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)

Preparing for PequeÃ±o Alpamayo (17,618ft)

October 19th, 2023–

Huayna Potosi from the summit of Pico Austria (Harry Hamlin)

IMG Bolivia Guide Tincho checked in and noted the team enjoyed their summit of Pico Austria yesterday and will use the day to rest and practice more mountaineering skills. The team will set off for a PequeÃ±o Alamapayo (17,618ft) summit attempt tomorrow.

Climbers on the SW Ridge of Pequeno Alpamayo and its summit (Justin Sackett)

Reaching the Summit of Pico Austria (17,300ft)

October 18, 2023–

IMG Bolivia Climbers at the summit of Pico Austria (Tincho)

IMG Bolivia Guide Tincho checked in and let us know the team has successfully summitted Pico Austria standing at 17,300ft. The team will enjoy a restful day tomorrow before attempting Pequeno Alapamayo (17,482ft) on Friday.

Bolivia Climbers prepare to attempt Pico Austria (17,300ft)

October 17th, 2023–

IMG Climbers enjoying a break near Condoriri Basecamp (Harry Hamlin)

IMG Bolivia Guide Tincho checked in today and reported the team successfully made it to Condoriri Basecamp (15,100ft). The team spent the afternoon reviewing mountaineering skills including cramponing, ice axe arrest, and rope travel to prepare for their summit attempt of Pico Austria (17,300ft) tomorrow and Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482ft) on Friday.

Night time sky from Condoriri Basecamp (Harry Hamlin)

IMG Bolivia Climbers Head to Tambo Condorir (14,000ft)

October 16th, 2023–

Incredible landscape from Tambo Condoriri (Harry Hamlin)

Following an incredible day full of blue skies and a boat ride to Sun Island, the team set off today to begin their ascent towards the summit of Pequeno Alpamayo (17,482ft) and other nearby peaks. The team reached Tambo Condoriri (14,000ft) today and will enjoy a night under the stars before they head up to Condoriri Basecamp (15,100ft) tomorrow.

IMG Bolivia Guide Tincho with IMG Climbers with views from Tambo Condoriri (Tincho)

Tours of Isla del Sol

October 15, 2023

Bolivia team having lunch on Isla del Sol (Tincho Lucero)

IMG Bolivia team at Isla del Sol (Tincho Lucero)

IMG team with Lake Titicaca in the background (Tincho Lucero)

Today climbers enjoyed a lovely day in Bolivia! The team toured Isla del Sol looking at ruins and enjoying a meal of local foods before returning to Copacabana. Tomorrow the team will travel to Tambo Condoriri to start preparations, including packing and acclimatization hikes, for their ascent of PequeÃ±o Alpamayo.

All’s well in Bolivia!

Audrey Simonson