January 18, 2013
At least one member of the Anhalzer family is anxiously awaiting their arrival.
Quick note from Phil this morning…
Last night Romulo Cardenas regaled the team with countless stories of adventures in the Amazon and searching for Incan gold in the Llaganates region. All the after a special dinner in the Hacienda San Augustin.
We’re off now to the visit the home of Romulo and our friend, Jorge Anhalzer. We will be at the Cayambe hut tonight.
Phil Ershler
January 17, 2013
The gang on the summit of Ixta yesterday.
Austin called in from the Piedre Grande hut on Orizaba this afternoon. All went smoothly today. The team’s short term plan was dinner by 5pm and in bed by 6pm followed all to quickly by an early wake up call for another big summit day.
Austin wasn’t quite sure if all members of the team would be climbing tonight/tomorrow, 2 big summit days in +/-48 hours is quite the test. He’ll know a lot more when that alarm clock goes off at at midnight or 1am.
The weather is great and the forecast calls for more of the same.
Tye Chapman
January 17, 2013
In Argentina, Peter Anderson and his Aconcagua crew took a rest day today at Camp 1. There’s a bit of a bug going around that side of the mountain, so they’re trying to get as healthy as they can before they move up the mountain. Nothing they can’t handle.
On the other side of the mountain is Mike Hamill and his team. They moved up to Nido de Condores Camp today. They’ll take an active rest day tomorrow, which means sleeping in then a short day hike without the packs.
Tomorrow's destination - the hut on Cayambe. (Tye Chapman)
Up north is Phil and his Ecuador team who had a nice day exploring the area after summiting Cotopaxi yesterday. Tomorrow they’ll head North to the hut on Cayambe.
It might be a couple days before we hear from Phil again so we’ll remind everybody that no news is good news.
Tye Chapman
Traverse into Shira Camp
January 17, 2013
George called from about 12,600’ on Kilimanjaro at Shira camp. The team did very well moving up to camp keeping a nice steady pace. The weather has been cooperating for the most part, though, they’ve experienced a bit of rain in the afternoon the last two days. In spite of the damp weather, the team is doing great and staying dry. They look forward to some better weather in the forecast and to a good day tomorrow as they head to Barranco Camp. Along the way they’ll enjoy getting a glimpse of Lava Tower and will push up to about 15,100’ before rolling into Barranco at about 13,000’. A great acclimatization day! Stay tuned for more.
Clarissa Morford
The market in Saquisili. (Photo by Tye Chapman)
January 16, 2013
Phil just checked in from La Cienega, one of his favorite haciendas in Ecuador, with good news… he and his team summitted Cotopaxi earlier today in perfect conditions.
Now it’s time for a shower, a glass of wine and some ceviche!
Tomorrow is a rest day of sorts. They’ll take care of a little personal maintenance, enjoy a visit to the market in Saquisili and enjoy a fantastic dinner at San Augustin.
Tye Chapman
January 16, 2013
Looking down at Camp 1 from a carry to C2. (Tye Chapman)
Peter Anderson called in from Camp 1 on Aconcagua after their carry to Camp 2 earlier today. The carry went ‘smoothly’.
The weather has been great and the team is doing pretty well, though a stomach bug has been making its way around the team and from the sounds of it around the mountain and several other teams. No immediate plan for tomorrow has been made, they’ll either take a rest day or will push up to C2.
On the other side of the mountain is Mike Hamill and his team. They moved up to Camp Canada today and even took a little hike after dropping their gear at camp. They might take a rest day tomorrow or they might head up to Nido de Condores – it just depends on how the team is feeling after a nights sleep a little higher on the mountain.
Back in Mendoza, Ty and Peter are putting the final touches on their program… Translation: cleaning and checking the tents then going to a winery for a late lunch. Also in Mendoza, and likely at the winery, is Greg Vernovage. His Aconcagua team lands in a few days.
Tye Chapman
January 16, 2013
Dawn on summit of Ixta (Elizah McLaughlin)
Austin called in reporting great conditions for the team on their summit day of Ixta. They’re back at High Camp now and will take a quick break, pack up camp, before heading down to their vans which will take them straight to Puebla for the night. They should pull into Puebla just in time for a shower and nice group dinner. Tomorrow they’re off to Tlachichuca for lunch and then it’s onto the Piedre Grande hut where they’ll spend a short night… that’s right, they’ll climb early the next morning!
That’s all for now.
Tye Chapman
January 15, 2013
The upper mountain.
Austin just checked in from High Camp on Ixta, all continues to go well. They just finished up dinner (pasta, chorizo and peppers) and are heading to bed, the 1:00am wake-up call will come soon enough.
The weather has been great and looks reasonable for tomorrow. Austin estimates a 4-5 hour push to the summit. After returning to camp they’ll pack up and head down to their awaiting vans and then it’s straight to Puebla.
Oh, and Ann Sparks says hi.
Tye Chapman
January 15, 2013
IMG guides George Dunn and Jenni Fogle report that the IMG team have all made it to Moshi and are doing well. Today they did equipment checks, packed up their duffel bags and took a trip into town to look around and pay a visit the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project office.  George says the weather is good and everyone is all set to start their climb in the morning tomorrow. So far, so good!
Eric Simonson
January 15, 2013
This much is true: we had a fantastic day on top of Antarctica!
It was unusually warm the night before we took off for the summit and I awoke to another unusual phenomenon at High Camp on Vinson – not a cloud in the sky and zero wind. This was an easy decision, we had to climb.
We loaded up all of our cold weather gear that is a must when climbing in Antarctica, down pants and down jacket with goggles in the pack, just in case.
With no worry of it getting dark, we left a little later than a few other teams and took our time heading up.  Snow conditions on the route and summit ridge were perfect. It’s a great feeling when you hit that summit ridge; you know you’re climbing and aree so close to your goal that you can’t help but put one foot in front of the other….you can taste it!
On the summit itself, there was not a breathe of wind and the view was for as far as the earth will allow. Right as we pulled onto the summit we were greeted by a twin-otter flyby, so close that I could see the pilot snapping a few photos of the team. What a perfect day.
We obviously climb to get to the top, but the overall journey and the group I’m with make the trip. This one was no different – it was a great trip with fun people, what a way to ring in another New Year.  This was my fourth New Years on the ice, and it’s hasn’t disappointed once!
Enjoy the photos, or better yet, take your own next year!
Greg Vernovage
