August 9, 2012
Climbing past the Lava Tower on the way to Baranco Camp. ( Kathy Harshbarger)
Heard more from Max about the day to Baranco. Just another great hike. Trip to Baranco took about 6 hours with a little side trip to the top of the Lava Tower. Karanga next, then Barafu.
Max reports the team is still moving quite well.
Phil Ershler
August 9, 2012
—–Original Message—–
From: Peter Anderson
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 2:21 PM
To: George Dunn
Subject: Machu Picchu Update
Machu Picchu Team at Plaza de Armas. (Peter Anderson)
Hey Geo,
Just checking in from Cusco! Our second group of Trekkers all arrived safely today and are settling into Cusco (which primarily means breathing hard and drinking plenty of coca tea to help our bodies adjust to nearly 11,000 ft). All of the luggage arrived, and everyone is excited to start our adventure. This photo is taken in Plaza de Armas where Walter, our Peruvian guide filled us in on some of the city’s history on our walk to lunch. Tonight we will have our trip briefing, some fine Peruvian food, and turn in early.
Talk to you soon,
Peter
August 8, 2012
Good looking crew
When we hear from the Kilimanjaro teams, they’re about 12 hours ahead so they’ve already put in a day’s worth of work and our day is just getting started. Baranco Camp was the last call in and all’s well. Karanga is next on the schedule. It’s nice to break up the long day which would be required if you tried to skip Karanga and head straight from Baranco to high camp at Barafu. A stop at Karanga makes the day to high camp short and the arrival time early. Both help when it comes to the summit day.
Phil Ershler
August 8, 2012
Today we drove from La Paz up onto the Altiplano to the resort town of Copacabana on the shore of Lake Titicaca (12,507 feet / 3,812 m).  Along the way we had the chance to visit the famous Tiahuanaco ruins (dated 1600 BC). This afternoon the team took a nice (slow!) walk around Copacabana…we are now over 12,000 feet.  When we saw the sun beginning to go down we headed up a nearby hill for a little more acclimatization and a chance to see the sunset.
All in all, it was a gorgeous day, with not a cloud in the sky. Tomorrow, we will take a short boat trip to Sun Island to continue acclimatization and have lunch on the shore with some local food.  All is well here in Bolivia.  Acclimatizing on the beach!
Greg Vernovage
August 7, 2012
All is well here, all bags and climbers accounted for. The team had a nice welcome dinner last night at Lo Comedie.  An early night to catch up on the travel and a morning of gear checks and duffel packing has us ready for Lake Titicaca and Copacabana tomorrow.  Today we went for a good walk around the city of La Paz including San Francisco Cathedral and the Witches Market.
The discussion slowly turned to being out of breath at times.  Hey, we take it slow around here for a few days.  The way we will take care of ourselves in the next few days with acclimatizing will set us up for our climbing. As our tour came to an end, Nancy suggested pizza and a drink for dinner.  This is a great team.  Six pizzas later, we are ready for a good night sleep and out the door in the morning.
Greg Vernovage
August 6, 2012
Kili Team. (Max Bunce)
Just spoke personally with IMG Senior Guide, Max Bunce. Team and he are at the Machame Camp. Good day of hiking and Max said this team moves well. They’re bedding down now for a well-deserved rest and will be back at it in the morning. All good on Kilimanjaro!
Phil Ershler
August 6, 2012
La Paz with Illimani in the background. (Greg Vernovage)
IMG guide Greg Vernovage reports from La Paz that all team members (and all of their duffel bags) have now made it to Bolivia. Stepping off the airplane at El Alto airport (LPB) at 13,325 feet is a big shock…just need to move slowly and breathe! From the airport the team drops down to the main city center area, at about 11,000 feet. Unlike most cities in the world, the most affluent parts of LaPaz are the lowest! Tomorrow the team will spend the day visiting the local “Witches Market†and exploring the city, followed by a second night in town. After that they move up to Lake Titicaca for more acclimatization. Everyone is doing well and are excited that the Bolivia adventure is underway!
Eric Simonson
August 6, 2012
Kilimanjaro (Ken Maclaurin)
Machu Picchu (8/4/12)
Guide Peter Anderson called in from the summit of Huayna Picchu, all but one of the team made the early a.m. hike up to this lofty perch above Machu Picchu. After taking in the view they descended back down and then it was back to Aquas Calientes. From there it’s a train and bus back to Cusco in the afternoon and then a hotel in Cusco for the night.
Kilimanjaro (8/5/12)
Max’s first team headed home on Saturday evening and his second team arrived about the same time. A little bitter sweet to say good-bye to the first crew but nice seeing the second team arrived without issue and with all their gear intact. That team did gear checks with Max on Sunday, toured Moshi, visited with the folks at the Porter Assistance Program and had milkshakes before heading back to the hotel for final packing and dinner. Monday morning is their first hike day. Time to go for a little walk.
Bolivia (8/5/12)
Greg Vernovage is on scene and awaiting the team and their duffel bags. Once all the pieces are in place they’ll do a gear check and give the city of La Paz a once over.
August 2, 2012
All smiles at the summit!
We just received a summit shot from part of the Classic Alps team currently in the field. Part of the team crossed the border into Italy to climb Grand Paradiso, the only 4,000 meter peak solely within Italy. The photo was taken on July 31. The entire team is now back in Chamonix doing some final climbs as the end of the trip nears.
George Dunn
August 1, 2012
A glimpse of the trail to Machu Picchu
IMG guide Peter Anderson just called in with the evening report. The team successfully crossed Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point on the trek and is now resting comfortably in camp. Peter says the team has a late lunch and is stuffed! The cook for their trek is doing an excellent job. The sat phone connection was dropped after this information exchange, so we’ll wait to hear from Peter again at the end of tomorrow’s trek.
George Dunn
Update:Â August 2, 2012
IMG guide Peter Anderson called with an update on the Machu Picchu trek. They are in the middle of today’s hike, standing at the top of the third and final pass of the trek. Peter called from this highpoint knowing he would have better satellite phone coverage here. The high mountains sometimes obscure reception. Peter reports it is a spectacular day today. From where they stand, they can look all the way down the valley to the town of Aguas Calientes where they will end up in one more day.
Tomorrow, they will have one last 2 hour hike to Machu Picchu where they will spend the rest of the day sightseeing. The whole team is looking forward to this with anticipation. The team is healthy for the most part with just one case of “Tourista†to deal with . All are happy and doing just fine.
George Dunn
