March 26, 2023
Phunuru, Max, and Pasang at the DOT getting the 2023 permit (Pasang Tshering)
Good news from Kathmandu, as our first team trekkers and climbers continue to arrive. Today IMG guides Max Bond and Phunuru went with our partner Pasang Tshering to the Department of Tourism to get the 2023 IMG Everest Expedition permit. The expedition team is now official!
Audrey Simonson
March 25, 2025
Good news, the weather cleared up and Sonam Dorje received our three sling loads of gear flown up from Thaksindu to Shyangboche. This is located above Namche Bazaar at 12,402 ft / 3,780 m. The loads were flown in by an AS350 B3 helicopter, which is commonly used in Nepal for flying to high elevations. Next up, Ang Passang will be transporting everything up to Base Camp by yaks in the next few days. Back in Kathmandu, more of our first team members have been arriving.  So far so good in Nepal!
Eric Simonson
Photo: Gear at Shyangboche (Sonam Dorje)
Photo: Heli with a sling load and Thamserku Peak in the distance. (Sonam Dorje)
Ang Jangbu reports that our first climbers and trekkers have begun to arrive in Kathmandu. Arriving at your destination, hopefully with your duffel bags, is a huge first step!
On the way to Thaksindu with the big truck (Kaji Sherpa)
Jangbu reports that the recent snowstorm in Khumbu also meant lots of rain in the foothills, which has turned the road to Thaksindu into slop. Yesterday our truck got stuck and had to get pulled by a tractor to reach the helipad. Classic! Apparently six Everest teams have now managed to get their gear to Thaksindu and tomorrow the helicopter sling loading up to Shyangboche will begin.
IMG Sherpas Ang Karma and Nima Sona managed to finish setting up the Sherpa kitchen today, and Ang Pasang and the rest of the Sherpas are heading up tomorrow. Higher up on Everest, the Icefall Doctors started establishing the climbing route, and have now reached the “Popcornâ€, which is about one third of the way up the Icefall. However, they have needed to stop for a few days due to the heavy snowfall.  So far so good on Everest!
Eric Simonson
Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that our team finished packing up all the food and equipment, and it is on the way to Everest! Yesterday the team loaded the big container truck which is now en route with head cook Kaji Sherpa, heading east to Thaksindu (the end of the road).  If the weather cooperates, the gear will be flown by helicopter sling load from Thaksindu up to Shyangboche (above Namche) in the next couple days.
Loading the container truck in Kathmandu (Phunuru Sherpa)
Up at Everest Base Camp our sherpas Ang Karma and Nima Sona report that there was recently a big snowstorm in the Khumbu and everything looks like winter! They have secured the campsite that was previously claimed by Sonam Dorje, and begun to set up tents. There is a lot of work to do building tent platforms in the rubble and ice of the moraine and setting up the big tents. The rest of our sherpa advance team will be joining them in the next couple days to complete the build out of Base Camp. So far so good at Mt Everest!
Eric Simonson
Building tent platforms at Everest Base Camp (Eric Simonson)
9 March, 2023
An Everest expedition starts long before the climbers and trekkers show up in Nepal, and our Sherpa team have now been working for several months on the preparations. In Kathmandu Ang Jangbu reports that they have now received our big initial food shipment. These items are now being repacked into loads and barrels. Next up will be sending this food along with other supplies and equipment by truck from Kathmandu east to Thaksindu (the end of the road). Then, it will all be airlifted by helicopter sling load to Shyangboche (above Namche).  We’re rolling now!
Everest food packing in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
The big food delivery arrives in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
March 3, 2023 – IMG guide Angie Diana reported that her team summited Mt. Washington last week. The team braved ~50 mph winds and cold conditions to reach the top. With abnormally icy conditions, they achieved their goal of practicing cramponing and testing the limits of their winter gear.
An IMG climber stands atop Mt Washington (Angie Diana)
It’s still winter in New England! The Mt. Washington Valley has seen over a foot of snow in the past week… custom programs are still available for this month!
Feb 24, 2023 –
Phunuru Sherpa reports the final day of safari was a good one! The team left Ndutu this morning and visited Olduvai Gorge and the Maasai village on the way to Ngorongoro Crater. They hit the jackpot shortly after arriving down in the Crater, when the rhino made a guest appearance, walking quite close to the vehicle (this is rare, as the rhinos are quite shy and are usually hard to get close to). Along the way they also saw a leopard, which is also quite difficult to spot since they are often in the trees! This makes the last of the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, cape buffalo, leopard) for the team to have seen. Now they are all settled into their luxury lodge for a final night in Tanzania. Tomorrow they’ll take an easy morning, then head back to Arusha for final shopping and packing, before heading to the airport. It sounds like it’s been a great trip, well done team!
The team with Ngorongoro Crater in the background (Phunuru Sherpa)
A rhino in Ngorongoro Crater (Phunuru Sherpa)
Dinner at the lodge (Phunuru Sherpa)
IMG climbers visit the Maasai village (Phunuru Sherpa)
February 23, 2023-
Phunuru checked in from Ndutu, in the shortgrass plains of the eastern Serengeti. This is where all the animals of the Migration (especially the Wildebeest and Zebra) come to give birth each year.  All total there are something like 2 million animals involved, and roaming the area are countless predators, who follow the herds waiting for such an abundance of food. Needless to say it is quite an amazing spectacle, reminiscent of what the Great Plains of the USA must have been like several hundred years ago with the herds of bison. Tomorrow the team will visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of many archeological discoveries. Then, they will go to Ngorongoro Crater, and take a nice game drive down to see the resident population of animals.  So far so good in Tanzania!
Eric Simonson
February 22, 2023-
Phunuru reports that the Kilimanjaro team departed from Moshi this morning and headed west to Arusha. After some shopping and lunch, it was time to head over to the domestic airport, and load up for the 45 minute flight to Seronera. Upon arrival in the central Serengeti, the team were met at the bush airstrip by their safari drivers with their vehicles, ready to start looking for critters. Apparently they were quite abundant, and Phunuru said they saw over 25 different animal species in a few hours, including lions and elephants.
Tonight the team is ensconced in a luxury tented camp, complete with a first class cook and camp crew and real beds under the canvas wall tents. The lodges are great, but there is nothing like being out on the Serengeti listening to the animals (with a camp guard nearby!). Tomorrow the team heads for the Ndutu area, the epicenter of the Migration.
Eric Simonson
February 21, 2023-
Phunuru reports the team had a smooth descent from Millennium Camp back down through the forest to the Mweka Gate today, and they have now returned to the hotel in Moshi. This evening they had a celebration dinner and are now looking forward to a nice well deserved sleep in a bed. Well done team! Tomorrow they depart in the morning for Arusha, from where they will be flying out to the Serengeti for three days of safari.Â
More fun to come!
