Cho Oyu Climbers Moving Up

September 21, 2013

Cho Oyu Team in ABC

IMG guide Mike Hamill reports that it is clear and sunny this morning at ABC and the team is all set for the Camp 2 rotation.Â Weather forecast is good for the next few days.Â They are heading for Camp 1 today and then up to Camp 2 tomorrow, where they hope to spend a night up there (at over 7100 meters / 23,300 feet).Â 23K will be a new highpoint for most of the team members, and sleeping up at that altitude requires a good foundation of acclimatization.Â The team has now been in Tibet for three weeks, and their acclimatization response should really be kicking in now.Â A good Camp 2 rotation now will set them up well for the summit bids.

Eric Simonson

Dolpo Trekkers Heading for Phoksundo Lake

September 20, 2013

Phoksundo Lake

IMG guide Adam Angel reports by sat-phone that the team started trekking north today, up a long gradual valley following the Suli Khola River, after yesterday’s camp at Dunai.Â He described how today they have crossed a cultural demarcation line.Â Whereas yesterday and this morning were all Nepalese hillfolk, predominantly Hindu, this afternoon and onward they have moved into an area peopled by those of Tibetan ancestry.Â The name of the river changes too; it is now called the Phoksundo Khola.Â Tomorrow they enter the forest zone, and the team will continue to follow this river for two more days of trekking, until they reach its source: the large Phoksundo Lake at nearly 12,000 feet in the Shey Phoksundo National Park.

Eric Simonson

A Safari To Remember

September 20, 2013

From: Chris Meder
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 12:30 AM
To: Phil Ershler
Subject: Welcome to the Serengeti

Phil,

: Let’s eat.

: Photo op!

: Pop-top with a view.

First day on safari in the Serengeti did not disappoint.Â Lions,Â check. Leopard with cub, yep.Â Cheetah within spitting distance?Â Giraffes?Â Herd of buffalo?Â Yes, yes and yes.Â Not a bad way to start out.Â The safari guides made their wages today.Â Â And dinner wasn’t too bad either.Â Tomorrow is a full day game drive in the Serengeti, and everyone has their wish list. Based on today, that shouldn’t be a problem.

And, you’ll find 3 photos attached.Â You’ll see the group first day in the safari vehicle and you’ll also see one with the group taking photos of the sunrise and scouting for animals on a rock outcrop at our Serengeti camp.

Speaking of safari camp, check out the group at dinner in the mobile bush camp in the Serengeti.Â Cooks are again putting on an outstanding performance.

Chris

Let’s Talk Oxygen

September 20, 2013

: Oxygen clinic on Cho Oyu.

: Kaji in the cook tent.

Mike Hamill reports that the Cho Oyu climbers did an oxygen clinic this morning and got packed up this afternoon for their next rotation up the hill. During their rest days there has been a bit of snowfall at ABC, but not much has fallen up higher.Â Today the Sherpas finished fixing into Camp 2 and they report good snow conditions.Â If the weather is good tomorrow the team will head to Camp 1 tomorrow and Camp 2 the following day.

Eric Simonson

Tibet Trekkers Reach Shegar

September 19, 2013

: Ancient town of Shegar (Xegar) with the Shekar Dzong fortress on the hill above (Eric Simonson)

: First view of Everest from the North, on the road between Shigatse and Shegar (Eric Simonson)

After some nice hiking up at Rongbuk Base Camp, the Tibet Trekkers have now reached Shegar (Xegar).Â This is the famous old Tibetan town with the old Dzong (fort) on the hill above. The British expeditions of the 1920â€™s and 30â€™s came through this town on their way from Kalimpong (India) as they trekked around from the north to get to Everest.Â Next stop tomorrow for the trek team is Shigatse (XigazÃª).

Eric Simonson

Dolpo Trek Begins

September 19, 2013

Masinchaur Airport (Ang Dorje Sherpa)

Ang Jangbu reports that Adam Angel and the Dolpo team were up early at the hotel in Nepalgunj, so they could get to the airport and checked in by 5:30am for their scheduled 6:30 departure.Â The weather was good and the Goma Air Cessna 208 Grand Caravan departed on schedule for Masinchaur airport, about 100 air miles north of Nepalgunj in western Nepal. Â After arrival, they were ready to start trekking, with the goal today the town of Dunai.Â Good news–Adam reports that the team put in a full day of trekking today and made it to Dunai where they met up with their cook team and porters. So, the group is on schedule and everything so far has gone according to plan.Â Thatâ€™s the way we like to start a trip!Â Adam reports they have seen zero other westerners since leaving Nepalgunj.Â Western Nepal is certainly a lot different from the more popular areas of the country, and these guys have a heck of a journey ahead of them.

Eric Simonson

Carstensz Team Training In Bali

September 18, 2013

Sometimes these Seven Summits expeditions are really hardâ€¦you might have to walk over 100 feet to get to the beach

: Beach or Hotel? (Dan Zokaites)

: Hotel or Beach? (Dan Zokaites)

IMG leader Dan Zokaites reports from Bali that the team has assembled and that they are getting ready to fly to Timika tomorrow.Â The memories of the warm beach will fade fast once they hit the jungle!Â This autumn 2013 trip will be the 6^th expedition we have run to Mt. Carstensz.Â Each of our trips has been successful, and each has been different—this is real adventure travel. Â The plan for the autumn team is to fly from Timika to Sugapa and start trekking from there.Â Weâ€™ll look forward to following along with them!

Eric Simonson

A Nice Walk Out

September 17, 2013

From: Chris Meder
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:05 AM
To: Phil Ershler
Subject: Success on Kilimanjaro

Phil,

Coming back down into high camp at Barafu (Chris Meder)

We had a great summit day yesterday, and a relatively easy walk out this morning.Â The descent is always a nice time to reflect on the climb, and yesterday’s view on the way down did not disappoint.

Chris

Dolpo Expedition Hits The Town

September 17, 2013

: The team visits Bhaktipur.

: Shopping for thangka paintings

IMG guide Adam Angel reports from Kathmandu that the team had a fun day today visiting the ancient town of Bhaktipur, to the east of Kathmandu. Bhaktipur is famous for incredible woodcarving and the team was also able to do some shopping for thangka paintings.Â This evening they headed to the famous Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu, and tomorrow morning they will fly to Nepalgunj in western Nepal tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Ang Jangbu reports that our head cook Jor Bahadur and the kitchen staff have made it to Dunai this afternoon. They had left Kathmandu on September 10th, drove to the road head at Solabung in Rukum and then walked 5 days from there to Dunai.Â Also, our sirdar, Lopsang Sherpa, flew into Masinechaur airport on the Goma Air flight this morning.Â He will organize the local porters and be ready to meet the team when they arrive. So far, so good!

Eric Simonson

Cho Oyu Climbers Back At ABC; Trekkers To Rongbuk

September 17, 2013

: Tibetan woman milking goats at Zambuk village on the way to Rongbuk (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

: The classic view of the North Face of Everest from Rongbuk Monastary (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

Ang Jangbu reports that the Tibet Trekkers moved today up from Tingri to Rongbuk monasteryâ€¦in the footsteps of George Mallory and the old British climbers.Â They are staying tonight at a small hotel near the monastery and tomorrow they take a hike up above the Base Camp.Â The weather is pretty good and they had nice views of the North Face.

Meanwhile, back on Cho Oyu, Mike Hamill reports that the IMG climbers and sherpas are all back at ABC after climbing up to the Ice Cliff.Â Their plan is to take a couple rest days now, before heading back up on the Camp 2 rotation.

Eric Simonson