Snowcaves, Anchors and More

February 18, 2011

Tibloc ratchet. (Photo by Paul Mangiafico)

Aaron Mainer called in from Camp Muir this morning to report that all is well. The team had a great day of skills training yesterday (cramponing, fixed line, ice axe arrest, etc.) and took a walk up to AAA Gully to check out the conditions – WINDY!

Later in the afternoon, back near Camp Muir,Â they dug a good sized snowcave. Several of the team members slept in it overnight; a touch cold but otherwise perfect.

Today, they’ll focus on crevasse rescue skills and anchors which they didn’t quite get to yesterday.

Downhill to Paradise tomorrow. Sounds like they’re having a heck of a time up there.

Tye Chapman

Winter Seminar Reaches Camp Muir

February 17, 2011

Camp Muir.

Yesterday our Rainier Winter Seminar made their way to Camp Muir, which as you might know, is not a given in the winter. They left their first camp near Panarama Point yesterday morning, and at times waded through some deep snow in sustained 30mph winds before pulling into Camp Muir in the early afternoon. Not an easy day.

After some calories, hot drinks and a good nights sleep they awoke to a beautiful & bright morning with light winds – a perfect day for some anchor training as well as some crevasse rescue training.

Going higher on the mountain in the winter is always a tough call, but the guides will continue to evaluate the terrain and explore any possibilities of checking out the upper mountain later this week.

Tye Chapman

Late Word From Mendoza

February 16, 2011

A view up the valley at Aconcagua after the long walk out.

We received late word from Mike Hamill down in Argentina that the team has safely arrived back in Mendoza after their 18-mile hike out and long drive to the hotel. Some late night showers and beds are calling some tired climbers!

Tomorrow, if they don’t have to sprint back home, they’ll enjoy a well deserved celebration dinner.

That’s all for now.

Tye Chapman

Orizaba Team Poised For Summit Attempt

February 16, 2011

Orizaba from a distance. (Photo by Phil Ershler)

More good news from Mexico… Phil reports that the weather is holding nicely for the crew. They enjoyed a nice acclimatization hike today and some training above the hut.

They’re currently hydrating, loading up with some calories and going through their gear one last time.Â About 12 hours, round trip, on summit day is what it should take.

We’ll know more tomorrow when Phil calls in.

Stay tuned.

Tye Chapman

Orizaba Team at Piedra Grande

February 15, 2011

Phil called from Piedra Grande on Orizaba this morning.Â The team is doing well after spending a spectacular night at their camp in the forest.Â The weather was perfect.Â Theyâ€™ll spend tonight at Piedra Grande and tomorrow they will continue to train and acclimatize.Â The team is feeling great and continuing to let their bodies adjust to the altitude.Â Theyâ€™re on schedule and will continue to prepare for their Thursday morning attempt of Orizaba!

IMG Office

Orizaba (Photo: Mike Heritage)

Aconcagua Team Summits!

February 14, 2011

Hamill called in to report the team had a great summit day and are all are safely back in camp. A couple team members made the tough decision to hang at High Camp while the rest of the crew went for the summit. Never an easy decision.

One more night at High Camp tonight then it’s down to Plaza de Mulas tomorrow and then just 18 more miles to the van. +/- 48hrs and they’re back in Mendoza.

Well done everybody!

Tye Chapman

P.S. Hamill asked us to pass along a “big Happy Valentines Day to all the our loved ones back home”.

Aconcagua Team At High Camp

February 13, 2011

Hamill called in this afternoon to report that the team made the move to High Camp today in some relatively high winds. The forecast shows the winds slowing down a bit this evening into tomorrow, so they’re planning a summit attempt early tomorrow morning. Wind or not, it’ll be a cold one!

Everybody is doing just fine and all will give it a go tomorrow.

Tye Chapman

Aconcagua Team Hunkered Down At C2

February 12, 2011

Hamill called in today to report that the team is hunkered down at C2 after carrying to High Camp yesterday. They took a “weather rest day” today and are optimistic the storm will die down tomorrow. If the storm dies down they’ll make the move to HC tomorrow and summit on Monday,Â weather permitting.

Time will tell.

Tye Chapman

Big Mountains; Tough Decisions

February 11, 2011

A nice view from Camp 2.

Light snow and wind didnâ€™t keep the team from heading up to C2.Â Two team members decided that discretion was the better part of valor and decided it made more sense to head down.Â Always a super tough decision but an important lesson learned on the big mountains is that you have to listen to your gut.Â Sometimes itâ€™s just not smart to push.

Martin Lucero headed down with the folks and theyâ€™ll be home soon.Â For the others, itâ€™s a matter of continuing to take care of themselves and keep putting one foot in front of the other.Â We canâ€™t say it enough â€“ Aconcagua is a big mountain.Â 7000 meters is high.Â Thereâ€™s nothing easy about climbing Aconcagua.Â Keep wishing the team luck and good weather.

Phil Ershler

Chimborazo: An Elusive Summit

February 10, 2011

Chimborazo (Photo by Jorge Anhalzer)

Chimborazo keeps proving to be a tough mountain.Â For the last week, weâ€™ve had an old friend and IMG customer attempting to climb Chimborazo in Ecuador.Â Heâ€™s been climbing with our Ecuadorian partner and guide extraordinaire, Romulo Cardenas, and IMG Senior Guide and Everest climber, Andy Politz.Â After a careful series of acclimatization hikes/climbs, the team established a high camp above a feature called the Castle, but deep snow and continuing bad weather made a summit impossible.Â The guys retreated and grabbed a consolation objective yesterday with a trip up Ruminauhui.Â They’re be back in Quito and begin the journey home today.

Phil Ershler