Bona Team Carried To Camp 1

May 22, 2013

Views all around.

Guide Sheldon Kerr called in from Mt. Bona basecamp yesterday evening via sat phone. The connection was a bit spotty, but she was able to communicate that all was well and the team was doing a super job.

They made a light carry to Camp 1 at 12,000 feet. It was cold in the morning but the day proved to be beautiful weather. Today the team will either take a rest day or move to 12,000 feet, depending on how everyone feels. Sheldon says everyone wanted to pass on helloâ€™s to their families.

George Dunn

Bona Team On Their Way

May 21, 2013

Step 1 is getting there.

After being flown onto the glacier yesterday morning, Sheldon reports they worked hard to get base camp set up and secured. Theyâ€™ll use today as a team training and acclimatization day. They need to review roped glacier travel safety and practice crevasse rescue techniques before heading up the mountain.

Theyâ€™ll likely make a carry up to the next camp (12,000â€™), weather permitting, on Wednesday, the 22^nd. This process of making a carry to the next camp one day, then moving up to the new camp the next will go on for two more camps before they are in place to summit from a high camp at around 14,000 feet. With a few weather days thrown in for good measure, theyâ€™ll be well acclimated before they try for the 16,400 foot summit.

George Dunn

Trek The Great Himalayan Trail

May 20, 2013

I’m getting excited about the upcoming trek this fall from Upper Dolpo to Mustang, Nepal. This includes the Crystal Mountain Kora and the Great Himalaya Trail. Â It’s a dream trip and we’ve got a fine, well vetted crew on board, which makes it even better. We depart in 4 short months and there are still a few spots left, so now is the time to join the team, don’t delay!

: North of the Himalayan Crest. (Photo by Adam Angel)

: IMG Camp. (Photo by Adam Angel)

: North of the Himalayan Crest. (Photo by Adam Angel)

: IMG Trekkers. (Photo by Adam Angel)

As with everything on the IMG website, there is a ton of information there, but don’t hesitate to contact us if there is anything you want to discuss about one of the coolest treks imaginable!

Adam Angel

Hurry Up And Wait

May 20, 2013

Hurry up and wait.

The Mt. Bona team met in Anchorage this Saturday afternoon for the start of their program. All the team membersâ€™ baggage finally arrived in time for them to depart early Sunday morning on the 4 Â½ hour drive to Chitina for pickup by bush pilot Paul Claus.

Unfortunately, cloudy weather prohibited them from being flown onto the Klutlan Glacier at the base of Mt. Bona. Instead, they were delivered to the Claus family facility at an inholding in Wrangell/St Elias National Park on the Chitina River. They spent the night as guests there and hopefully were flown onto the mountain early this morning. Guide Sheldon Kerr will call in by satellite phone tonight with an update. We wish them good success!

George Dunn

Next Up: Mt. Bona

May 15, 2013

Today George Dunn is getting his Mt. Bona guides Austin Shannon and Sheldon Kerr dialed for their upcoming Mt. Bona trip.

Looks like they’re off to a good start!

Tye Chapman

Happy Mother’s Day From Machu Picchu

May 12, 2013

From: Chris Meder
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 7:09 PM
To: George Dunn
Subject: Happy Mothers Day from Machu Picchu team

Hi George,

We just arrived back in Cusco after another full day.Â The group elected to head back up to Machu Picchu this morning and hike the challenging Wayna Picchu peak.Â Steep trail and rocky stairs led to an incredible top-down view of Machu Picchu.Â And, while on top we had a Happy Mothers Day message to send home!

Happy Mother's Day

Chris

Chris Checks In From Aguas Calientes

From: Chris Meder
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 2:31 PM
To: George Dunn
Subject: Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes

Hi George,

The team went four for four today with stellar weather for our completion of the Inca Trail and tour of Machu Picchu.Â Just a perfect day.Â We arrived at the Sun Gate as the sun was just casting its first rays on the site, enjoyed the view for a while, and then took a full tour of the ruins with our local guide Juan explaining all the details.Â Here’s a photo of the group.

We’re now in Aguas Calientes, showered and had a late lunch.Â The group is now checking out the town and doing a little shopping.Â Tomorrow it’s up early again for a return to Machu Picchu and a challenging hike up Wayna Picchu for another great view of the area.

Chris

Trekkers In Striking Distance To Machu Picchu

May 9, 2013

Chris Meder called in from the Inca Trail. The team is continuing to do a terrific job on the trail, and the weather is great. They Â are camping at at WiÃ±ay Wayna tonight, very close to Machu Picchu and will hike down through the gate early in the morning to catch the sunrise. Chris says it was a spectacular day of scenery today and the group couldnâ€™t have done better. Tomorrowâ€¦. Machu Picchu!

George Dunn

On The Trail To Machu Picchu

May 7, 2013

The hiking begins

IMG guide Chris Meder called in this evening by sat phone.Â He says all is well and the group had a straight forward first hiking day today. The weather was good and the scenery excellent. All of the team is walking well and feeling good and they are having a great time.

George Dunn

Guide Training And A Birthday Party

May 7, 2013

: Spring Guide Training (photo by George Dunn)

: Emily Johnston celebrates with a very special Princess cake! (photo by Tye Chapman)

Every spring all the guides who are not on expeditions around the world gather in the booming metropolis of Ashford, WA for our annual Guide Training weekend.Â We shake out the cobwebs and refocus our energies on Mt. Rainier. Day 1 usually consists of some updates on procedures, protocols, etc. and culminates with a BBQ. Day 2 is up on Mt. Rainier refreshing on some fundamentals and tweaking some skills based on new gear or industry standards.

This past Saturday and Sunday were no different – except for the absolutely phenomenal weather and it being IMG Guide and resident ER Doc, Emily Johnston’s birthday.

Good times had by all!

Tye Chapman