December 27, 2010
View of Kilimanjaro
Ang Jangbu called in via satellite phone this morning from Mweka Camp to report that the team had a good summit day, and all have descended to camp for the night. Tomorrow they will finish their descent and make their way back to the hotel for some much deserved R&R. We’ll look forward to hearing from them tomorrow!
Eric Simonson
December 25, 2010
While you enjoy your Christmas cocoa in front of your fireplace we’ve got lots of climbers out there enjoying some cocoa of their own around the stoves and in their tents.
Happy Holidays from all of us here at IMG!
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Aconcagua
Plaza Argentina
What would most people say to celebrating Christmas at base camp on Aconcagua, at 13,600 ft? It’s a place called Plaza Argentina. Most, I think, would say “that’s nutsâ€. But that’s exactly where our current Aconcagua crew was last night, with guides Eben Reckord and Kelly Ryan. And, they’re loving it. Probably no place they’d rather be. They’re ending this year by starting a big adventure. Pretty cool, huh? So far, so good.  Always a few headaches on arrival to a new and higher altitude but it’s all par for the course. Christmas day will be a rest day for the team. They’re wishing all of us and we’re wishing all of them a very Merry Christmas!
Phil Ershler
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Vinson
Greg on Christmas Morning en route to Vinson
One Vinson expedition for this season is now complete and another one is about to begin. Senior IMG Guide, Greg Vernovage, leaves Christmas morning to meet a new team of IMG climbers for an attempt on Vinson Massif. IMG Senior Guide, Aaron Mainer, will meet them on the Ice. It’ll be Aaron’s second trip of the season. What a great New Year’s resolution – climb Vinson Massif. Now that’s what we call a heck of a way to start off the new year.
The weather is slowly warming up in Antarctica but doesn’t mean that the team can’t still experience temperatures in the minus 20-30 degree F range. It’s all relative. Christmas in the air and New Year’s on the Ice. Fairly impressive stuff. I bet they’ll sneak a little wine or champagne into the food bags.
Phil Ershler
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Kilimanjaro
The Barranco Wall trail heading for Karanga is visible climbing from lower left to upper right.
Ang Jangbu reports by Thuraya satellite phone that the team had a good hike to Barranco yesterday, at 13000 feet.  En route, the trail took them to 14,500 feet, just below Lava Tower, where the team was snowed on! They took it nice and slow, with the long ascent and descent. Great acclimatization! Everyone is doing well.  Today they will be heading to Karanga, for another night at 13,000. Machame is a great route, what a prime acclimatization profile!
Eric Simonson
December 24, 2010
7 for 7
Lots of memorable events in 2010. That’s the case every year. One very special climb was the ascent of Mt. Everest with IMG by the father/son team of John and Ryan Dahlem. John was 67 at the time of the ascent. Their Seven Summit quest began with IMG about 10 years ago with a climb of Kilimanjaro. It ended a couple of days ago at the summit of Kosciusko. Probably no way we could be happier for them.
Phil Ershler
December 23, 2010
Shira Plateau Camp looking south over Shira Cathedral Peaks.
Ang Jangbu Sherpa reports that the Kili trip is going smoothly. After the hiccups at the beginning with the missing luggage (all but two of the missing team duffels from the travel chaos in Europe finally showed up just before their departure) the team had a nice hike yesterday up through the forest to Machame Camp (at about 10,000 feet). They had a little rain during the day (that is why the forest is so lush!) but later in the afternoon the skies cleared and they had nice views of Kili from the camp in the evening. Today the team took a nice slow 6 hour pace up to Shira Plateau (about 12,500 feet). During the afternoon the clouds came in, but there was no rain, and again it cleared up in the evening. Jangbu says everyone is doing well, with only a few minor headaches, which is good news. If there is one thing we have learned over the years, it is the importance of really taking it easy for the first few days, to ensure good acclimatization! Tomorrow the team climbs to 14,500 at Lava Tower, then drops down to 13,000 at Barranco Camp.
So far, so good!
Eric Simonson
December 22, 2010
IMG Lead Guide Eben Reckord called in via sat. phone from Pampa de Lenas at 1:32 pm PST. Eben reports that the team is together and that all is well! The temperature is ranging between 90-100 deg. F, but that’s not stopping them from participating in their tent clinic! Tomorrow they head out to Casa de Piedra, about a 9 mile hike to 10,000′ if you’re keeping track. We’ll keep you posted on their progress as they check in.  Eben and the Aconcagua team are using the SPOT Tracker – you can check their current location by clicking here.
Becky Kjorvestad, IMG Office
SPOT Location of Aconcagua Team
December 21, 2010
Ang Jangbu Sherpa reports that all members of the December IMG Kili team made it successfully to Moshi, no small feat given the travel disruptions in Europe right now with the heavy winter snow over there.  Unfortunately, several of their duffel bags got offloaded along the way, so today Jangbu and our Moshi agents sourced replacement equipment for those members and we have porters on standby to run their duffels up the hill to them when they arrive. After getting the gear checked and packed, the team visited the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (www.kiliporters.org) in Moshi, which IMG has supported for many years. Everyone is in good spirits and is ready to start the climb tomorrow morning. They will be climbing up through the forest tomorrow to Machame Camp at about 9800 feet. Jangbu says the weather has been pretty good lately, with only occasional rain. So far so good!
Eric Simonson
December 17, 2010
Little Tahoma
If you climbed Mt. Rainier with us via the DC or the Emmons, then you probably spent some time starring at, and taking pictures of, Little Tahoma or “Little T” as it’s commonly known.
And I bet you spent some time looking at it when the sun came up while you were on the upper mountain, and you probably spent a lot of time checking it out when you were descending from the summit.
Well, we think it’s time you climbed the thing! We’re happy to announce a new program inside Mt. Rainier National Park – check out our 3 day ascent of Washington’s 3rd tallest peak (right behind Rainier and Adams)! Small groups (4 climbers and 2 guides) make for a great program. Just a few dates available this year… Who’s up for a new challenge?
Tye Chapman
December 16, 2010
IMG Senior Guide Eben Reckord goes over his gear one last time before he takes off for Aconcagua for not 1, but 2 climbs!
Winter in the States means it’s climbing season in Argentina, and a busy one it will be for IMG.
Our first program starts next week and will be led by Eben Reckord and Kelly Ryan. Eben and Kelly will head down to Mendoza tomorrow, a couple days before the rest of the group, to get things in order. On the To Do List is to rendezvous with our friend Martin in Mendoza, sort gear, shop for food then meet the group on the 20th.
If all goes as planned they’ll spend Christmas at Plaza de Argentina (Base Camp), New Year’s Eve in a tent at Camp II and New Year’s Day en route to Camp III. No champagne for these guys but not a bad way to spend the holidays!
Eben will be carrying a SPOT tracker along the way so we’ll keep our eyes on how the team does and keep you posted.
Tye Chapman
December 14, 2010
Max Bunce
Q&A With IMG Guide Max Bunce
1.)Â Â Â Â Max, you were on our Cho Oyu Expedition (blog updates) and immediately followed that up with our Ama Dablam Expedition (blog updates)… How many consecutive days were you out of the country?
3 Months
2.)Â Â Â Â Being gone that long what did you find yourself missing the most?
My girlfriend, my family and my friends.
3.)    Three highlights from the trips that we wouldn’t expect to hear?
Getting worked up high. Gotta love it.  Playing cards with the group. We had some fiery folks and inevitably the games turned into yelling matches. Somehow this was fun…  Getting lots of reading done. I rarely get time to myself when I am home.  Between trips, I enjoyed hanging with a Thai rock climbing guide & drinking beer on the beach with a monkey named Harry (seriously). The long sleep after summiting Ama Dablam. I know that’s five.
4.)Â Â Â Â Worst meal you ate? What do you not want to see in front of you for awhile?
In Pangboche after summiting Ama Dablam we saw hamburgers on the menu. Naturally we all were very excited and ordered 8 of them. When they came we realized our mistake, apparently they take the ham part literally but since ham is not readily available they substituted Spam. This was by far the worst meal I have ever had!
5.)Â Â Â Â Favorite thing about Nepal?
The Sherpa.
6.)Â Â Â Â Favorite thing about Tibet?
The stillness of night with mountains looming overhead. It was surreal.
7.)Â Â Â Â Cho Oyu Expedition in one sentence?
Lots of snow.
8.)Â Â Â Â Ama Dablam Expedition in one sentence?
Steep ice and rock with amazing exposure.
9.)    Fill in the blank: I’m glad to be home because:
Being stuck in Lukla sucks! We were stuck there for 9 days on our way out.
10.) What do you want for Christmas?
A Kindle
11.) Did you get home in time for Thanksgiving?
Just in time. Probably the best holiday for me to come home to. Yum.
12.) Plans for the winter?
Ski patrol at Crystal. I had one week off, no rest for the weary.
December 13, 2010
Phil just called in at 11:00 a.m., P.S.T.
After days of waiting, the Bird is finally inbound to pick up the group from Union Glacier, and they should be in Punta Arenas tomorrow by 2:00 a.m. All’s well and the weather is holding. Everyone is hustling to change their flights home departing on the 14th or 15th.
Becky Kjorvestad, IMG Office
