New Year On Safari

January 1, 2012

Mike Hamill made a final check-in today from Arusha. Â The gang had a great safari and saw lots of big game. Â Everyone’s headed home today with great memories, stories and pictures. Â A couple of long flights home and it’s a wrap. Â Once again everybody, nice job.

Now it’s time to kick off another successful year on Kilimanjaro! Â Craig John will be heading over in a couple of weeks to lead our next climbs. Â There is still one spot left for a male climber on our February 10 departure, don’t wait until 2013!

Happy New Year,
Adam Angel

Happy New Year

December 31, 2011

One last blog post this year – straight from Phil to the IMG staff. I thought it would be a nice way to end the year on the IMG Blog. Enjoy!

The sun setting on High Camp on Aconcagua. (Photo by Tye Chapman)

Hey, spoke with Eben and Greg late this afternoon.Â All is well to end the year.Â Greg is at C1 with his crew on Vinson and Eben at high camp on Aconcagua.Â Weather excellent in both locations.Â Eben should head for the summit in the morning and Greg is taking a rest at C1 on Vinson.Â A good way to end the year.

Phil

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Tye Chapman

Flight To The Ice Is A “Go”

December 29, 2011

Flight deck of an IL 76 (Photo: Phil Ershler)

Greg emailed to let us know that the team got the call early this morning that flight conditions looked good and that they were heading for the airport.Â That puts them right on schedule.Â With luck, they may even get to Vinson base this evening.

So, allâ€™s good on the Ice.

Phil Ershler

Kili Team Flying to Serengeti

December 29, 2011

Mike Hamill just checked in from Arusha.Â Last night the whole team celebrated their achievements on the mountain with a huge dinner and toasts all around.Â Today they are flying to Serengeti to begin safari.Â Time for some well deserved R&R.Â They’ll ring in the New Year from the Rim of Ngorongoro Crater, 11 hours before we do the same here on the West Coast.

Adam Angel

IMG Team arriving at the airstrip near the Seronera River, Serengeti. (Photo by Nichole Linhardt)

Aconcagua Team Checks In From C2

December 28, 2011

Ameghino Saddle (Photo: Phil Ershler)

Another great call just 5 minutes ago from the team at C2.

The move went well.Â Weather remains good and the team has been performing well.Â Forecast for the next few days is also positive.Â The chess game begins.Â Trick is to put themselves in the right place at the right time to take advantage of any openings mother nature provides.

So far, they are doing just that.

Phil Ershler

Vinson Team Standing By, Ready To Fly

December 28, 2011

IL 76 (Photo: Phil Ershler)

The second Vinson trip for the season has officially begun.

IMG guide, Greg Vernovage, and crew are in Punta getting ready to head to the Ice.Â ALE, the flight service, conducted a briefing this morning for all climbers flying to Vinson.Â Final prep/packing followed and the team will have their gear picked up shortly at the hotel and taken to the airport to be loaded on the plane.Â Then, the team stays on ready alert until flight conditions are a go and they head to the airport.Â Could be tonight but more likely sometime tomorrow.Â Weather has to be right for this close to 2000 mile flight.

Stay tuned.Â Weâ€™ll keep everyone updated.

Phil Ershler

Aconcagua Team Carries To C2

December 27, 2011

A carry day and a move day is very typically for an expedition climb like Denali or Aconcagua.Â It allows the team to move the needed supplies up to the next higher camp and it allows the team time to acclimate.Â No matter how fit or experienced the climber, they still need time for the body to adjust to the higher altitudes.Â No way to shortcut this process.

Eben called today, the 27^th, to say that the team had completed the carry to C2 and was back at C1 for the night.Â He reports weather holding and the team continuing to perform well.Â Just the sort of news we want to hear.

Phil Ershler

Rocks of Aconcagua (Photo: Phil Ershler)

Kili Team Summits!

December 26. 2011

Mike Hamill just called from the summit, Uhuru Point, at 8:25 AM Kili time.Â Congratulations Team!Â They are beginning their descent, and should be back at high camp in about 4 hours.Â From there, they’ll continue to descend into the thick air of their forest camp at 10,000′.Â Nice work everyone!

Adam Angel

Kilimanjaro's Crater Rim. Uhuru Point in the upper right hand corner. (Photo by Adam Angel)

Christmas Greetings From Argentina

December 26, 2011

Merry Christmas from Aconcagua. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

After a big carry day on Christmas to C1, the team wanted to take the opportunity to send Christmas greetings and a photo from base camp.

Theyâ€™re on the move again today, the 26^th, heading for C1 at 16,000 ft.

Phil Ershler

Kili Team at High Camp

December 26, 2011

Mike Hamill just called in with an update from Barafu.Â Everyone is content and bedded down for a few hours of rest before the big effort.Â If they time it just right (which we usually do) they’ll step onto the crater rim as the sun peeks over the horizon tomorrow morning.Â We’ll keep you up to date here on the blog when we get our next report from Mike.Â Have a great climb team!

Adam Angel

IMG Kili Team high on the mountain. (Photo by Adam Angel)