Huayhuash trekkers reach Mitucocha Camp

August 11th, 2023–

En route to camp near Laguna Mitucocha (John Hodder)

Itâ€™s been a busy two days for the Huayhuash trekkers in Peru.Â IMG guide Tyler Nachand and the team are now â€œoff the gridâ€ and checking in by satellite phone.Â They report that on Wednesday the team departed Huaraz and drove to the town of Llamac, and then continued to Cuartelwayin, at 13,800 ft for their first night on the trek.Â On Thursday, the team started with an uphill ascent to their first pass (Paso CCaccananpunta) at 15,400 ft, before dropping down into a fertile valley, around a ridge, and then up to their second camp slightly below Laguna Mitucocha, at about 14,000 ft. The weather has been excellent, perfect for trekking and the incredible views, a great way to start in the Huayhuash!

Another great day of hiking in Peru

August 9, 2023

IMG Huayhuash Team at Laguna Churup

IMG leader Tyler Nachand reports that the team had a second acclimatization day with perfect weather.Â After a delicious breakfast at the hotel in Huaraz the team set off for a hike up to Laguna Churup.Â Following the climbers’ adage “climb high, sleep low” they hiked up to 14,750 feet (4500m) with stunning views of the lake and only a handful of other hikers, before descending back to Huaraz.Â Now the team are doing their final packing for the beginning of the Huayhuash Trek tomorrow.

Eric Simonson

Huayhuash Trekkers Acclimatizing in Peru

Aug 8, 2023 –

Tyler and the team on their acclimatization hike (Tyler Nachand)

IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports that the Huayhuash Trek team had a nice acclimatization hike today, ascending from Huaraz (10,000 feet) to about 12,300 feet at Laguna (lake) Wilcacocha.Â Afterward, they had a relaxing lunch at our Peru guide Maximoâ€™s refugio, with stunning views of the central and southern peaks of the Cordillera Blanca.Â Maximo and his family grow potatoes, wheat, and barley on their farm outside of Huaraz, in addition to being in the tour business.Â Tomorrow the team will do a second day of acclimatization hiking in the Huaraz area before they start the Huayhuash Trek.Â So far everyone is acclimatizing well and having a great time.

The team enjoy the views of the Cordillera Blanca (Tyler Nachand)

Huayhuash Trekkers Ready to Go!

August 7th, 2023–

IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports from Peru that the Huayhuash trekkers all arrived on schedule with their luggage. Â Thatâ€™s the news we like to hear!

First views of the Cordillera Blanca for the Huayhuash trekkers (Tyler Nachand)

Yesterday the team linked up with our longtime local Peru guide Maximo Henostroza and traveled north from Lima and then turned east to the town of Huaraz, immediately adjacent to the very spectacular Cordillera Blanca range of mountains.Â Huaraz is nearly 10,000 feet in elevation so the team will spend the next two days doing acclimatization hikes in preparation for starting the Huayhuash Trek.Â This trek will take them nearly 90 miles through 8 high altitude passes, the highest at an impressive 16,700′. Â It sounds like everything is off to a good start!

Huayhuash Map (Tyler Nachand)

100% Kilimanjaro Summits!

July 24th, 2023–

On the summit of Uhuru Peak (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

Ang Jangbu reports that the team had a very nice climb to the Top of Africa today, with 100% of the team reaching the true summit in perfect weather.Â The team climbed the Barafu Route to Stella Point (where they hit the Crater rim), then traversed left around to the highest point at Uhuru Peak.Â After reaching the summit, they descended back to Barafu Camp for a short rest and to get packed up, before continuing their descent to Mweka Camp down at treeline.Â After a good night sleep they will finish the descent tomorrow morning back down to the Mweka Gate, where they will get picked up for the drive to Moshi at the foot of the mountain.Â Well done team!!

Departing Barafu Camp at midnight (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

Last steps to Stella Point with Mawenzi in the background (Eric Simonson)

Sunrise over the summit of Mawenzi (Eric Simonson)

Back to Mweka Camp tired and happy (Ang Jangbu)

Kili climbers ready for the summit bid

July 23rd, 2023–

Kassim and Ang Jangbu at Barafu Camp

Ang Jangbu checked in from the high camp at Barafu (about 15,000 ft) to report that the team had a nice hike today up from Karanga.Â They got an early start and arrived before lunch time, giving them plenty of time this afternoon for a nice rest break and getting organized for the climb.Â They are planning an early dinner, get up at 11pm, and walking out of camp at midnight.Â This should put them on the summit shortly after dawn tomorrow morning.Â Best wishes for the climb!

The team at Barafu Camp (Ang Jangbu)

Another great day on Kilimanjaro

July 22nd, 2023–

Hanging out at Barranco Camp with the Breach Wall behind (Phunuru)

Today was another great day for acclimatization hiking for the Kilimanjaro team.Â Ang Jangbu Sherpa reported that the team left Barranco Camp after breakfast and climbed nearly 1000 ft up a steep section of trail to the top of the Barranco Wall, where they got magnificent views of the Southern Glaciers (melting fast!) and out over the surrounding area.Â From here the route continues to traverse east, ascending, descending, and reascending through several valleys until finally crossing the last water source at Karanga.Â It was another great day of hiking with a net elevation gain of zero–perfect for acclimatization.Â From the Karanga Camp the team will head to Barafu tomorrow, to prepare for the summit bid.Â Well done team!

Near the top of the Barranco Wall (Ang Jangbu)

July Kili climbers at Karanga Camp (Ang Jangbu)

The steep spot at the ascent of the Baranco Wall (Eric Simonson)

Kili climbers reach Barranco Camp

July 21, 2023

Lava Tower is immediately behind the team on the way to Barranco Camp (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

The team at Barranco Camp (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

The team on the way to Barranco Camp (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

Today was a perfect acclimatization day for the team, as they follow the adage â€œclimb high, sleep lowâ€!Â They started at Shira Camp (12,500 ft) and then traversed to Lava Tower (14,500 ft) before dropping down to Barranco Camp (12,800 ft). Ang Jangbu reports that the weather stayed nice, though at these altitudes they are starting to feel a chill in the air, especially if there is a breeze.Â The team did a nice job and are feeling well.Â Tonight they will be looking up at the Breach Wall rising 6000 ft above them.Â Allâ€™s well on Kilimanjaro!

Eric Simonson

Kilimanjaro climbers reach Shira Camp

July 20, 2023

Giant heather and groundsel plants on the way to Shira Camp (Ang Jangbu)

Kilimanjaro from Machame Camp at dawn (Ang Jangbu)

July Kilimanjaro team at Shira Camp (Ang Jangbu)

Ang Jangbu reports that the team woke up to a beautiful morning at Machame Camp.Â The weather stayed good all day and they had a gorgeous five and a half hour hike up to the Shira Camp at about 12,500 feet, arriving in time for a late lunch.Â Along the way they departed the rainforest and entered the “zone of weird plants”.Â These include lobelia, groundsel and giant heather which are only found at high altitudes near the Equator on Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya, and a few other places.Â From Shira the team had a great views of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding area.

It was a nice opportunity for a photo of their entire team including their local Chagga guides, cook staff and porters. Everyone is doing well and tomorrow they will continue their climb to the Barranco Camp.

Kilimanjaro Climbers reach Machame Camp

July 19, 2023

Machame Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

In the forest on Day 1 (Phunuru Sherpa)

Kassim Juma and Ang Jangbu with the team ready to depart! (Ang Jangbu)

Ang Jangbu reports that that the team departed Moshi on schedule this morning, for the drive up through the tea, banana, and coffee farms on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.Â At the Machame Gate they got checked in with the National Park and received their climbing permits.Â They had a bit of light drizzle in the morning as they ascended up through the rain forest, but the clouds cleared as the day progressed.Â After about five hours of hiking they reached the Machame Camp, near the treeline at about 9500 feet, and during the evening they had some peek-a-boo views of Kilimanjaro as the clouds cleared.Â Everyone is doing well and they had a nice first day on the trail. Tomorrow they will be heading up to the Shira Plateau.Â Allâ€™s well on Kilimanjaro!

Eric Simonson