September Kilimanjaro climbers are on their way

September 18, 2024

: Getting ready to hike at Machame Gate (Max Bond)

: Heading up into the forest from Machame Gate (Eric Simonson)

: Blue Monkey in a tree (Max Bond)

: The team at Machame Camp (Max Bond)

Max Bond checked in from Machame Camp to report that the team had a good first day on the trail. They departed the Hotel at 8am and drove up through the coffee, tea, and banana farms on the slopes of Kilimanjaro to the Machame village and Park entrance. While the team was checking in with the rangers and showing their permits, their Chagga guides Clemence and Mosses organized the porters with the loads which are checked by the rangers to ensure they are not too heavy. Then, it was a nice hike up through the forests of the lower slope of the mountain with good weather and some monkees along the way. The Machame Camp at about 9500ft is near to timberline, with a peekaboo view of the mountain through the trees. Everything is off to a good start and the team are doing well.

September Kilimanjaro team is ready to go!

September 17th, 2024

: The September Kili team in Moshi (Max Bond)

: Baskets and machetes at the market (Max Bond)

: At the market in Moshi (Max Bond)

: Kili team all together at the hotel (Max Bond)

IMG leader Max Bond reports from Moshi Tanzania that the Kilimanjaro team members have all arrived on schedule with their luggage. Yay! The team completed their gear checks this morning, then headed into Moshi town to check out the local scene.

After a tour of the town center with a visit to the local market and some shopping, it was back to the hotel for the final packing and weighing of the duffel bags, in preparation for the start of the climb in the morning. Everyone is doing well and are looking forward to hitting the trail tomorrow!

Manaslu Climbers reach Camp 2

: Camp 2 on Manaslu (Max Bond)

: Looking up from Camp 2 (Max Bond)

: Icefall below Camp 2 (Max Bond)

Sept 16, 2024 – Ang Jangbu reports that the team had a good climb up to Camp 2 (about 6400m; 21,000ft) today. The weather was clear above Camp 1 but all clouded in and wet below. The team did well and they were able to reach Camp 2 in about 4 hours, and will spend the night there. Depending on how everyone feels tomorrow, they will stay up for a second night or drop back to Base Camp. Tomorrow the IMG sherpas will be carrying a load of oxygen up to Camp 3. Meanwhile, the fixing sherpas are planning to fix above Camp 3 tomorrow.

Guides Take on the 3rd Annual Mt. Baker Clean Up!

September 15, 2024

Guides working together to pick up waste (Max Bond)

Max Bond and Brooke Auvil at Baker Clean Up (Max Bond)

Misty Morning on the North Side of Mt. Baker (Max Bond)

On Friday, IMG Guides Max Bond and Brooke Auvil headed up the the North Side of Mt. Baker for the 3rd Annual Guide Service Mt. Baker Clean Up. They teamed up with guides from several different guide services that also actively use Mt. Baker during the summer season to pick up garbage, human waste, and anything else that climbers have left that is not apart of the natural habitat.

The team reported that the two most common things they picked up were human waste (about 30 blue bags worth) and several sleeping bags and tents that had blown away off on to the glacier!

Thank you to all who organized, the US Forest Service for providing PPE, and to the guides who love giving back to these areas as much as we do!

Manaslu Climbers at Camp 1

September 15, 2024

: On the way to Camp 1 (Max Bond)

: On the way to Camp 1 (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Camp 1 on Manaslu (Phunuru Sherpa)

Phunuru reports that the weather was excellent today, enabling the team to climb up to 5900m for acclimatization, before returning to Camp 1 for a second night. Meanwhile, Chhiring and Mingma took loads up to Camp 2 today and dropped back to Camp 1. Tomorrow the plan is to move to Camp 2 for a couple nights up there. So far so good!

Manaslu Puja and Camp 1

September 14, 2024

: The whole team with the Lama (Phunuru)

: At the puja (Phunuru)

: Puja alter at Manaslu BC (Phunuru)

Phunuru reports that the Sherpas and members had their team puja this morning with the local Lama for good luck, before an early lunch and starting their first acclimatization rotation. The weather cleared up in the afternoon and Phunuru, Ang Karma and the climbers headed up Camp 1, taking about 4 hours to get there. Their plan is to spend two nights at C1 and then move up to C2 and spend a couple nights up there. Chhiring and Mingma Sona will come up to Camp 1 tomorrow, with the goal to get some loads pushed up to Camp 2 to support the team up there.

Manaslu Climbers enjoying Base Camp

September 12, 2024

Front row seats at Manaslu Base Camp (Phunuru)

Phunuru reports that our team is doing well and have been enjoying the Base Camp as they acclimatize to the 15,750 foot elevation. They are staying active with some climbing practice and hiking in preparation for their first trip up to Camp 1 (about 19,000 ft). So far so good!

2024-2025 Mt Vinson Expedition-Last Call!

September 9,2024

: The blue ice runway of Patriot Hills (Greg Vernovage)

: Vinson Camp 1 (Emily Johnson)

: Topping the headwall with Sue’s Pyramid in the background (IMG)

Join IMG’s Porter McMichael and team on Mt Vinson for an amazing trip to the top of Antarctica. We have one space available, plan to leave home the day after Christmas for the December 30 flight to the Ice. Scheduled return flight back to Punta on January 10. This is the trip of a lifetime! At 16,050 ft, the Vinson Massif is the highest peak on the Antarctic continent and one of the most unique of the Seven Summits.

Manaslu climbers arrive to Base Camp

September 8, 2024

Leaving Samagaon (Phunuru)

On the way to Manaslu Base Camp looking back down towards Samagaon (Phunuru)

Manaslu from just below Base Camp (Phunuru)

Welcome cake at Base Camp (Phunuru)

Phunuru and the team departed Samagaon this morning and ascended the trail up to Manaslu Base Camp, with some great views along the way! For the history buffs out there, this trail was significantly improved by Russell Brice back in the old days before Manaslu became so popular, and now it is an excellent route. Phunuru says the mountain conditions look good and the Base Camp does too. They were welcomed by their cook team who made them a special cake!

Manaslu climbers trek to Samdo

September 7, 2024

Manaslu area map

On the trek to Samdo (Phunuru)

Phunuru reports that the team did another acclimatization hike, this time heading up the valley towards Samdo (about 12,700 ft) and the Tibet Border. This is the trail to the Larkya La Pass, on the Manaslu circuit trek. After visiting Samdo the team returned to Samagaon (Sama). Depending on the weather, their plan is to take a rest day and then head up to Base Camp.