January 25, 2010
Add a Kilimanjaro Summit to the list of successes over the past few days!
IMG guides Eben Reckord and Ang Jangbu called to say the team had a nice climb, with everyone making the summit and descending back down to Mweka Camp. Sounds like the weather was pretty good. Tomorrow they will descend back to the trailhead, and then back down to Moshi for celebration. Congratulations, gang!
Off on Safari they go!
Eric Simonson
January 25, 2010
Aconcagua Update – Summit!
Summit! Ben called in yesterday to report that he and fellow IMG Guide Peter Anderson and 8 IMG climbers reached the summit of 22,840ft Aconcauga! Great conditions on the walk up made for a nice summit but a little weather on the way down made things a little more interesting yet uneventful. All is well. They plan on heading downhill to Plaza de Mulas today and will call in from there this afternoon. Nice work team!
Kilimanjaro Update – Summit Night
Eben and Jangbu called down yesterday to say the whole group has reached Barafu camp at 15,000 feet, and are doing well. On Saturday they trekked up the Barrancco Wall just below the southern glaciers to the Karanga Valley camp at about 13,000 feet, one of the most spectacular parts of the climb. Yesterday they climbed to the Barafu camp and are getting set for their midnight start, shooting to make the summit at dawn today (Monday). We’ll keep our fingers crossed on the weather and will keep you posted!
Ecuador Volcanoes – Cayambe
A busy couple days for the Ecuador team. After leaving San Augustin they’ve visited Romulo’s house for an authentic Ecuadorean meal then stopped by good friend, Jorge Anhalzer’s hacienda. Jorge is a famous Ecuadorean photographer who’s published many books over the years. After the team purchased some photos and books at Jorge’s they made their way to Cayambe…
Summit day on Cayambe was great! The team was strong and doing well until they reached the final crevasses before the summit. Unfortunately a few days before the snow bridges that had been used to cross the crevasses had collapsed which made reaching the summit impossible. They tried to end around the crevasses but there wasn’t a path the guides were comfortable with. So they turned around 150m short of the summit – strong enough to get there but the mountain wouldn’t let them. Needless to say they had a great time and have since visited the hot springs of Papallactas and are currnently in Quito.
Tye Chapman
January 22, 2010
Eben Reckord and Ang Jangbu called on the sat phone from Shira Plateau, a bit over 12,000 feet, to say that the group moved up to the Shira Camp yesterday, and are doing well. This expansive volcanic plateau on the southwest side of Kilimanjaro is a dramatic feature with big views, weird plants, and a feeling that the summit is finally getting within reach.
Today, the group will climb to 14,500 feet near Lava Tower, then drop down to Barancco Camp (about 13,000 feet). It is nice hiking above timberline, and great acclimatization for the higher altitudes ahead!
Eric Simonson
January 22, 2010
Phil called in today to say they’re on their way to climb Cayambe – where both the temperature and latitude are both 0. They spent the last couple nights at La Cienega (Pic 1 below) resting and getting ready for the next climb. On their off days they spent some time at the Sasquisili Market (Pic 2 below) and having a nice dinner at San Augustine (Pic 3 below).
One of the climbers on this trip, Mark Ursino, writes up some great reports and takes some great photos. He’s been checking in from a few of the stops and has some great details and photos from this trip. Check it out!
More after the climb of Cayambe…
Tye chapman
January 22, 2010
Ben called in again today to relay that they successfully carried to High Camp today and will take their well deserved rest day tomorrow to regain some energies and acclimatize a bit more before heading back up to High Camp. Once at HC they’ll wait for a solid weather window before taking a shot at the summit. Right now the weather is holding strong.
A couple more days like today and yesterday and they’ll get their chance!
More to come…
Tye Chapman
January 20, 2010
IMG Guide Ben Kurdt called in today after the team had pulled into Camp 2 for the night. The team continues to be strong and move efficiently. The weather today was “stellar” with not a breath of wind up high. They’ll either carry to C3 or enjoy a well deserved rest day tomorrow.
Tye Chapman
January 20, 2010
IMG guides Eben Reckord and Ang Jangbu called down from Machame Camp at 10,000 feet, and reported that the group did well today. Starting at the Hotel in Moshi, they traveled to the Machame Gate by jeep, at about 6,000 feet.
After their check in with the Kili Park rangers, they started the climb, ascending through the thick jungle of the lower slopes until they broke out of the forest at the camp, just in time to avoid an afternoon rain shower. So far so good!
Eric Simonson
January 19, 2010
IMG Guide Ben Kurdt called in yesterday to report that the team had successfully carried to Camp 1 and set up tents in some nasty weather. Good practice for everybody and everybody did great. Today they were scheduled to carry to Camp 2 also known as Helicopter Camp (17,800ft).
If all goes as planned they’ll move up to C2 tomorrow then relax and enjoy a well deserved rest day on Thursday.
The team is strong and doing well.
Tye Chapman
January 19, 2010
Phil called in late yesterday afternoon to report that the team had a a great training day on the lower slopes of Cotopaxi and even dropped off some things at the hut before heading back to the hacienda.
Summit night is tonight. They’ll head back up to the hut this morning, get situated, grab a bite to eat and try to get some sleep. Sleeping at 16,000ft is never easy but they’ll do their best to get some rest. An early morning start should get them to the summit a little after dawn.
More to come…
Tye Chapman
January 18, 2010
Phil called in from Ecuador over the weekend and reports that the team had a great acclimatization hike of Pasachoa. They left Quito nice and early and swung by “La Maltilde” for a great little breakfast. La Maltilde is owned by some of Phil’s close friends so they open the place up for us and serve a great breakfast. The team gets a chance to try many of the fruits and juices Ecuador has to offer.
After breakfast the team had a great day hiking 13,766ft Pasachoa. They wrapped up the day by staying at a hacienda near the mountain called Tierra del Volcan. Today they’ll head to Cotopaxi for some more acclimatization and a training review session. One more night at Tierra del Volcan and then it’s up to the hut on Cotopaxi for the summit attempt.
All is well in Ecuador!
Tye Chapman
