January 9, 2013
I can’t say everybody will find this as hilarious as we do, but it’s a fun look at an issue a lot of people have in our world. Enjoy!
Get the gear, and get the right gear…just not ALL of it!
Tye Chapman
January 9, 2013
I can’t say everybody will find this as hilarious as we do, but it’s a fun look at an issue a lot of people have in our world. Enjoy!
Get the gear, and get the right gear…just not ALL of it!
Tye Chapman
January 9, 2013
Ang Jangbu reports that he made it safely back to Kathmandu from the Christmas Kili trip. Now he and his staff are starting to work on prepping gear for Everest. They will be sending food, fuel, tents, oxygen, and other equipment ahead of the climbers in the coming weeks for establishing the Base Camp.
Speaking of Base Camp, for a great view of IMG’s 2012 Everest Base Camp, check out the David Breashears’ Everest Gigapan. If you start at the South Col and scroll straight down to the Khumbu moraine, IMG BC is immediately to the left, with lots of yellow tents. You can even see the IMG banner on the puja alter if you look close!
Eric Simonson
January 8, 2013
IMG Guide Peter Anderson called from Mendoza today at 12:30 pm PST. A number of duffels were delayed on their flight and they just picked up the last one today at noon. Because of this, the team has been delayed for a day in Mendoza and will depart tomorrow for the Penitentes at 8:30 am. Not to worry, this loss of a day shouldn’t have an affect on the overall schedule of the climb.
For Tyler’s team, the carry to C2 is now done, with the group back at C1. They’ve already got a lot of work under their belts. Weather looks reasonable for the remainder of the week. No need to rush now but they do want to keep the momentum going. If the crew feels good in the morning, they’ll likely move up to C2. If there’s a need, they could easily hang for a day at C1 tomorrow for a bit of rest. They’ll have a better idea in the morning. They’ve been doing well.
Phil Ershler
January 8, 2013
Up on Aconcagua – Ty, Martin, Peter and team are at C1 and will be making their carry today to C2.
Down on Aconcagua – Peter, Leandro, Josh and team will be heading to Penitentes, finishing up packing and getting ready to begin their approach tomorrow.
And, way down on Vinson Massif – Greg reports that they’re all back at the Union Glacier, waiting for flights north. They’re living large. ALE, our flight service, has a great base camp facility at the Union Glacier. Big, comfortable tents, tables and chairs, 3 meals a day, toilets – pretty much everything could want. And, it’s darn near impossible to beat the surroundings!
Phil Ershler
January 5, 2013
A few things to report from Argentina today. First is that everyone from Josh Tapp’s group is now on their way home. Josh arrives home tomorrow. Leandro, one of our great Argentine guides who was working with Josh, is going through a final check of group gear for our next team, led by Peter Anderson, with Leandro and Josh McDowell. That group left the States (and South Africa) today and will be rendezvousing in Mendoza tomorrow, the 6th. IMG Senior Guide, Mike Hamill, leaves tomorrow for Mendoza. He’ll be climbing with a small, custom team via the Horcones Valley route now and then staying to climb with the final IMG team of the season in late January.
Up on the mountain itself, Ty Gimenez called in today. Martin Lucero, Peter Adams and he are taking a rest day at base camp today and prepping for their carry to C1 tomorrow. Weather is a bit unsettled but that’s actually just fine for a carry day.
Down further South, like all the way South, Greg Vernovage and his 5 successful Vinson climbers will be making their way to Vinson base camp today. It’s a bit of a long walk but not terrible. And, when you’ve all been to the summit, it’s amazing how easy that walk becomes. Once at base camp Vinson, it’ll be a bit of a waiting game. They’ll need reasonable weather to fly over to the Union Glacier camp and then good weather for the IL76 to come in, pick these guys up and get them back to Chile. That could happen as early as the 6th. Greg will stay in South America and head over to Mendoza. He’ll be leading our January 20 departure on Aconcagua. No rest for the wicked.
Phil Ershler
January 4, 2013
Ty G. called in today to report that they had a great day on the trail and made it to Base Camp (aka Plaza Argentina) in good form this afternoon.
They’ll spend two night here getting rested up and acclimatized. Tomorrow is an easy ‘rest and recover’ day, though they may take a short hike to get the blood pumping.
But first things first – tonight it’s burritos! We’ll see if they can keep Peter happy… easy on the salt.
Tye Chapman
January 4, 2013
News is good today from the top of Vinson. Greg Vernovage called in to let us know that the entire team was on the summit with perfect weather conditions. The weather was just too good to take a rest day. ‘About as good as it gets’  - was Greg’s report. They’re heading down to high camp now and will return all the way to Vinson base camp tomorrow.
Great news from the top of the bottom of the world!
Phil Ershler
January 3, 2013
Ty Gimenez called in from their second trekking camp today. Their fire-grilled steak last night gave them plenty of fuel today, though assistant guide, and our resident ‘organic foodie’, Peter Adams, thought it was a touch too salty. Let’s not feel too sorry for him.
In all seriousness, the group is moving strongly and shouldn’t have any issues with tomorrow’s push into Plaza Argentina, their Base Camp. Once in Base Camp, they’ll relax and enjoy a rest day on Saturday. We should hear from Tyler again tomorrow.
Greg also called in this afternoon. His team moved up to High Camp today without too much issue. They’ll take a rest day tomorrow to get their legs and lungs back and likely give it a go on Saturday…Wx permitting of course!
Tye Chapman
January 2, 2013
Greg checked in from Antarctica again today – all continues to go well. Yesterday, the team enjoyed their rest day and celebrated the New Year with a Jello No-bake cheesecake. Today they carried to High Camp, no small feat. Well deserved quesadillas are on the menu tonight.
Can’t count the chickens just yet, but their weather forecast looks good for the next few days. Time will tell.
All is well on the ice.
Tye Chapman
January 2, 2013
Ty Gimenez called in from Pampa de Llenas, where the team has pulled in to their first trekking camp on the way to Plaza Argentina on Aconcagua. The group is moving well and are enjoying a beautiful day, not too hot, not too cold…and the wind isn’t blowing too hard either.
On the menu tonight: fire grilled steak. So far so good.
Tye Chapman