September 24, 2013
IMG guide Dan Zokaites reports that the team had a rugged day today, but everyone did well and reached Camp 2 in about 9 hours of hiking. Their route predominantly followed a river, and they had to climb around many landslides and logs along the way.  Tomorrow they push up onto the Plateau.
Eric Simonson
September 23, 2013
IMG guide Chris Meder called on the sat phone from Machame Camp (about 10,000 ft) to report that they had a nice hike up through the forest today.
After breakfast at the hotel in Moshi (about 2.500 ft) they loaded up the four wheel drive vehicles and headed up the slopes of Kilimanjaro, driving uphill through several small villages and coffee and banana farms.  The end of the road is the Machame Gate, at about 6,000 feet. After taking care of the permit paperwork, it was time to hit the trail.
The team took five and a half hours to reach Machame Camp, which is almost at the top of the forest zone. The weather is good and everyone is doing well. Tomorrow they head for the Shira Plateau.
Eric Simonson
September 23, 2013
IMG guide Dan Zokaites reports by sat phone that yesterday the IMG Carstensz Pyramid expedition team made it to the Camp 1 in the forest. Now they have two tough forest days ahead of them with plenty of steep dirt trails, logs, and stream crossings. After that they gain the Plateau, where it is cooler and more scenic (but still lots of streams).
The porters from the village of Sugapa were joined by their families as the gear was sorted and weighed into loads. Their primary food is sweet potatoes, which they grow locally and which they will bake each evening in their campfires. These guys come equipped with the best footwear for mud… bare feet!
Eric Simonson
September 23, 2013
From: Chris Meder
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 10:06 PM
To: Eric Simonson; Phil Ershler
Subject: Second Kili team ready to go
Eric and Phil,
Ready to go!
The team is all prepped and we’re headed out this morning. Weather is cloudy and we’re hoping for no rain. Everyone is psyched up for the climb and ready to go! We’ll check in from Machame.
Chris
September 23, 2013
Click to see the full sized Dolpo Trek map on Google
Adam Angel reports the team had a well-deserved rest day at Phoksundo Lake, after several days of trekking up through old growth Juniper forests. They camped at the Lake, did some exploring, and also enjoyed showers and a celebration of Adam’s birthday which I am sure he will not forget! Now the trekkers and Sherpa staff continue trekking north for several more days with mules carrying their camping gear. Their next big goal is making it over the Nangdala La (pass) at over 17,500 feet, from which they drop down to the Shey Monastery. At this point they will have essentially crossed the Himalayas to the Tibetan plateau, and this area is high, arid, and ethnically Tibetan… it just ended up on the Nepal side of the border!
Eric Simonson
September 23, 2013
Camp 2 at about 23000 feet on Cho Oyu (Greg Vernovage)
Mike Hamill reports that the weather and route conditions were very good yesterday and the team had a nice climb up to Camp 2, where they spent the night. Then, today, they are dropping back down to Camp 1 for another night. This will make for a good acclimatization foundation for the summit bids.
Eric Simonson
September 22, 2013
The IMG trekkers reached Lhasa yesterday, as they near the end of their 23 day program. Unlike people who fly into Lhasa at the beginning of their trip, then fight the altitude sickness for the first few days, our team will be strong and acclimatized, so they can get out and really enjoy their visit. They have three nights in a nice hotel, so that means some good showers and food, and two full days for sightseeing.
On the agenda is the Potela Palace, Johkang Temple, Barkhor market area and other places.  Their flight back to Kathmandu will be early morning on the 24th from the Lhasa Gonggar Airport.
Eric Simonson
September 21, 2013
The End (Kathy Harshbarger)
Chris shot us an email this morning to let us know they’re wrapping up the first September Kilimanjaro expedition. Last day of game viewing was sweet. Close up, full on, ringside seats to a cheetah chase, takedown and kill. Only problem was those pesky lions. Cheetah aren’t big and lion can steal their kill and they did just that. East Africa game viewing at its finest.
Groups are being dropped off at the airport now for flights home. A good climb, good safari and a great group of people.
Second September team is arriving now and all will be in by early morning of the 22nd. One down and one to go!
Phil Ershler
Timika Airport
September 21, 2013
IMG guide Dan Zokaites reports by sat phone that the team successfully flew today to Sugapa, the jumping off place for their trek to Base Camp. The flight was delayed in the morning due to bad weather in Timika, but it subsequently cleared up and they flew later in the day. They are spending the night in Sugapa tonight and will start trekking into the jungle tomorrow. According to the map, they have only 37 miles to get to BC, but this is going to be some tough hiking… so we are planning 6 days of trekking to get there!
Eric Simonson
Tashilhunpo Monastery
September 21, 2013
The Tibet Trek team travelled east today across Tibet to Shigatse, home of the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery as well as Tibet’s second most populated city (about 46,000 compared to 172,000 in Lhasa). This section of the Kathmandu-Lhasa road feels pretty remote, crossing several high passes. It’s some wild country and has always reminded me of driving across Nevada!
Eric Simonson
