December 22, 2011
Casa de Piedra. (Photo by Phil Ershler)
Quick phone call this afternoon from the team at Casa Piedra, their second camp on the approach to Aconcagua base camp. A bit breezy the last couple of hours into camp but no problem. Everyone’s doing well.
They wanted everyone to know that dinner tonight was a tortellini with their homemade zucchini, onion and meat sauce. Plaza Argentina (base camp tomorrow.
Phil Ershler
December 22, 2011
Left to right: Mike Hamill (4x - 2008-2011), Justin Merle (4x - 2006, 2008-2010), Eric Simonson (1991), Tap Richards (2006), Phil Ershler (2x - 1984 & 2002), Heidi Richards (2006), Jason Edwards (2001), Ang Jangbu (1990), Eben Reckord (2010), George Dunn (1991), Greg Vernovage (2010). (Photo by Tye Chapman)
Last Thursday, in honor of Ang Jangbu being in the USA, we made some calls and invited a few folks over for a slice of pizza and a beer.
The result: a room filled with friends, family, loved ones as well as 11 IMG Guides representing 18 Everest summits. Pretty cool stuff!
Tye Chapman
December 22, 2011
Cerro Aconcagua. (Photo by Phil Ershler)
The first Aconcagua team for the 2011/12 season is on the trail. Guides Eben Reckord, Kelly Ryan and Martin Lucero met in Mendoza on December 17 to make final food purchases and organize gear. The team arrived on the 19th, did gear checks and then secured their permits the morning of the 20th, prior to heading towards the mountain and a place called Penitentes. One night there at the hotel and the approach began the morning of the 21st. They reached Pampas de las Lenas that day and spent their first night on the trail there. So far, so good. A relatively easy day for everyone.
They’re off so stay tuned. We’ll continue dispatches over the holidays as much as we are able.
Phil Ershler
December 21, 2011
25 Great Years...Thank You!
The years come and go so quickly anymore that we rarely get a chance to sit back and reflect on our past. And now, here we are with 25 years of it!
When we look back on the first days of IMG, we’re quick to notice that for the most part the mountains have stayed the same; it’s the business that surrounds them that has changed. A phone call and a handshake used to be the norm, now it’s FedEx, release forms and digital statements. We laugh at, and appreciate, all the envelopes we stuffed & mailed and chuckle at the volume of faxes sent and received from one hotel or another to keep things flowing. And it’s hard not to smile when thinking of the stash of cash we were once forced to travel with to pay our in-country support staff or the occasional bribe to get things done.
Nowadays we have our fancy website, instant emails flying from one country to the next, guides buzzing from one mountain to the other, pdfs, blogs, facebook, credit cards, invoices, sat phones, cell phones, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, GPS, not to mention twitter and iphones. But the long and short of it is this: climbing is still climbing and without putting one foot in front of the other there’s no reason to blog, chat, or make calls. Sure the gear has come a long way but in the end it still boils down to doing your physical homework and being mentally prepared for whatever climb you’re up against.
We’ve had the opportunity to get to know a lot of climbers over the years and take pride in all the memories in which we’ve played a part. Be it one of the summits from Mt. Rainier last summer or guiding Dick Bass up one of the Seven Summits – they all play their part in IMG’s growing history.
We’ll promise to keep up with this whole inter web thing but will continue to concentrate on what matters most: safety, summits and fun. The rest tends to take care of itself.
Happy Holidays & here’s to another 25 years!
George, Eric, Phil & Paul
December 20, 2011
Our view at lunch. Not a bad day at the office.
Last Friday we did our best (sorry you couldn’t make it Becky & Clarissa) to close the doors for our annual Christmas Party. This year, instead of the typical egg nog, cookies and white elephant gifts, we opted to head over the Crystal Mountain for a company ski day. Did I mention how much I love my job?
Moving on, we met up at 9:00am and after the obligatory ‘hellos’ and ‘nice to see yous’ we hit the slopes, some of us harder than others. The morning was spent skiing in small groups with our +1’s on a common denominator ski slope (Queens Run), but before long the ‘skiers’ in the group were itching for the steeper slopes and more challenging terrain.
Lunch was spent at the Summit House enjoying a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier.
Saturday was the typical day of soreness for the once a year skiers but the smiles the day before made it all worth it!
A sunny day skiing was a great way to start the Holiday Season!
Tye Chapman
December 15, 2011
Our first leopard sighting about 5 minutes after safari began. You can't miss. (Photo by Adam Angel).
There is more to a Kilimanjaro climb than simply standing on the roof of Africa.  No doubt the mountain is impressive, but there is also a vibrant and organic quality to the whole experience. In 2012 we are furthering the experience by hosting our own Private Safari Camps. There are many huge benefits to this unique bush experience. Settle in at night to the sound of distant wildlife, and wake up to birdsong. No noisy lodges! A great reward after a tough climb.
We choose the best places to set up our camps, and our support vehicles travel ahead of us to ready the site. When we arrive you’ll find a deluxe camp with comfortable beds, good linens, and en suite toilets. Hot showers are provided by the crew and all meals are freshly prepared by our chef.
We’ll experience the landscape as we journey through Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Our safari drivers really know the game habits and how to find the best viewing. We will continue to include of a beautiful one-way Serengeti flight. It is far easier and allows more time to see animals with less time wasted on rough roads.
Your Guides For 2012
We’ve got the best Kili guides in the business, and they really set us apart from the other programs out there. It is great to know that you have a real pro to help you have a safe, successful, and fun climb.
Jan15, Jan 27, & February 10* Â Craig John
June 24 & July 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eben Reckord
July 22 & Aug 3 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Max Bunce
Sep 9 & Sept 21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Meder
Dec 19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ang Jangbu Sherpa
*1 spot open for Feb. 10 departure. Due to rooming logistics this space is reserved for a male participant.
It’s incredibly rewarding to start the climb in a lush rainforest and climb into the Arctic conditions on the summit of Kili. Every day is a new experience and a dramatic contrast from the day before. Â That’s what we like so much about Kilimanjaro.
Adam Angel, IMG Senior Guide and Assistant Kili Director.
December 14, 2011
Our good friend & Nepalese partner, Ang Jangbu Sherpa, is here in the US visiting some friends & family and taking care of a little business along the way. Today he spent the morning with Eric Simonson and Greg Vernovage going over some of the details for the upcoming Everest season.
Ang Jangbu, Greg Vernovage and Eric Simonson going over details for Everest 2012
Later this week a lot of our guides who have spent time with Jangbu over the years will get together to swap stories and share some memories. The world gets smaller everyday.
Tye Chapman
December 13, 2011
Not a bad drive into work this morning!
Tye Chapman
December 9, 2011
Pico de Orizaba (Photo by Phil Ershler)
We just heard from our Mexico climbers. “Another perfect day. Not a breath of wind on the summit†was their quote. They’re now in the town of Tlachichuca with our service provider and hosts, the Reyes family. IMG has worked with Sr. Reyes and his sons since my first trip there in 1976.
This trip is done. The crew spends the night in Tlachichuca and heads back to Mexico City in the morning. Flights home are Sunday morning.
Stay tuned for more dispatches from our next Mexico expedition beginning February 4. Congratulations to Vicki, Bill, Deborah, Fernando and Greg.
Phil Ershler
December 8, 2011
Ixta Summit (Photo by Greg Vernovage)
Off to Orizaba. Â Another good looking day in front of us. Â Should have a full moon tonight.
Greg
