March 13, 2012
After a couple training days at HQ, our latest Denali Prep Seminar loaded up and headed into Mt. Rainier National Park this morning. The forecast doesn’t look much better than the past few days, but then again this is why folks come to Mt. Rainier in the winter to train for Denali!
Mt. Rainier Webcam - Jackson Visitor Center (National Park Service)
Tye Chapman
March 8, 2012
For all you Mt. Rainier junkies out there, here’s your fix for the day!
Mt. Rainier. (Photo by Dustin Balderach)
(Between me and you, we’re all just as addicted as you are.)
Tye Chapman
March 7, 2012
2012 Everest Expedition Coverage
For IMG, Everest season starts well before the flights to Kathmandu take off. IMG Partner & Everest Program Director, Eric Simonson, has been planning and orchestrating the 2012 season for several months, and as the season approaches things are starting to heat up…
For full coverage be sure to check out the 2012 Everest Expedition Coverage webpage.
Tye Chapman
March 6, 2012
This image came across my desk a couple weeks ago and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I thought of all the women on our guide staff. Tough ladies who know how to sew… and by sew I mean repairing tents in the field, fixing tears in backpacks and stitching up the occasional crampon puncture.
And while putting on a clean dress isn’t likely a daily routine – having a chalk-bag near by likely is.
Tye Chapman
March 5, 2012
All members returned to the US yesterday afternoon. Flights home are long – at least 2 legs in the 8-9 hour range. They’re tough but maybe they’re a good thing. We had time to catch up on sleep and time to reflect on the previous two weeks. I was fortunate to have a team of 12 very prepared, very strong, very motivated and very friendly climbers. They demonstrated all those attributes daily. From the moment we started the climb, I knew Sue and I would be shaking hands with each one of them on the summit. Even a summit day which brought perhaps 10 cm of snow and then stiff breezes all along the crater rim, did nothing to slow or deter even one of the team. Their strength, resolve and cooperation never wavered. What a team.
Kili Team on Safari (Photo: Phil Ershler)
Safari was simply a continuation of the teamwork on the mountain. We drove out to Ngorongoro because everyone wanted to see this part of the country at ‘ground level’. The good times simply continued right to the Crater. Beers en route, shopping and gin and tonics at the Crater kept the smiles coming. We were at the late end of the season and we got rain each night on safari but that only set us up for some great game viewing. The Crater was green and we saw pretty much everything. Olduvai Gorge, a Masaai Village stop and bumpy dirt roads put us in position to hopefully get good views of the migration. The wildebeest had been hanging up in the Serengeti later than normal because there hadn’t been enough rain. I was sweating it because we’d planned to stay in the Ndutu area to catch the migration. We had a long game drive planned for the next day. Wildebeest and cats were the goal. Olotu, one of our guides/drivers, asked me how many wildebeest I’d like to see that day. ‘Half a million’ was my response.
Wildebeest & calves (Photo: Phil Ershler)
We drove northwest through Ndutu for about an hour before coming upon one of the more amazing sights I have seen. Wildebeest and their calves, in lines, for miles. Olotu killed the engine on the stretch Land Cruiser as we started taking pictures. ‘Start counting’ was all he said. 500,000 wildebeest later, I quit counting.
Thanks to my team members for trusting IMG to put their trip together. I’ll be traveling with Dan, Meribeth, Jay, Cindy, Ann, Emily, Bill, Linda, Rick, Carly, Brett, Bonnie and Sue before long.
Phil Ershler
March 2, 2012
Phil & Co. wrapped up their last day of game viewing after spotting several cheetahs & lions along side several other predators who were all taking full advantage of the annual wildebeest calving season.
Safari's Current Location
Next stop for the team will be Arusha where they’ll have some time to shop around for some souvenirs and grab a bite to eat before a couple of long flights home.
Tye Chapman
February 29, 2012
Phil checked in to report that all is well on Safari. After some last minute shopping in Arusha, they made to the Ngorongoro Crater just in time for a gin & tonic at sunset.
Giraffes.
Though the official game viewing begins tomorrow they’ve already spotted storks, baboons, giraffes, monkeys and dik-diks (small antelope).
Tye Chapman
February 28, 2012
We just received our annual permit from the National Forest Service and are now happy to announce our 2012 Mt. Baker dates!
Mt. Baker
July 19-21, 2012
August 4-6, 2012
August 24-26, 2012
For more information please visit our Mt. Baker page.
IMG operates this program under permit in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
George Dunn
February 28, 2012
If the Big 5 were measured in height, the Giraffe would be a proud member.
Phil checked in this morning to report that the team has been fed and watered and are now anxious to get out and check out the Serengeti.
Among all the other animals, they’ll keep a close eye out for the Big 5: Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Lion, & Cape Buffalo. The Leopard and Rhino are the most elusive of the Big 5 but they’ve got a few days and a lot of eyes on the horizon.
Tye Chapman
February 27, 2012
Busy weekend for Phil & team on the slopes of Kilimanjaro!
Sunday saw the group arrive & into tents at Barafu Camp (15,000′), just ahead of afternoon snow showers. After some gear prep and a hot dinner, they snuck in a few winks before the 11pm wake up call. It was time to make the summit bid. A good amount of snow and wind added to the challenge, but despite the snowin’ and blowin’, the team hung in and got the job done – 100% on top.
Sunrise over Mawenzi on summit day
After taking in the nice views, the team descended to Mwecka camp at 10,000′, and enjoyed a hot meal and some well deserved rest. Tomorrow they’ll continue down the mountain, catch a ride back to the hotel and share in the celebratory dinner. Couldn’t have got better.
Becky Kjorvestad
