Lobuche Peak Summits!

April, 10th 2025

: The team on the summit of Lobuche Peak (Phunuru)

: On the way to the top of Lobuche Peak with Ama Dablam in the backgrond (Phunuru)

: Lobuche climbers with the West Shoulder and Nuptse behind them (Phunuru)

: Looking down valley from Everest BC towards Lobuche Peak (Kusang Sherpa)

The team’s acclimatization schedule, by first trekking up to Everest Base Camp, paid off for them and they had a sweet climb this morning to the true summit of Lobuche East Peak (6119m; 20,075ft). Phunuru reports the team started yesterday down at Lobuche village, from where they ascended to the high camp. They left high camp this morning at 4AM, and reached the top at 7:25AM where they had the summit all to themselves, meeting only a handful of other climbers on their descent. They are all safely back down to Thugla now. Well done team!

Lobuche climbers reach Everest BC

April 8th, 2025

View of Lobuche town and the southeast side of Lobuche Peak (Ang Pasang)

Ang Pasang reports that the team completed their trek to Everest Base Camp, after a couple nights at Lobuche village and more acclimatization hiking along the way. The team reports that the upper Khumbu is very “dry” this year, with minimal snow and lots of ice and rock exposed on the mountains. After two nights at EBC the team will be heading back down to Lobuche village where Phunuru is meeting them for the climb of Lobuche Peak. All’s well in Khumbu!

Lobuche climbers trek at Dzongla

April 3rd, 2025

Looking east from near Dzongla towards Mehra Peak, Khongma La and Pokalde Peak (Kusang Tshering)

The team had an active rest day in Pheriche yesterday, with both some hiking and resting! Today the team trekked higher up the valley, to Dzongla (4800m; 15,700 ft) on the trail towards the Cho La Pass which leads to Gokyo. Kusang Tshering reports the team are now all tucked into a lodge, ready to push higher up to Lobuche village tomorrow (over 16,000 ft) where they will take another active rest day before moving to Everest BC. Slow and steady is the way to go!

Denali Expedition Prep Seminar – After Bad Weather Comes Good!

April 3rd, 2025

: Denali Prep Seminar (M Bond)

: Tent time, and out of the weather. (K Firl)

: Home sweet home. (M Bond)

: Denali Prep Seminar (J Barstow)

: Tatoosh Range. (K Firl)

: Evening (K Firl)

: Denali Prep Seminar Practice (M Bond)

: Denali Prep Seminar Team ( M Bond)

IMG’s Denali Prep Expedition Seminar spent four days on Mt. Rainier last weekend, honing teamwork and essential mountaineering skills. Winter on Mt. Rainier provides the perfect environment to experience the challenges of a larger expedition, such as Denali, Aconcagua, or Everest. The team faced a mix of weather conditions while practicing technical skills, cold-weather mountaineering, and engaging in lectures and informal discussions with our Senior Lead Guides. Ready for that Kahiltna runway!

Lobuche Climbers getting closer

April 1st, 2025

Looking across from Phortse to 6783m Kangtega and 6608m Thamserku (Ang Pasang)

Lobuche Peak from near Pheriche (Eric Simonson)

The Lobuche team overnighted in Phortse, before moving up to Pangboche via the high trail on the west side of the Khumbu valley. This is a more rugged trail with great views along the way. Everyone is doing well, and today they continued their ascent to Pheriche (4,371 m;14,340 ft) where they will take acclimatization day tomorrow, with a hike up to the viewpoint for their first good views of Lobuche Peak. The air is starting to get thinner and it is definitely chilly in the morning!

Denali Prep on Mt. Rainier!

March 29, 2025

Day one of Denali Prep Seminar on Mt. Rainier! Pristine snow, and blue skies as the team ascends to their basecamp. Max Bond (Photo)

Day one of Denali Prep Seminar on Mt. Rainier! Max Bond (Photo)

Day one of Denali Prep Seminar on Mt. Rainier! Pristine snow, and blue sky’s as the team ascends to their basecamp. Max Bond (Photo)

Lobuche climbers on the move!

March 29, 2025

The team at the Tenzing Norgay statue in Namche (Ang Pasang)

Ang Pasang checked in from Namche to report that the Lobuche Peak climbers are all doing well. They spent a day acclimatizing and exploring the famous area, with visits to the Everest viewpoint, the Sherpa museum, and other local sights. Yesterday they moved up to Khumjung and Khunde for the night, and tomorrow they will be moving on to Phortse. All’s well in the Khumbu!

Lobuche Peak Climbers Ready to Go!

March 25, 2025 – Good news, our Lobuche Peak climbers have all arrived to Kathmandu with their luggage! Ang Jangbu and Phunuru met up with them today for gear checks and to review their upcoming climb. The plan is to fly by helicopter tomorrow morning to Lukla, and then trek on to Phakding. We are paying close attention to how this all unfolds, as the Nepal government has recently banned helicopter landings in the Khumbu valley above Lukla, except for emergencies. Needless to say, this has caused some issues!

Lobuche Peak climbers getting ready in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

This week in Ouray Colorado!

Feb 13th, 2025

: Heading up! (L Valero)

: Squeezing through (L Valero)

: Prepping the climbers (L Valero)

: Topping out (L Valero)

: Ouray 2025 (L Valero)

: Ouray 2025 (L Valero)

: Ouray 2025 (L Valero)

: Ouray 2025 (L Valero)

Another week almost complete! Guide Lindsay Valero reports great climbing conditions, and great climbers!

What are your Valentine’s day plans? After a long day on the ice, look for our Ouray Ice climbers, heading to the hot tub or the hot springs pool in town to soak and relax, then finish with a valentine’s dinner at a local restaurant.

Mt. Rainier, the perfect classroom for AIARE!

February 12, 2025

: Max sharing weather resources. (P Painter)

: Class discussion (P Painter)

: Warm classroom at HQ (P Painter)

: Eagle Peak Trail (M Bond)

: Breaking trail. (M Bond)

: Trail of powder. (M Bond)

: Classroom Probing (M Bond)

: How deep is the ping? (M Bond)

: Done for the day. (M Bond)

Enjoy the pictures from this weekend February 8^th and 9^th as Mt. Rainier showed what a perfect classroom it can be!

There are few things like experiencing the mountains during the winter. The beauty, the majesty, the solitude, the vastness. IMG was proud to offer AIARE Avalanche level1 courses this winter on Mt. Rainier. Max Bond IMG’s Veteran guide and certified avalanche educator was happy to present avalanche education curriculum from the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). This year 15 participants were certified in level 1 and are ready to move on to AIARE Avalanche Rescue, and in AIARE Rec 2, or AIARE Pro 1. More classes to come next year!