2011 Camp Patriot Climb

July 1, 2011

Camp Patriot Climb

If you haven’t heard of Camp Patriot then it’s time you read up on what a great organization it is…

Camp Patriot exists to take Disabled U.S. Veterans on outdoor adventures. The task is monumental. Today, there are over 2.3 million disabled veterans in the U.S.

These brave veterans sacrificed much in order to ensure our safety and freedom. All of these veterans had dreams about the future, but many of those dreams were lost due to injuries suffered in the line of duty. Outdoor activities that they hoped to do in the future have vanished due to their disability. We want to thank these veterans by showing them that with the right help, they can again enjoy the great outdoors. (www.camppatriot.org)

Every year the Camp Patriot organization puts together a climb of Mt. Rainier and IMG is happy to, once again, assist with some much needed gear and resources for their climb.

This year’s climb features these courageous veterans:

Derrick James Ford, below knee amputee from Afghanistan
Eric Andrew Cowin, below knee amputee from Iraq
Gilbert “Mag” Magallanes, Brain, hand, internal, and eye injuries from Afghanistan and Gulf War.

This year the celebration kicks off with a fundraiser hosted by the Seattle Seahawks on July 9th. Tickets are just $100 and all proceeds go directly to Camp Patriot.

Go get’em guys!

Saturday, July 9th:
Travel day. Team members arrive at Sea/Tac.
1:30p â€“ Team checks in at Marriot in Seattle.
3:00p â€“ Team drives to Seattle Seahawks office and Qwest Field for private stadium tour and photo op.
5:45p â€“ Team assembles in private Club Suite at Qwest Field for pre-climb banquet.
6:00p â€“ Remaining climb and support team members arrive at Qwest Field for dinner with guest speaker (TBD)
9:00p â€“ Return to hotel.
Sunday, July 10th:
Team departs Seattle, 8:00a, and travels to the town of Ashford, at the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. Once in Ashford, the team will check, organize, and pack all necessary individual and group gear. Team meeting discussing on mountain schedule for next four days. Spend night camping in Ashford. Rooms for Vets are available in Ashford compliments of Whittakerâ€Ÿs Bunkhouse.
Monday, July 11th:
Depart Ashford, 8:00a and drive to Paradise Visitors Center at 5,400â€Ÿ on the south side of Mt. Rainier. Team checks final loads and begins the 4.5 mile hike up Muir Snowfield to Camp Muir at 10,080â€Ÿ. Establish camp and spend night on the Cowlitz Glacier.
Tuesday, July 12th:
Training day on the Cowlitz Glacier and around Camp Muir. Team will cover basic climbing techniques and prepare for a mid-night departure for a summit attempt. Second night on Cowlitz Glacier at Camp Muir.
Wednesday, July 13th:
Summit attempt via Disappointment Clever route. Third night at Camp Muir.
Thursday, July 14th:
Descend in the A.M. from Camp Muir to Paradise. Drive to Ashford for post climb BBQ and celebration. Spend night in Ashford.

All Set At 14,000ft.

June 30, 2011

The view from 14 camp towards the West Buttress (Photo by Peter Spagnoli)

Greg Vernovage and crew made a â€˜back carryâ€™ today, picking up their cache at 13,500â€™.Â That means that all members and all their group supplies are now at 14,000 ft., aka Genet Basin.Â Nice.

Tomorrow is a big day.Â They will take their first shot at the fixed ropes heading up to the West Buttress itself.Â Somewhere on the Buttress, theyâ€™ll make a cache.Â Hereâ€™s hoping the weather gods smile on them tomorrow.

Phil Ershler

Rock Avalanche On Nisqually Glacier

June 30, 2011

Weâ€™ve been closely observing the rock/ice fall coming Â down the Nisqually Glacier the past week. The word from the experts is that it is not volcanic or seismic in origin. The probable cause is the natural erosion of the volcano, at a spot that has weakened significantly in the exposed layers of volcanic strata high up on the Nisqually Cleaver (Ridge). Rock fall from the steep exposed part of the ridge occurred at least three times, and entrained large amounts of snow and ice with it as it fell.

Nisqually Rock & Icefall. (Photo by Philip Reiff)

So far, the furthest extent of the flow of this material down the glacier is to Â an elevation of approximately 7600 feet. Below that the glacier flattens out significantly. Our groups are taking a conservative crossing point on the lower glacier right now, at about 6,000 feet in elevation and approximately one mile in distance from the lowest activity. We will continue to observe activity on the glacier and have an alternate route available if necessary to avoid the Nisqually Glacier completely.

The Nisqually Glacier is a contained drainage and all activity is confined to this area. It does not affect our ascent of the Muir Snowfield to Camp Muir or the KautzÂ Route or Fuhrer Finger Route once we have gained the other side of the lower Nisqually Glacier.

George Dunn

Denali Team At Genet Basin

June 29, 2011

Camp at 14,000 ft. with Mt. Hunter in the background. (Photo by Peter Spagnoli)

Spoke with Greg Vernovage this evening.Â The team moved into camp today at 14,000 ft.Â Itâ€™s often called Genet Basin.Â Nice part was that there were minimal winds around Windy Corner the day they carried and also today during the move.Â Tomorrowâ€™s an easy day.Â The crew walks down for less than an hour to their 13,500 ft. cache.Â That gets dug up and carried back to the 14K camp.Â Sort of an â€˜active restâ€™ day.Â Bottom line is that all is good.

Weâ€™ll likely hear from Greg again tomorrow and will keep everyone up to date with the news.

Phil Ershler

IMG All Over Mt. Rainier

June 29, 2011

Busy week on Mt. Rainier

Fuhrer Finger (Philip Reiff)

Fuhrer Finger
Mark Allen & Co. summitted a couple days ago and are off the mountain safely. Our next Finger trip started today. For those of you with some climbing experience you should check this climb out! Small team (6 total) and on a non-standard route – pretty sweet experience on Mt. Rainier!

Kautz
Our Kautz team, led by Justin Merle, is moving into position for a possible summit attempt tomorrow.

Emmons
The Emmons team was shutdown by weather yesterday but all is well as they make their way off the mountain today.

Glacier Skills Seminar
Eben Reckord & Karl Rigrish are leading our 6.5 day Glacier Skills Seminar. They’ve spent the past few days on the lower Paradise Glacier training and will make the move to Camp Muir tomorrow for the climbing portion of the program. They’ll be joined by IMG Guides Austin Shannon and Chris Meder.

Disappointment Cleaver
And Erica Engle will take our DC team from Camp Muir to the Ingraham Flats today. Weather permitting they’ll climb late tonight into the morning.

Lots of work to be done…

Denali Teams Hanging Tight In Camp

June 27, 2011

West Buttress Route

Greg Vernovage called in from 11,000ft on Denali where he and his team continue to wait on improving weather. High winds and heavy snowfall were reported on the upper mountain. IMG Guides Mike Hamill, Ty Gimenez & Aaron Mainer are up at 14K Camp hanging tight as well.

Everybody is doing fine; avoiding boredom is their biggest obstacle at the moment.

George Dunn

A Safari Wraps Things Up

June 26, 2011

Cheetahs on the Serengeti. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

IMG guide Eric Remza reports that yesterday the Kili team finished up their safari, and is now headed home.Â After flying out to Seronera, they had three days of excellent wildlife viewing as they made their way across Serengeti National Park to Ndutu, then via Olduvai gorge to Ngorongoro Crater, and finally back to Arusha. After a final repacking and meal, it was off to the airport for the flights home.

Congrats to the team, and welcome home!

Eric

Denali Team At 11,000

June 26, 2011

Spoke with Greg Vernovage today.Â Another super productive day on the hill.Â The team moved up to the 11,000 ft. camp and are ensconced there now.

They even had enough time to drop down after getting camp organized and picked up their cache at 10,400 ft.Â That means all members and all gear/food/fuel are at 11K.Â Thatâ€™s a nice milestone.

Weather is a bit iffy.Â If things clear, the group will make a carry up past Windy Corner tomorrow, the 26^th.Â If not, theyâ€™ll hang at 11 and enjoy a forced rest day.Â Either works just fine.

Very good progress, so far.

Phil Ershler

Good Weather For IMG Denali Team

June 25, 2011

Denali

IMG Senior Guide, Greg Vernovage, reported in yesterday from Denali.Â The group carried from the confluence of the main and northeast folks of the Kahiltna Glacier up to about 10,400 ft.Â After dropping their cache, they returned to the confluence.Â Next move is up to 11,000 ft., returning the next day to pick up the cache at 10,400 ft.Â Weather, according to Greg, is â€œsplitterâ€. Â That means really good.Â Pretty much perfect for anything.

IMG partners with Alaska Mountaineering School for our trips to Denali.Â Theyâ€™re good friends and hold a concession contract to operate on Denali.Â Many of our guides climb for AMS during the Denali season.Â Great to be partnering with such a good company.

Phil Ershler

JanSport DC Team Summits!

June 24th, 2011

Congrats go out the the JanSport Disappointment Cleaver team who tagged the top of Mt. Rainier a day after the Emmons team! George Dunn led the group to the top (his second summit this week by the way) late this morning in cold and windy condition.Â “Gore-tex pants and puffy jackets from the tent to the top!” said George from the crater rim!

We’ll get everybody back here to Ashford late this afternoon and head down to the Highlander for the JanSport Party – the highlight of any JanSport climb!

Tye Chapman

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