over 10,000 feet elevation, Mt Victoria is one of the most prominent mountains in southeast Asia.Â The lower elevations are tropical forest, while the upper parts are an alpine â€œsky islandâ€ with many rare plant and animal species.

Sounds wild!

Eric Simonson

Sikkim Trek Winding Down

October 30, 2013

Darjeeling

Phil checked in from the ‘front country’ today. Yesterday they wrapped up their trek with a descent through rhododendron forests and a walk across a suspension bridge over the Praig chu, from there it was a short walk to the large village town of Yuksom.

While the trek is done, they’ve still got a bit of traveling to do. Today they made the drive from Yuksom to Darjeeling.

Tomorrow is a day of leisure to take in the town or maybe a do load of laundry or two.Â Either way it’s hotels and hot showers from here on out!

Tye Chapman

3×3 Trekkers Heading For Gorak Shep

October 29, 2013

Looking north from a helicopter from near Lobuche village up the valley towards Everest Base Camp (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

IMG guide Erica Engle reports that the team moved up to Lobuche village yesterday, and then today they moved up to Gorak Shep, the last little village below Everest Base Camp.Â Next stop is Kala Pattar!Â This 18,500 foot peak has a great view of Mt Everest and is the classic summit on the way to Base Camp.Â The recent snowfall from the big storm has left a thick layer in the mountains, so the footing is a bit slippery along the way. Â Â So far so good!

Eric Simonson

Myanmar Trekkers Fly North To Bagan

October 28, 2013

: Fruit and vegetable market in Bagan (Jenni Fogle)

: My hand on the fingernail of a giant Buddha statue (Jenni Fogle)

: Shwesandaw Pagoda in Bagan (Jenni Fogle)

The Myanmar trek team flew north to Bagan today, the ancient city that was once the capital of the Pagan kingdom that unified Burma back in the 11th-13th centuries.Â There were once over 10,000 temples in Bagan and even today several thousand remain.Â IMG guide Jenni Fogle reports that “we visited a few important temples, had a great lunch at an Indian restaurant and visited a lacquerware factory.Â We’ll be going out for an early dinner tonight and getting an early start in the morning to head to Kanpalet. Our local guide has double-checked the road conditions and it sounds like all is clear for our overland journey to the west into Chin State. I’ll be checking in tomorrow with a report from Kanpalet.”

Eric Simonson