October 26, 2012
School Children
Phil reports that all is well in Bhutan. The weather is holding as is the team. They had their toughest day yesterday getting up at over Shingela Pass (16,500ft) but everybody did great. They’ll be descending for the next few days, which sounds easier, but can often be tougher on some folks.
They visited a local primary school and were able to stop in and spend some time with a local family along the way.
It sounds like they’re having a great time!
Tye Chapman
October 25, 2012
Since our wedding/honeymoon was fuel for the IMG blog I find it only fitting that I give everybody some closure to what was surely a white knuckled, edge of the seat read…
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What a night! We couldn’t have asked for a better evening. Good friends and family, great weather, open bar, and just a hell of a time. Everybody did their all to squeeze every last minute out of the night.
4 hours later…we woke up and grabbed some breakfast and quickly doubled checked the duffel before heading to the airport for the honeymoon in Peru. Machu Picchu should be on everybody’s bucket list, but naturally we thought since we’re in Peru, why don’t we go on an 8 day trek. Seems normal right? Just me, Erika, our friend/guide Maximo, our cook Hacinto and our mule driver Robert (not Roberto!) out trekking for a week between 12,000ft and 16,000ft, on our honeymoon. And who doesn’t take a Sat phone on their honeymoon! Normal, not normal, who cares, everything worked out perfectly – drivers with signs with our names on it at every airport, train station or bus terminal – pretty sweet.
First stop was Cuzco, an amazing little-big town and a nice place to acclimatize for the upcoming trek. After a couple days touring the countryside we made our way to Machu Picchu – amazing and absolutely unforgettable. The next day we climbed Huayna Picchu, which gave us breathtaking views of Machu Picchu, worth ever step. Up was no problem, though the steep stairs down and nearly vertical drop on the side (no handrail) was a little unnerving, nevertheless we made it down in one piece.
Onto Huaraz where we met up with Maximo. He showed us around and then we hit the road… Trekking season was winding down which was great – we didn’t see any other groups on the trail. The weather wasn’t perfect, but it stayed dry when we were walking, saving the occasional downpour for the evenings. We may have missed a few views of the mountains, but we wouldn’t change a thing – except maybe losing two donkeys along the way. We’re still not entirely sure if they ran off or were stolen (it happens) but we left word in the local village and pushed on having to load up the horse (aka our escape vehicle should we have had any medical issues). The trek continued without another problem and we couldn’t be happier.
I’m back at my desk now cranking out emails, blog posts and answering boot questions, oh how I missed the boot questions.
Thanks for all the well wishes and kind words now let’s all get back to work!
Tye Chapman
October 25, 2012
The Chulu Group (Mingma Sherpa)
IMG guide Justin Merle reports by sat phone from Chulu Base Camp that the team had another good day of climbing today, reaching the summit of Chulu Near East on the shoulder of Chulu East. The weather was excellent, and they had incredible views of the Annapurna Himal and the other peaks of the Chulu Group. Tomorrow the team will descend to Manang before heading for Muktinath via Thorung La.
Eric Simonson
October 24, 2012
Prayer flags flying.
Phil called in this morning with a quick update… The team cruised though Jarila pass at 16,000ft today without issue. They went a step (ok a few steps) further to put in their next camp. This will help them get jump on tomorrow, their toughest day yet, where they’ll get up to about 16,500ft as they pass through Shingela Pass, then it’s down, down, down from there.
They’re eating well and the weather has been ‘reasonable’ for the trek. Bottom-line is they’re having fun and doing their best to take it all in!
Tye Chapman
October 23, 2012
The Annapurna trekkers made it out of Jomsom today via small plane, and are now enjoying some fine living down by the lake in Pohkara.  Tomorrow, they head back to Kathmandu.
Over at Chulu, IMG guide Justin Merle and his team will head back up to High Camp in the morning for another climb. Their goal is a second summit in the Chulu area. Sounds like weather is very clear and nice, but Justin says it is getting cold up high…so they are glad they have double boots and good down parkas!
Eric Simonson
October 22, 2012
Tye in Peru
IMG Operations Manager Tye Chapman reports that his honeymoon in Peru is winding down with an 8 hour bus ride back to Lima. He and Erika will be back in Seattle mid week and Tye will be back in the IMG office shortly after.
We’ll all look forward to hearing about their adventures and wishing them the happiest of futures together.
George Dunn
October 22, 2012
Dhaulagiri (7th highest mountain) from Muktinath (Charlotte Austin)
IMG guide Justin Merle reports the team had a good climb today of Chulu Far East, and they are now back to Chulu Base Camp. Sounds like a fun mix of snow, ice, and some fixed ropes to a nice summit.  The plan is to take a rest day tomorrow, then head back up to attempt a different Chulu summit. Meanwhile, the trekkers finished off their trek today, reaching Jomsom. Tomorrow they will fly to Pohkara, and then on to Kathmandu.
Eric Simonson
October 22, 2012
Phil called in via sat phone at 7:34 this morning with an update on the Bhutan Trek. Yesterday the team left Chomolhari Base Camp and trekked through Nyelela Pass at about 16000 feet (almost 3000 vertical foot gain), which brought them to the village of Lingshi last night. This morning as they awoke to perfect weather, they left camp (just below Lingshi) and started out for Chebisa.
School children in Lingshi (Photo: John Dahlem)
First stop was a visit to the Lingshi Dzong. Originally built in 1668, this Dzong had controlled the border between Tibet and Bhutan and was one of the main defensive fortresses in years past. Next they stopped in at the town of Lingshi itself for a visit with the local school children. Continuing on, they made their way to the settlement of Goyak – virtually untouched and unchanged for hundreds of years, one of the most interesting places on the whole trek! Another hour of walking finally brought them in to the settlement of Chebisa, where they rented a house from one of the horsemen, cooked and ate dinner, and will camp for the night.
Tomorrow morning begins one of the 3 real big days for the team – everyone’s ready! Weather continues to be good, and everyone is doing fantastic. All is going incredibly well in Bhutan.
Becky K
October 21, 2012
IMG guide Kaji called from Muktinath to report that the trekkers had a good trip over the Thorong pass. Weather was good and everyone is doing well. Starting at Phedi at 4am, they climbed over 3000+ feet up to the summit of the pass. Then they descended 5000+ feet down the other side. Before reaching  Muktinath town (at about 12,300 feet)  they were able to visit the famous Muktinath temple (many pilgrims come here).  Well done team!
Over at Chulu, Justin Merle called on the sat phone to report that the team are up at high camp. Mingma Dorje and Nima Karma continued higher up this afternoon to check the route and fix some rope, and they reported that the route conditions are good.
Plan for tomorrow is for the team to be climbing by 4am and come back down to base camp.
Eric Simonson
October 20, 2012
Telephoto view of the Manang side of Thorung La pass, taken from Chulu Peak (Mingma Dorje Sherpa)
IMG guide Justin Merle reports that the weather was good today and everyone is doing well. The Annapurna Trek team had a nice hike from Yak Karka up to Phedi (14,600ft) and they are now ensconced there, preparing for a 4am departure for the Thorung La Pass (17,769 feet (5,416 m).  Meanwhile, the climbers had a good rest day today at Chulu Base Camp and are preparing to move up to high camp (about 17,500ft) tomorrow, with the hope of tagging the summit of Chulu Far East the next morning. We’ll keep you posted!
Eric Simonson
