Alps Classics Program Is Underway

July 30, 2012

Team members approaching the summit of the Breithorn in Zermatt. Behind them is another 4,000 meter peak, Pollux. Members also climbed this peak, of which the trail is just visible. (Photo: Liz Smart)

Guide Liz Smart checked in from the Alps Classics program yesterday. Everyone is doing great and getting in lots of climbing, sightseeing and culture.

So far members have been able to climb the Breithorn Â and Pollux in Zermatt. They next traveled to Wengen for an attempt of the Jungfrau. Bad weather prevented them from completing the climb, but the team was able to do a mountain â€œtourâ€ and then hiked the Eiger trail below the Eiger Nordwand. Â The team will split to tackle different objectives over the next few days. Guides Liz and Forest McBrian are taking four members down south across the border to Italy to attempt Grand Paradiso (another 4,000m peak) today. Â They will stay at a hut at the base of the mountain tonight, climb tomorrow and stay at a second hut, and then return to Chamonix on Wednesday. Â Guide Margaret Wheeler will take two members up on Mont Blanc today and then go up to the Tete Rousse hut tomorrow, climb on Wednesday and stay at a higher hut, the Â Gouter, and then come back to Chamonix on Thursday. The entire group will reunite in Chamonix for some additional climbing before the program end.

George Dunn

1982 Denali Summit Team Reunites On Rainier

July 30, 2012

Phil's 1982 Denali Summit Team reunited

30 years ago, I climbed Denali with the group shown here.Â How quickly time passes.Â Don Vandegriff, Jon Pelkey, Dennis Shields, Chris Shields, Phil Ershler, Dave Krohne, Sheryl Krohne and Jim Dallas â€“ this was the team I took to Denali in June 1982.Â Eight of us landed on the Kahiltna Glacier and we expected all eight to summit.Â Thatâ€™s just what happened.Â Everyone was totally committed to being on the expedition and totally committed to their team members.Â Pretty cool to watch a group share all the work and the thrill of reaching the summit.Â Maybe even cooler to watch them all remain in contact and stay friends.Â And really special when they all came to Mt. Rainier this past weekend and spend two days remembering and celebrating their success.Â A pleasure to be a part of it.

Phil Ershler

100% Summit On Kili!

July 30, 2012

First glimpse of sunrise (photo: Ken MacLaurin)

Max Bunce called in last evening (early the next morning, Africa time), to say that the team was standing on the summit of Kilimanjaro.Â The WHOLE team.Â And, he said weather for the climb and while they were on top had been perfect.Â Way to go, team.

As exciting as it is to stand on top, they have a lot of work left.Â Down to high camp at Barafu where theyâ€™ll make a clothing change and repack.Â The Chagga staff will have lunch waiting for them.Â Refill the water bottles and then itâ€™s time to begin the hike down to Mweka Camp.Â Not always the easiest thing to rally but itâ€™s so nice to get out of the cold and get down to that thicker air.Â At 10,000â€™, everything is better.Â Safer, too.Â We should hear from Max before long, letting us know theyâ€™re at Mweka â€“ tired but happy.

Phil Ershler

Just A Walk To The Lava Tower

July 27, 2012

What a crew ! (Max Bunce)

A little mist in the morning and then sunny skies was what Max said when he called in saying the team was relaxing at the camp on the Shira Plateau.Â Todayâ€™s a bigger walk up to the Lava Tower and then down to Baranco.Â Theyâ€™ll reach an altitude today higher than Mt. Rainier.Â Allâ€™s good.

Phil Ershler

Outdoor Research Awarded AMGA Industry Award

July 26, 2012

Max & Eben sporting the OR Virtuoso & Treeline Beanie at Everest Base Camp.

We’re excited to report that our partners at Outdoor Research have been named the 2012 recipient of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Industry Award. We’ve been working with OR for 6 years now and we couldn’t be happier – these guys do it right. From head to toe our guides are proud be outfitted by Outdoor Research.

In March, just before our Everest season kicks off, the annual shipment of ‘guide gear’ arrives from Outdoor Research.Â Year after year the guides take that gear over to Nepal and put it to the ultimate test. Every year it stands up to the test…and then some. Even locally here, in our collective backyard on Mt. Rainier, our guides continually push Outdoor Research gear to the limit, and it never disappoints.

What Dan, Alex, Christian and the rest of the OR team are doing is special, and we’re happy to support them.

Tye Chapman

Full AMGA Press Release below:

Salt Lake City, Utah – Outdoor Research (OR),Â a leading, independent manufacturer of outdoor apparel and accessories, is the 2012 recipient of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Industry Award. AMGA Executive Director, Betsy Winter, will present the award to Dan Nordstrom, President; Alex Kutches, President; and Christian Folk, Grassroots Marketing Manager, at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

The AMGA Industry Award was created to recognize and honor those companies who have helped further the mission of the AMGA and grow the mountain guiding and climbing instructors professions by providing outstanding support, through scholarships, sponsorship, product and donations. As an AMGA Partner for the past 19 years, Outdoor Research is one of the longest-continuing supporters of the AMGA.Â Additionally, OR has outfitted an untold number of guides and outdoor enthusiasts with reliable gear from head to foot, ensuring a quality experience in the mountains throughout the world.Â The company works closely with the “IFMGA Test Team”, comprised primarily of AMGA team members.Â These internationally certified guides utilize their expertise and knowledge to help Outdoor Research with product development by providing insight and feedback into the gear OR designs.

“I’m excited to present Outdoor Research this award,” says AMGA Executive Director, Betsy Winter. “Their significant and continued support of the AMGA highlights their commitment to professional mountain guides and climbing instructors in the United States.Â We would not be the organization we are today without support from companies such as Outdoor Research.”

The award presentation will take place Friday, August 3 at 9:30 am at the Outdoor Research booth.

About the American Mountain Guides Association
For over 30 years, the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) has inspired an exceptional client experience as the premier source for training, credentials, resource stewardship and services for professional mountain guides and climbing instructors in the United States. A national non-profit, the AMGA is committed to enhancing the quality of outdoor services provided to the public, while serving as a resource for accessing and protecting the natural environment. The AMGA is our nation’s exclusive representative to the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA), the international governing body responsible for guiding standards and education around the world. For more information please visit www.amga.com .

About Outdoor Research
Outdoor ResearchÂ® is Designed by AdventureÂ®. We provide Innovation and Inspiration for the Relentless Adventurer. We develop innovative, functional, bomb-proof products that are beautiful in their simplicity. We are inclusive, inviting anyone who shares our passion to join our community. We’re independent, letting us strive to provide the best value to our customers, not shareholders. We are committed to our core sports: Alpinism, Ice Climbing, Hiking, Paddling, Trail Running, and Backcountry and Sidecountry skiing. We’re a member of the outdoor community, and we listen to, value and empower each other and our fellow adventurers. We’re growing, both as a company and as individuals. And we’re having fun along the way.

For more information about Outdoor Research, go to www.outdoorresearch.com, or contact Dave Simpson via e-mail or phone: 307.734.0505.

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Next Stop Machame Hut

July 25, 2012

Machame Trail (Ken Maclaurin)

Group #3 for the summer seasons starts walking today.Â IMG Senior Guide, Max Bunce, is in the lead.Â Max guides for IMG during the summer season and on Everest each spring and often on Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu in the fall.Â Additionally, Max ski patrols at Crystal Mountain, in Washington State, during the winter.Â Oh yah, Max also has a Masterâ€™s Degree in Physics. Â Howâ€™s that for the resume of your lead guide on Kilimanjaro?

Hereâ€™s an email Max got off to us before the team headed out for Machame Camp.

â€œGreat day in Moshi. The group visited the bustling town of Moshi today and did the final packing for Kilimanjaro tomorrow. We first visited the Porter Assistance Program where learned about how they are helping the local porters with things like gear and minimum wages. Very educational and the group was very supportive. A few folks then got off the beaten track and visited a school in Moshi and even got a tour and met some local kids! The weather here is perfect and everyone is looking forward to a great climb.

Next stop Machame Hut at 10,000 feet!â€

Phil Ershler

Rifflehorn Anyone?

July 24, 2012

Members in the photo include John C., Cheryl H., and guide Margaret Wheeler. (Liz Smart)

We just received a report from guide Liz Smart on the Alps Classics Program. On Day 1 everyone summited the Rifflehorn during a rock training session.

The team rode the cograil train back down from the base of the Rifflehorn to town and will spend another night at their hotel in Zermatt. Tomorrow they head up to climb Pollux (4092m) and will stay overnight at the Val d’Ayas Hut on the border between Italy and Switzerland. It appears that conditions are good and the team is off to a good start!

George Dunn

Kili Team Off To Good Start

July 24, 2012

The latest Kili team. (Photo Max Bunce)

IMG Guide Max Bunce reports that all is well in Tanzania! The team arrived in good form with all their bags – just how we like it.Today they’ll take the day to sort gear, explore Moshi and just generally get their bearings, then its off to the Machame Gate tomorrow for the official start of their Kilimanjaro climb.

Tye Chapman

It Tastes Like Chicken…Sort Of

July 23, 2012

Machu Picchu

7/21 IMG guide Kelly Ryan reports that all is well as the Salkantay trek draws near completion.Â Kelly and two members hiked over the llacapata pass today. Kelly reported absolutely stunning views of where the team had come from, Salkantay, and where they were going, Machu Pichu, from a clearing near one of the Inca sites on the trail. They enjoyed the cool morning air on the climb up the old inca trail and saw large flocks of parrots, coffee and bannana farms, and great views. The rest of the team opted on a Â a slower morning and breakfast before heading Â on a shorter option out. The entire team will meet up again Â for lunch and the train ride to Aguas Calientes.

7/22 The group is all back safe and sound in Aguas Calientes and ready to say their goodbyes to their local lead guide in the morning. Â Two members and the guide got up early to catch the sun rise and climbÂ Machu Pichu Peak. They were the first ones to the top and had the summit to themselves for a while. The rest of the team headed up later and met up with the others for a great tour of Machu Picchu. The afternoon was spent checking out the markets and eating lunch in Aguas Calientes. One member tried guinea pig and reported it tastes like chicken…..sort of.

The team will be flying to Lima today, then connecting for flights back to the US.

What a great ending to a spectacular adventure!

George Dunn

Some Trekkers In Hot Water

July 20, 2012

Which way to the hot springs?

Kelly Ryan called to report that all is well in Peru. A nice day of trekking today brought the team to some proverbial crossroads.

Option A: Natural Hot Springs
Option B: Tough hike up the next pass.

It was a draw. No big deal, a few will hit the trail tomorrow while others hit the hot springs. Everybody wins!

Tye Chapman

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