September 10, 2012
Chris Meder, IMG Senior Guide, sent us a quick email from Africa. It’s late there, his time. Just wanted to let everyone know that all his team has arrived in Africa and with all their luggage. They transferred to the Keys Hotel, had a late dinner and went straight to bed. Lots to do tomorrow but, for tonight, it’s all about getting some sleep.
Phil Ershler
September 9, 2012
From: Joseph Manning
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2012 11:35 AM
To: Tye Chapman
Subject: Thank you!
Hey IMG,
I am sitting in Seattle now, with clean clothes, and am a couple of showers post my incredible week on Rainier with IMG and the Glacier Skills Seminar. I am beginning to reflect on what an incredible week it was. It is not easy to put into careful words just how great the experience was. I find that it takes several weeks to really come down off of the mountain, my head is flooded with so many things about the experience. I was out of my comfort zone the whole week, from the first time I put on the loaded pack and we left from Paradise. I experienced many “firsts” that week. As a competitive cyclist for many years, I know what it feels like to be in a sport where everything is automatic. In my favorite new world of mountain climbing, everything still is new, and I felt like I had two left feet, ten thumbs and was focused, always focused, on (trying) to remember knots. Those damn knots. Was it a Butterfly knot here, or a clove hitch. “Hey Aaron…….” But you know what, the IMG guides were always besides me helping out, answering questions patiently, but also knowing that we students had to do it ourselves. That feeling of learning, of gaining confidence, slowly, of finally learning that knot, was a real joy. I was exhausted as Dustin and I reached Paradise. But I wanted to head back up hill the next day!
Now that I am back at sea level, and reading The Freedom of the Hills again, I realize how much we actually learned, and how I can build on this for the future. The amount of new knowledge, both positive- learning new things, and negative- learning what I need to improve on (pretty much an uncountable list in my case), was absolutely priceless. I am truly amazed that a week-long course like this, with world class guides, in a breathtakingly beautiful environment, actually costs so little. IMG courses and climbs (my kind of vacation for sure) truly are a bargain.
All of the guides were amazing, patient, highly skilled, giving of their time and experience and really great to be around. Like the Kili trip last fall, this IMG experience has to be chalked up in the “most memorable life experience” category. How great is that?
IMG, you all really offer those who come to you world class adventure as well as first class teaching that I, as someone who teaches for a living, truly appreciate. The Glacier Skills course was just an outstanding week. That goes for the weather too! Mountain climbing, it is often said, is best taken as a journey, not a destination. We did not summit, getting weathered off from 11,100, so I have to come back next Summer. But descending in the storm was a great experience itself, a real confidence builder.
Aaron, as Lead Guide, thanks so much for your superb leadership. Chris, thanks for your instruction, and Dustin, thanks for many things, especially for hanging back on the descent as I was fighting a tummy bug. You guys are class acts all.
I hope you realize that on the ” what to improve” section of the Survey we filled out at headquarters, I was being facetious when I said that we could have had more personal attention. Not possible. We could not have been better treated by you all or by Tye back at headquarters.
Thanks guys, very much! IMG rocks. I can’t wait to get back into the Hills, and I am making plans for Spring and next Summer with IMG already! And I can’t wait for more instant oatmeal in some kitchen tent, up high, with the best guiding company on the planet.
Joe
September 9, 2012
View from Manaslu Base. (Robert Kay)
IMG guide Mike Hamill reports that the team is doing well. Yesterday they climbed to lower Camp 1 (5700m/19695ft) for acclimatization, then returned to Base Camp for a rest day today. Tomorrow they are all moving up to Camp 1 to sleep, do a recon to Camp 2 (6400m/20992ft), and then move up to sleep at Camp 2. In the meantime, the sherpas have now done two carries to Camp 1, and are also taking a rest day today. Tomorrow two sherpas will carry up to Camp 1 while four will carry to Camp 2. Sounds like the route is looking good, with about 600m of rope fixed on the way to Camp 1 with another 600m fixed between Camps 1 and 2.
Eric Simonson
Septemeber 6, 2012
Puja Time. (Mike Hamill)
We had our Puja this morning and all the sherpas and climbers enjoyed it.  We had a lama come up from Sama Gaon and had a very good ceremony followed by some sherpa dance. Phunuru and I have worked out a tentative schedule for climbers and sherpas. Tomorrow we plan to take a shorter acclimatization hike and do some training in the afternoon and the sherpas are going to take a first trip up to Camp 1.  The following day we will try to tag C1 and descend back to Base Camp, before taking another rest day.
Mike Hamill
September 5, 2012
IMG Manaslu Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)
IMG guide Mike Hamill called to report they made it to Base Camp (4,800m/15,744ft) at around 12:30 this afternoon, just in time for lunch. Mike says the sherpa crew have done a great job setting up a very nice camp. The team have been relaxing after lunch and everyone is doing really well and feeling strong. Mike said he chatted with Russell a little bit this afternoon.  Sounds like the Himex sherpas made it up to Camp 1 today and they report that the mountain is much drier (less snow) compared to the conditions last year. So far so good!
Ang Jangbu Sherpa
September 4, 2012
IMG leaders Mike Hamill and Peter Anderson report that the team made it to Sama Gaon, the village at the base of Manaslu. Well done! Today they took a well-deserved rest day, including a tour of the local monastery. Tomorrow the plan is to head up to Base Camp, with the puja scheduled the following day (the 6th) which is an auspicious day for the sherpas (using the Tibetan calendar). Up at Base Camp, the sherpas have been busy and they have the camp all set up and ready to go.
Eric Simonson
September 2, 2012
Descending from Base Camp to Sama Gaon, looking at the 6000m peaks to the north, which are near to the China/Tibet border (Robert Kay)
IMG guide Mike Hamill called this morning (evening in Nepal). The team is in Namrung and all are fit, healthy, and doing well. They are on schedule to reach Sama Gaon tomorrow.   He says the weather had been pretty good for them, with rain during the night but mostly dry during the day time for the trekking. Trail has been a bit muddy in places and they have crossed several landslides, but no big issues. Mike says it has been a strenuous trek, with plenty of ups and downs to get everyone toughened up for the climb ahead!
Up on the mountain Phunuru reports that the Base Camp construction is almost finished, and that he had hiked up to the crampon point to check the route and snow condition, which he said looked OK.   He says they have an excellent BC camp location with a clean water source.  Headcook Kaji has now moved up to BC from Sama Gaon and the porters with all the fresh food will go to BC tomorrow. The plan is for the members to take a couple rest days in Sama Gaon, then move up to BC on Wednesday the 5th .
Eric Simonson
August 31, 2012
The trek in. (Phunuru Sherpa)
Ang Jangbu dropped us a line from Nepal this morning to report that the Manaslu team is doing well. They’re a strong crew and have made it to Jagat. There was a landslide nearby and a few porter loads from another expedition were lost, but thankfully nobody was hurt. It doesn’t appear to have hindered anybody from getting to or fro so the team continues their march to Base Camp.
Tye Chapman
August 30, 2012
Base Camp of Manaslu.
We got word from Ang Jangbu last night that things are coming together nicely for our Manaslu team. The Sherpas have been hard at work making platforms for all of the tents. Next on the to do list is the Puja altar.
Hamill and the crew are well on their way to Base Camp, (15750 ft.) a 6 day trek in.
Tye Chapman
August 29, 2012
AHF supports day care centers in Mustang to promote health and education for youngsters. (Source: AHF Blog)
IMG’s association and support of the American Himalayan Foundation goes was back. Eric and I have known Norbu for years, and my wife, Susan Ershler, was so inspired by the Stop Girl Trafficking program, supported by the AHF, that a portion of every professional presentation she does goes directly to the AHF to help provide needed funds.
The AHF Annual Dinner raises dollars to support Stop Girl Trafficking and numerous other programs supported by the AHF. If you’re in San Francisco on October 3, go. If you’re close by, go. If you’re even considering attending, do it. And, it’s easy to help even if you can’t attend. Click the Donate button, and you’re there. Heck of a trio of speakers this year.
Phil Ershler
