Kili Team At First Camp

August 11, 2010

Andy's carrying a SPOT GPS Messenger - check out their location (Green Arrow)

IMG guide Andy Politz reports from Machame Camp that the Kili team had a good day today and everyone is doing well.Â Yesterday they organized their gear in Moshi and this morning headed up to the trailheadÂ in 4WD vehicles.

There was no rain today, but enough clouds to keep it cool and comfortable for them as they climbed from about 6000 feet up through the forest zone to the Machame camp at about 10,000 feet.Â After a good night rest, tomorrow they will head for Shira.Â So far so good!

Eric Simonson

Elbrus Summit!

August 10, 2010

Phil called in late last night/early this morning…

The old Priut Hut on Elbrus

10 of 12 customers on the summit today!Â Beautiful weather, warm, minimal amount of wind and good snow conditions made for a great climb.Â We have 1 more night at the hut at 13,400′ on the side of the mountain.Â We’ll be heading down to TerskolÂ tomorrow morning (Wednesday) for showers, clean clothes then one more day to tour the valley before we begin our flights home with an early morning departure from the town of Mineralney Vody to Moscow.

All is well!

-Phil

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Elbrus Update – Summit Attempt Tonight

August 9, 2010

Phil called in from Russia around 3:30am this morning (remember they’re +11 hours from us here on the west coast)

We had a good acclimatization hike today up about 1500ft. above the hut on Elbrus. The weather continues to be cooperative and we’re hopeful about a summit attempt tonight. So, our plan is to get up about midnight be walking about 1:AM on Tuesday the 10th. After the ascent we’ll come down and spend another night in the hut and then descend to Terskol on Wednesday morning. We’ll try to give you another update tomorrow on how we did, but as of now all signs look positive and we’re hopeful for a good climb early tomorrow morning. That’s it for now everybody’s still healthy, all’s good. Ciao.
Phil

Everest Ice Fall Video

August 7, 2010

Ted Fairhurst, a long time friend of IMG, shot this video in the Khumbu Ice Fall last year. Pretty cool stuff! IMG Guide Eben Reckord leading the way.

Shuksan Update

August 5, 2010

IMG Guide Mike Haft called in this afternoon to report that despite the lightning and some other wicked weather he and his team made the top of Mt. Shuksan! Everybody is down and off the mountain safely.

Tye Chapman

Lightning On Shuksan

Aug. 3, 2010

IMG Guide Mike Haft called in via SAT phone from Shuksan… all is well but they’re in between lightning storms at the moment. They’ve managed to stay dry but will hunker down in the tent tonight and see what the weather brings tomorrow…

Tye Chapman

Geo’s 500th Summit Video

August 2, 2010

SUMMIT! Geo Grabs #500

July 31, 2010

George Dunn on top of Little Tahoma early in his guiding career

I just spoke with Phil via SAT phone… At 6:10am this morning George Dunn, alongside his wife Nancy, his son Jeremy and his partners Eric Simonson and Phil Ershler (and Phil’s wife Sue), summited Mt. Rainier for the 500th time.Â Sounds like it was a tough climb with some decent winds, blowing snow and the occasional lightning strike – but not enough to stop the Dunn and IMG family.

SPOT Track their progress here.

They’re walking downhill now.

More later…

Tye Chapman

#500 Is Hopefully Hours Away

July 30, 2010

George, Nancy and a couple fellow climbers enjoying a hot drink and dinner at The Flats.

We got word from The Flats and the teams are doing just fine! It was a busy day on the mountain but a nice hot drink, dinner along with an extended nap will get them through summit day!

Back at Muir are George’s Partners Eric Simonson and Phil Ershler along with Phil’s wife Sue. They’ll wake up a touch earlier than George to catch up with him en route to #500.

Stay Tuned – or follow along via the SPOT Tracker.

Tye Chapman

Jason Reports In From Camp Muir

July 30, 2010

On the stoves: Tyler Gimenez and Dan Zokaites. Enjoying their hard work is George Dunn and a couple WNPF Climbers.

Jason Edwards is up at Camp Muir with one of our annual Washington National Parks Fund climbs is able to sneak out the occasional email and photo. Below is his dispatch from this morning.

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Good Morning!

Breakfast time in the Weatherport. Hotcakes, hash browns and bacon, and of
course hot coffee!

Next on our agenda, some snow-school training.

Great weather up here at Camp Muir today! More later…

Jason

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On the same schedule as Jason’s team is George’s crew (his wife Nancy and son Jeremy). They’ll head up to the Flats later today, but be joined by Eric Simonson, and Phil & Sue Ershler early in the morning who will be climbing from Muir. Getting closer to 500! Go Geo!

Follow along via the SPOT GPS Messenger George is carrying.

Tye Chapman