January 18, 2010
IMG Guide Ben Kurdt called in to relay that the team is doing well and enjoyed their acclimatization time at Base Camp, but now it’s time to get to work.
They pulled into Base Camp on the 15th and enjoyed a full rest day on the 16th and planned to carry to Camp 1 yesterday and move to Camp 1 today.
The weather is good and the team sends “hugs and kisses” to everyone back home.
Aconcagua Itinerary (subject to change)
Tye Chapman
January 18,2010
IMG guides Eben Reckord and Ang Jangbu Sherpa arrived in Tanzania over the weekend and were awaiting the Kili Team’s arrival.
The group was scheduled to have a free day yesterday to get organized, visit the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project, shake off some jet lag, and get their bearings in Africa. After porter loads were weighed it was back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep to prepare for an early departure this morning to the Machame Gates to start the climb.
Eric Simonson
January 15, 2010
Phil Ershler called in today from Ecuador – one of his favorite trips!
The team all showed up on time and with all of their gear, which is half the battle! Now the adventure can really begin. Today they’ll be doing some urban acclimatization. Quito sits at nearly 10,000ft so going for a walk there is a little different than most cities. Heck the stairs in the hotel can be quite the obstacle the first day!
Tomorrow they plan on checking out the Saturday market in Otavalo. This is one of the best markets in Ecuador. Folks from all over converge on this small town at a crossroads to take care of their everyday business.
They’ll return to Quito tomorrow afternoon for the final preparations. Breakfast on Sunday will be in the countryside at a beautiful and unique restaurant owned by some friends. The team will then do an acclimatization climb of Pasochoa. The night will be spent at a small hacienda called Tiera del Volcan. It’s at about 12,000 ft. making it a great place for the team to continue to acclimatize.
More to come…
Tye Chapman
Operations Manager
January 14, 2010
IMG Guide Ben Kurdt just called in from the trail on Day 2 of the trek to Aconcagua Base Camp… The team just wrapped upa picninc lunch in between Pampa de Lenas and Casa de Piedra. The weather is good and everyone is feeling great. If the clouds stay at bay they’ll get a glimpse of the mountain later today. All is well!
Tye Chapman
Operations Manager
January 14, 2010
Getting all team members to the right city, at the right time and with all their luggage might be the toughest part of an expedition. Our first Aconcagua trip for the season got close. Everyone made it and right on time. We only lost 2 pieces of luggage. Good thing is that lots of stuff is available to buy in Mendoza so it was only a small hurdle. Permits were purchased, gear checks started and a nice first night spent in the city of Mendoza. A big steak dinner with red wine at one of the numerous sidewalk cafes is always a nice way to begin a trip.
A few hours drive the next morning in our private transportation took the crew to the base of the mountain, a place called Penitentes. It’s a ski area during the winter (our summer) season. Packing now consisted of getting everything into ‘mule sized’ loads and ready for the approach hike to begin the following morning. That was yesterday morning. Each of the 3 day approach will be about 10 linear miles. We’ll keep you posted as we get reports in regarding progress. And as we always say, ‘no news is good news’. They’re all off and running.
Phil Ershler
January 11, 2010
As soon as I get one dispatch completed, my partner, George, calls again from the Patriot Hills. Seems as though the meteorologist likes what he’s seeing and the plan now is for the IL 76 to arrive at 80 degrees south at 2:15 am on the morning of the 12th. Sweet!. By the time the crew gets back to South America, to the hotel, showered and cleaned it, it’s going to be too late to fly home on the 12th but that’s not such a bad thing. They’ll be able to relax, enjoy dinner together tomorrow evening and then start the trek home on the 13th.
This brings to conclusion another incredible season on the Ice. 100% on the summit. 16 customers and guides on top! Best of all is that everyone was able to climb safely and hopefully had some fun in the process. so, this wraps up our ‘coverage’ until November 2010.
Phil
January 11, 2010
Just spoke with George down at 80 degrees south. Amazing what you can do with technology these days. Weather is nice at the Patriot Hills. The trick is for the meteorologist working for ALE to ‘predict’ when the weather window looks like it’s going to hold. And, it needs to hold long enough to get people in Punta rounded up and to the airport there. Maybe a couple of hours. Then another 4 for the flight and a couple of hours ‘on deck’ at the Patriot Hills, getting the new crew off loaded and those flying north on board with luggage. Probably as much art as science but ALE does a good job. Short answer is that they’re not quite there yet. And this is a great example of the old adage, “when in doubt, don’tâ€. A great Denali bush pilot named Doug Geeting had that plastered on his Cessna 185. Makes a ton of sense.
So, it’s more card playing and more hot drinks. But that’s easy with already have climbed Vinson Massif. We’ll let you know when it’s wheels up.
Phil
January 11, 2010
Vinson leader, George Dunn, called in Sunday, Jan 10, and reported that while weather was quite good, winds weren’t quite low enough to bring in the IL 76. The ice runway at Patriot Hills runs pretty much east/west. To fly in or out, we need a combination of reasonable visibility, reasonably low winds and not too much snow on the runway. We’re close,but when it comes to safety, close isn’t quite good enough. The flight service, ALE, is quite conservative and rightfully so. They have decades of experience at running a safe operation in Antarctica and we know they’ll pull the trigger when conditions are right. George reported that the team is perfectly content snacking, having a hot drink and playing cards. They’re waiting for good flying weather inside a big WeatherPort tent with a floor, stove, water melt system and heater. Tables and chairs complete the picture.
Of course the team is anxious to get home to family and friends but they’re safe, successful and patient. They’ve taken care of the things they could control and got up and down Vinson without a scratch. Now it’s time to enjoy the wait and let mother nature tell them when it’s time to fly.
They’ll get out soon and we’ll let you know when it happens. I just wonder who’s winning the card game??
Phil Ershler
January 8, 2010
Must be beginner’s luck but, regardless, George and his crew are certainly having a run of good luck. After a 100% successful summit, they were able to descend to Vinson base camp on the 7th in good weather. And there was no stopping there. An hour flight and everyone was back at the Patriot Hills. The game is pretty much over. Now, it’s all up to ALE, the flight service, to get the gang off the Ice and back to Punta Arenas. They certainly have done a great job for IMG this year. Our November climb was in and out within 24 hours of schedule. If the good luck continues, the team will be flying north on the 10th. And ALE is hoping to make flights to and off the Ice even more predictable next year. The Patriot Hills camp is being moved to the Union Glacier. The ice runway at that location is orientated more north/south which everyone expects to make the flying easier. This new development has us excited about next season’s Vinson programs.
We’ll post one final blog for the Vinson season when George, Eric, Helena and crew head to Punta aboard ALE’s IL76. George and team made Vinson look easy. It’s not. A little luck combined with lots of planning and good people just made it look that way. Super, super job!!
Phil Ershler
January 7, 2010
Everest: Beyond the Limit Episode 1 »
First Summit: Everest gives up it’s first summit of the season, and takes its first victim.
Everest: Beyond the Limit Episode 2 »
Impossible Dream: After a knee injury ended his football career, John Golden overcomes a disability to attempt the highest goal on earth.
Everest: Beyond the Limit Episode 3 »
Deadly Countdown: Astronaut Scott Parazynski attempts to be the first spacewalker on the summit of Everest.
Everest: Beyond the Limit Episode 4 »
Death Zone Gridlock: Three weeks into the busiest season ever on Everest, climbers crowd the slopes. When a hundred climbers attempt to summit, a traffic jam in the death zone puts all of their lives at risk.
Everest: Beyond the Limit Episode 5 »
One Last Breath: A violent weather front threatens to slam the door on the climbing season, giving Russell Brice 5 days to get his weakest climbers to the summit and back.Â
