Inca Trail Trekkers Acclimatizing in Cusco

August 22, 2025

Exploring the Saqsaywaman ruins (Michel Henostroza)

The goal for our team is to reach Machu Picchu after four days of trekking via the famous Inca Trail, the traditional route to the citadel. The permits for the Inca Trail trek route are strictly controlled to prevent overcrowding. But, before the team can start, they need to get a few days of acclimatization under their belt!

The red roofs of Cusco seen from the Coricancha Temple (Eric Simonson)

Cusco is a fascinating city to spend a few days exploring, and 11,000 feet makes it a perfect acclimatization venue. Lead guide Michel Henostroza reports the team had a nice day visiting the classic Inca sites in the area.

: Plaza de Armas in central Cusco (Eric Simonson)

: Intricate stonework in Cusco (Eric Simonson)

Next up, for tomorrow, the team travels to the Sacred Valley which was the heart of the Inca Empire. At a slightly lower altitude it will give the team another good acclimatization opportunity, while the visit more interesting archeological sites. All’s well in Peru!

Lead Guides for Denali/McKinley 2026!

August 15, 2025

Alaska season is coming fast, and we want to make sure you meet IMG Denali’s 2026 West Buttress Expedition Leaders! Spots are going fast- be sure to secure your spot on their rope teams before they run out!

Forrest Baldwin, May 12th Team Lead

Forrest has been guiding with IMG for eight seasons in Washington and Alaska. Prior to joining the IMG team, he worked as a USFS Hotshot based out of Missoula, Montana. In the winter, Forrest works as a Professional Ski Patroller at Crystal Mountain Resort where he is an on-hill Supervisor and the primary trainer of Cudi, one of the mountain’s five avalanche search dogs. Forrest is a licensed EMT at both the national and state levels and holds his AAA Pro 1 certification.

Brad Swanson, May 16th Team Lead

Although Brad is in his fifth year with IMG, he is rounding out his eleventh season working as a mountain guide across the American West with is true passion being in Washington’s North Cascades. Brad spends his winters working as a Professional Ski Patroller at Crystal Mountain Resort. At Crystal, Brad leads the patrol’s technical rescue program and works as the Assistant Avalanche Forecaster. Brad maintains his Outdoor Emergency Care certification through the National Ski Patrol and holds his AAA Pro 1 certification.

Timm Phillips, May 20th Team Lead

Timm is in his seventh season guiding for IMG in the Cascades, the Alaska Range, and internationally. Timm spends much of his winter season working as a ski guide in Japan and leading avalanche safety courses in California before making his yearly migration north. When not in the mountains, you can find him surfing waves around the world. Timm maintains his AAA Pro 2.

Max Bond, May 24th Team Lead

Max has been guiding with IMG for five out of his seven years as a mountain guide! Max has led five successful expeditions to Nepal’s highest peaks, two to the summit of Vinson in Antarctica, and two to the summit of Kilimanjaro on top of full-time Washington/Alaska seasons! Max is an AIARE Course Leader, and in his spare time he leads wilderness medicine courses and loves to tackle new split-boarding objectives! On top of his baseline certifications, Max holds an AAA Pro 2 certification.

Inca Trail/Machu Picchu Team Arrives in Cusco

August 20, 2025

Machu Picchu team hits Cusco (Michel Henostroza)

Good news, everyone made it to Cusco, Peru with all their luggage. That’s how we like to start a trip! Our Peruvian guide Michel Henostroza met everyone and they are all checked in at the hotel. They’ll head out later for a stroll and some dinner. It’s their first day at 11,000, so we’ll be reminding everyone to go slowly and keep drinking water!

The Huayhuash Trek Is A Wrap!

August 18, 2025

The Huayhuash team on the last morning of the trek at Jahaucocha (Tyler Nachand)

IMG lead guide Tyler Nachand and our six stalwart trekkers finished up their circumnavigation of the Huayhuash Range in northern Peru, managing to cross all eight high passes on this classic high altitude trek.

: Huayhuash map

: Final camp of the trek on the shores of Laguna Jahaucocha (Tyler Nachand)

Yesterday was their final day of hiking, starting at the Jahaucocha camp (13,300 ft) and finishing up at the trailhead at Pampa Llamac (10,600 ft). Then, they drove back to Huaraz for the night and final goodbyes to our local guide Michel Henostroza and his top-notch support team. Big thanks to all of them. This morning the team are on their way back to Lima for their flights home.

The view on the descent down to the last camp at Jahaucocha (Tyler Nachand)

Well done, team!!

Huayhuash Trekkers Closing the Loop

August 15, 2025

The team at the Three Lakes viewpoint (Tyler Nachand)

The Huayhuash trekkers did another big pass yesterday, and are now about 75% of the way around their circumnavigation of the Huayhuash range in northern Peru. The day started with a big climb up over the San Antonio pass (16,400 ft) before dropping down into the Callinca Valley and the village of Huayllapa (11,500 ft) where they enjoyed the low altitude! From here Tyler was able to get some cell phone reception and managed to send out a handful of spectacular photos from the past week of trekking. What a gorgeous trek!!

: Departing Caruacocha Camp with Yerupaja and the Huayhuash range (Tyler Nachand)

: Evening alpenglow at Huayhuash camp (Tyler Nachand)

: The team at 16,600 ft Paso Trapecio (Tyler Nachand)

Today the team will depart Huayllapa and ascend to Punta Tapush, at 15,645 ft, and then descend to tonight’s camp at Gashpapampa (14,840 ft). All’s well in Peru!

Huayhuash Trekkers Break 16K

August 13, 2025

The Huayhuash Range above Lagoon Carhuacocha (John Hodder)

Tyler reports that today was another spectacular pass crossing for the team. Starting from their 14,100 ft camp on the north side of the range, the team ascended to the Paso Trapecio (16,400 ft) before descending to the Huanacpatay Valley and the Elefante Camp (14,800′). They have now crossed over to the south side, so they are about half way through the trek. If you like rugged high altitude hiking with incredible views and fantastic support, you would love this trip!

The teams donkeys in camp at Lagoon Carhuacocha (John Hodder)

Huayhuash Trekkers Cross Siula Pass

August 12, 2025

IMG Huayhuash trekkers at the 3 Lakes viewpoint near Siula Pass (Tyler Nachand)

Tyler checked in via Iridium satellite phone overnight to report that everyone is doing well and enjoying the great meals being prepared by cook Jacinto. Today the team will cross Siula Pass (15,750 ft) which is one of the higher passes on the trek. From up on the pass they get a great view of the Three Lakes Valley and the spectacular peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash, before dropping down to the next camp at about 14,000 ft. All is well in Peru!

Huayhuash Trekkers Are On Their Way!

August 11, 2025

The team at Lago Churup (Tyler Nachand)

Over the weekend our Peru Huayhuash trekkers wrapped up their acclimatization, and have now started the trek. On Friday the team tagged the 15,000 ft Lago (Lake) Churup, for their final day of acclimatization. Then, on Saturday, the team drove to the trailhead at 13,600 ft Cuartelwayin for their first night of camping, ready to begin their 8-day circumnavigation of the Cordillera Huayhuash. On Sunday the team hit the trail, first climbing to the spectacular Paso CCaccananpunta (yes, spelled correctly!), at 15,400′. Then, the team descended 3 hours towards Lagoon Mitucocha; where they set up camp at 13,940′.

En route to camp near Laguna Mitucocha (John Hodder)

Over the next 8 days the team will cross eight passes over 15,000 feet. In addition to IMG guide Tyler, they are accompanied by our Peruvian Guide Michel, our cook, and several mule drivers. Everyone is doing well and the weather has been excellent.

Another Great Day of Acclimatization in Peru!

August 8, 2025

Great views of the Cordillera Blanca (Tyler Nachand)

The Huayhuash trek is high and strenuous, so we plan several days of acclimatization hiking in the Huaraz area before traveling to the start of the trek. IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports that the team had another very nice hike yesterday up to the Laguna Radian, with beautiful views of the Cordillera Blanca. The high point was 13,6000 feet, before descending back down to Huaraz for another night at 10,000. The team went out to a local restaurant for dinner and everyone is doing well!

Tyler and the team at Laguna Radian

Huayhuash Trekkers Acclimatize In Huaraz

August 7, 2025

Huayhuash Trekkers get a great view of where they are headed (Tyler Nachand)

IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports that the Peru team were happy to make it to the mountains! The town of Huaraz (10,000 ft) will be their base camp for the next several days as they do some acclimatization hiking to prepare for the trek. Today they hiked up to the Laguna Wilcacocha above town to stretch their legs.

Laguna Wilcacocha is a nice acclimatization hike (Tyler Nachand)

The team had lunch at a small cabin owned by our Peruvian guide Maximo and got some great views of the Cordillera Huayhuash from the viewpoint.

All’s well in Peru!