Updates From Nepal

October 15, 2011

: Hiking back down to Namche from the small airstrip at Syangboche .

: As you emerge from the forests, you start to see the snowy peaks. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

Eben Reckord reports that the Annapurna/Chulu team is in Timrung, and have had some very nice trekking along the way.Â Last night they were in Tal, with a big waterfall nearby.Â Now they are starting climb out of the deep valley and are starting to see the nearby peaks.Â They were able to call with the CDMA cell phone (sporadic service in the area).Â Only issue was that one member broke a toothâ€”they were hoping to find a dentist in Chame tomorrow.Â Other than that everyone is doing well. Eben said it was bit cloudy today but no rain.

Justin Merle called from Namche, and he says everyone is doing well. The team had a nice day today, getting used to the altitude and seeing the sights.Â They went to the weekly market in the morning and then went to the Sherpa Museum in the afternoon. Â Tomorrow they plan to do an acclimatization hike up to the nearby Sherpa villages of Kumjung and Kunde to visit the Hillary school and hospital and also the bakery!Â Today the team joined Lobuche climbers Greg and David in celebrating their 62nd birthdays.Â Way to go, you guys

Eric Simonson

Picture Perfect In Bhutan

October 14, 2011

Phil called in this morning at 6:50 a.m. Pacific time via sat phone from Chomolhari Base Camp.Â The trekkers enjoyed another great day, weather continues to be perfect.Â Everyoneâ€™s doing well, walking strong, and eating way too much.Â Tomorrow will be an active rest day with a few hours wrapped in hiking, then they’ll spend a 2^nd night back at Chomolhari BC.Â All is well.

The team celebrated yesterday with a toast to Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and his new Queen, Jetsun Pema, as they were wed yesterday.

Good times all around!

Becky Kjorvestad

All Is Well In Bhutan

October 13, 2011

Chomolhari

Phil called in today to report that his team is doing well in Bhutan. They’ve completed Day 2 of the trek – a 14 mile day putting them in Thang Thangka (~11,000ft). Tomorrow they’ll make their way to Chomolhari Base Camp which sits at 13,400ft where they’ll spend two nights.

Great weather & beautiful views – a trekkers dream.

Tye Chapman

Annapurna Trekkers Hit The Trail

October 13, 2011

: First day of Annapurna Trek. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

: First camp on Annapurna Trek. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

IMG guide Eben Reckord and our sirdar Lobsang Sherpa called in to report that the team had a good day on the trail today.Â They have now successfully reached Shyange, and they have a nice camp set up down by the river.Â Eben said everyone is healthy and had a great day.

Eric Simonson

First Stop – Phakding

October 13, 2011

2011 EBC, Lobuche & Ama Dablam teams (Photo by Ang Jangbu)

Crossing the bridge into Phakding. (Photo by Tye Chapman)

Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that the whole Everest Trek / Lobuche / Ama Dablam crew successfully flew in to Lukla this morning (about 9000 feet).

Their goal today is the small village of Phakding (about 8500 feet).Â This is always one of my favorite campsâ€”nice and peaceful down by the river, on the other side of the first big suspension bridge. After travelling halfway around the world, dragging duffels through airports, and dodging traffic in Kathmandu, when you get to Phakding, you know you are finally in the Himalayas on the trek to Mt Everest!

Eric Simonson

Annapurna Trekkers & Chulu Climbers On Their Way

October 12, 2011

: Loading the bus. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

: Annapurna & Chulu team. (Photo by Ang Jangbu)

IMG leader Eben Reckord reports that the Annapurna/Chulu team departed Kathmandu on schedule this morning.Â With Eben and assistant guide Charlotte Austin we have five Annapurna trekkers (David, Jacqueline, Laura, Rebecca, Beth) and four Chulu climbers (Joe, Fredrick, Joseph, James).Â From Kathmandu the team drove on the Pohkara road towards the west, a beautiful drive through central Nepal.Â When they reached the Marsyangdi River Valley, they turned to the north, to Besisahar.Â Then, from there, the road has been extended a bit further to Bulbule, which is now the trailhead.Â Finally, a couple hours of trekking took them to Ngadi, where the Sherpa team was waiting for them.

Since cell phones are now sporadically working in the Annapurna area (as far as Manang), Eben was able to send a photo from Besisahar.Â Weâ€™ll look forward to receiving some more photos and following the teamsâ€™ progress over the next three weeks, as they tackle the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek and Chulu Peak.

Eric Simonson

Shishapangma Team Grabs Cho Oyu Summit

October 12, 2011

Sunrise over Everest, from summit of Cho Oyu. (Photo by Danuru Sherpa)

Congrats to IMG Leader Mike Hamill, Vanessa, Al, Danuru, and Karma Rita for a successful Cho Oyu climb.Â They are the last team on the hill, literally, as all other expeditions have now departed the mountain.Â Mike said the climbers were super strong and acclimatized after previously climbing Shishapangma, and they decided to start from Camp 2, since the weather was looking good. In fact, Mike said the conditions were excellent, the best of any of his five Cho Oyu summits.Â They left Camp 2 at about 1am and reached the top a little before 8am, and were back to Camp 2 by 10am, which is a really fast time. After brewing up at Camp 2 and having a good rest, they continued their descent, and have now made it all the way down to ABC!Â On the way down the group managed to get all the Camp 2 gear down to Camp 1.

This afternoon the sherpas started dismantling the ABC Camp, with the big dining tent coming down and gear getting packed into yak loads.Â Mike and the climbers get a well-deserved rest and packing day tomorrow, and we have three Tibetan porters going back up to bring down the last loads from Camp 1Â We also have 17 yaks that will be arriving at ABC tomorrow, and a jeep and truck ordered for the next day to meet the team at the trailhead.

Eric Simonson

Bhutan Trekkers Arrive In Paro

October 10, 2011

The news from IMG Partner Phil Ershler is that the Bhutan Trekkers arrived in Paro safe and sound, all luggage accounted for.Â After checking in to the hotel, they were greeted by sunshine while they met with the owner of Bhutan Nomad, our partner in Bhutan.

Tomorrow the group will take in some sightseeing in Paro, highlighting the famous 17th century Taktsang Monestary (Tiger’s Nest), located in the cliffside overlooking the Paro valley.

Becky Kjorvestad

: Hotel in Paro, Bhutan (Photo by W.M. Holbrook)

: Rinpung Dzong, Paro (photo by W.M. Holbrook)

: Cantilever Bridge to Rinpung Dzong (Photo by W.M. Holbrook)

Autumn Nepal Teams Getting Ready To Start

October 10, 2011

Kathmandu Valley

Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that most of the team members for our EBC Trek/Lobuche/Ama Dablam and also the Annapurna/Chulu groups have now arrived to Kathmandu.Â Tomorrow, both teams will have their official â€œWelcome Dinnerâ€, the traditional kickoff for our IMG Nepal trips.Â In the meantime, the guides are doing equipment checks and making sure everyone is all set for the beginning of the trips.

Today, Justin Merle and Peter Anderson (IMG guides for the EBC/Lobuche/Ama Dablam trip) did their briefing at the Ministry of Tourism this afternoon and got our Ama Dablam climbing permit. Â The team also has their Lobuche Peak climbing permit and trek permits, so they are all ready to fly to Lukla early morning on October 13th.

IMG guides Eben Reckord (just off Kilimanjaro, via a few days on the beach in Zanzibar!) and Charlotte Austin have also arrived to Kathmandu and are getting their team all set for the Annapurna Trek and Chulu Peak climb.Â We have also procured the Chulu and Annapurna trek permits today, and the Chulu/Annapurna sherpas will leave tomorrow morning for Bulbule, one day ahead of the group. We also have porters coming from Pokhara tomorrow to meet the sherpas at Besisahar. Â The sherpas will have camp set up and ready when the group arrives next day.

Eric Simonson

Shishapangma Climbers Heading Back Up Cho Oyu

October 10, 2011

IMG leader Mike Hamill, along with Vanessa, Al, Danuru and Karma Rita, left for Camp 1 this morning.Â Their plan is to go to Camp 2 tomorrow and try for the summit on the 12th.Â Â We are watching the jet stream closely; right now it is holding just to the north of the Himalayas.Â Â If all goes according to plan, we have the yaks ordered for the 13th, which should get the team back to Kathmandu on the 15^th.

Eric Simonson

Forecast for Friday 10-14 showing the jet stream (in meters/second) moving back over the Nepal Himalaya.