Mera Climbers reach Khote

October 25th, 2023–

Mera Peak team at Khote (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG Leaders Phunuru Sherpa, Stu Johnson, and Justin Sackett report the team had a great trip over to Khote (3,600m/11,811′) in the Hinku valley. The weather was excellent and the helicopter made 4 laps from Lukla to get the climbers and their gear moved over and over the Zwatra La pass. Now the team will take a day of acclimatization hiking before starting to move higher up the Hinku valley. All’s well in Nepal!

Khote with Mera behind (Anthony Nightingale)

IMG Bolivia Team enjoys a rest day in La Paz

October 25th, 2023–

Walking through the colorful and vibrant Witches Market in La Paz (Tincho Marcelo)

After a fun and exhilarating time climbing throughout the Cordillera Real Mountains including PequeÃ±o Alpamayo, and Huayna Potosi, the IMG Bolivia team is enjoying a rest day in La Paz before they attempt to summit Bolivia’s tallest peak, Illimani (20,100′) this weekend. The Team is walking through the colorful and vibrant Calle de Las Brujas (Witches Street) and enjoying local art and architecture.

Saint Peters Church near Calle de Las Brujas (Witches Street) (Tincho Marcelo)

IMG Bolivia Climbers enjoying views from the Gondala across town (Tincho Marcelo)

Mera Peak climbers go for a hike!

October 24, 2023

The team on their hike today (Stu Johnson)

Team selfie! (Stu Johnson)

Today the Mera Peak team explored the Lukla area via an acclimatization hike! The team reached almost 12,000 feet and was able to get 360-degree views of the valley and the peaks above. Tonight, the team will enjoy their last evening in Lukla before departing in the morning for a Khote via helicopter!

Audrey Simonson

Bolivia Team begins their descent down to La Paz

October 23rd, 2023–

IMG Bolivia Team on the ascent of Huayna Potosi (Tincho)

IMG Bolivia Guide Tincho checked in and let us know the team woke up early this morning and looked strong as they began their ascent of Huayna Potosi. The team kept good spirits as they continued making their way close to the summit, but ultimately had to turn around due to some rockfall. Team members turned around and returned safely back to basecamp and will continue their descent down to La Paz for a restful night.

Strong efforts by our IMG Bolivia team!

An alpine lake with Huayna Potosi standing tall in the background (IMG Vault)

Mera climbers reach Lukla

October 22, 2023

A gorgeous morning in Manthali (Phunuru Sherpa)

The team in Manthali (Phunuru Sherpa)

Getting ready to load the plane to Lukla (Phunuru Sherpa)

At the lodge in Lukla (Phunuru Sherpa)

Looking down the Lukla runway (Eric Simonson)

The weather was perfect this morning in both Manthali and Lukla, and the team was on the first flight.Â Now they are all at Lukla (about 9300 ft) doing well.Â After morning coffee and tea, and getting settled in, the team will do a hike later today.Â Their plan is to spend another night in Lukla before flying to Khote the next day.

Eric Simonson

Mera Peak climbers reach Manthali

October 22, 2023

The bus departing Kathmandu for Manthali (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

All the duffles at the hotel (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

The Mera Peak Team in Manthali (Phunuru Sherpa)

The Mera / Ama Dablam team got a pre-dawn start from Kathmandu, reaching the town of Manthali and the Ramechhap Airport on schedule for their flight up to Lukla (Ramechhap is now the airport designated for Lukla flights during the busy spring and autumn seasons).Â The IMG guides Phunuru, Justin Sackett, and Stu Johnson reported that the weather was very nice today, but the Lukla airport was closed down due to strong crosswinds, so they were unable to fly.Â The team is spending the night in Manthali and is scheduled for an early morning flight tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Eric Simonson

Bolivia team moves to Huayna Potosi High Camp

October 22, 2023

Bolivia team going to Huayna Potosi High Camp (Tincho Lucero)

Today our Bolivia team is on the move to Huayna Potosi High Camp! This will put them in a position to get to go for the summit in the coming days. IMG guide Tincho Lucero reports that the team is excited to move to Huayna Potosi and all is well!

Audrey Simonson

Mera Peak & Ama Dablam Team is off!

October 21, 2023

A Monkey at Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu (Justin Sackett)

Part of the IMG Ama Dablam Team at Boudhanath Stupa (Justin Sackett)

Â Mera Peak & Ama Dablam teams at their welcome dinner (Phunuru Sherpa)

The fall Mera Peak & Ama Dablam team is on their way to Lukla right now from Kathmandu! After a couple of days of sightseeing and putting the final touches on packing, the team is out the door. The team is planning to spend a day in Lukla (around 9000 ft) for acclimatization before they helicopter to the Hinku Valley for the Mera Peak climb. Everyone is doing well and the team is looking forward to the adventure ahead!

Audrey Simonson

Bolivia team on the way to Huayna Potosi!

October 21, 2023

Bolivia team selfie (Tincho Lucero)

Bolivia team climber on the way to the top of Pequeno Alpamayo (Tincho Lucero)

After a successful summit of Pequeno Alpamayo yesterday, the Bolivia team has descended and is making their way towards Huayna Potosi. Huayna Potosi sits just under 20,000 feet above sea level and is the peak the team will attempt! All’s well in Bolivia.

Audrey Simonson

Success on PequeÃ±o Alpamayo (17,618ft)

October 20th, 2023–

PequeÃ±o Alpamayo from the 16,601 ft summit of Tarija Peak (Greg Vernovage)

Congrats to the IMG Bolivia team for their successful summit of PequeÃ±o Alamapayo (17,618ft) this morning. The team has returned to camp safely for the night and plans to move to the Huayna Potosi basecamp (15,600ft) tomorrow.

Fixed line on Pequeno Alpamayo (Roberto Gomez)