IMG Bhutan Trip Ends a Success

October 21, 2009

This time we got an email from IMG Bhutan leader, Mike Hamill. He said that everyoneâ€™s now in Thimpu, Bhutan’s capital city, and that all is well. Shopping and sightseeing are the order of the day prior to driving back to Paro. The only airport in country is in Paro and flights out are typically earlier in the morning so itâ€™s just easier to spend the night there prior to heading for Bangkok.

They did it. 14 days on the trail and everyone came through without a scratch. Bhutanâ€™s a special country, perhaps the most exotic travel destination in the world. If IMG goes back in 2010, donâ€™t miss it. No one comes home unchanged.

Thanks to all our team members: Kim and John, Michael and Eboli, Sam and Sasha, Jean and Chuck. And remember, ‘gross national happiness.’

â€”Phil Ershler

Interested in exploring Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness yourself? Click for all the detailsÂ Â»

25th Anniversary of Phil Ershler’s first Everest Summit

October 20, 2009

Today marks 25 years since Phil Ershler made the first American ascent of the North Face of Everest. His first Everest summit was achieved in a solo climb where his one and only oxygen bottle ran out on the upper mountain. He went on to the top, descended safely, and did it in 1984 when going to Everest was a bit like going to the moon.

Phil was on the cutting edge of high altitude mountaineering in those days. He led Bass and Well’s ’83 Everest trip, reached the summit of Kangchenjunga from the North in ’89, climbed to within a few hundred feet of the summit of K2 in ’90 w/o O2 (via the remote North Ridge). As members of several of those early American teams that ventured to the Himalayas, we remember clearly what it was like back then: no other teams on the mountain, no fixed ropes unless we put them in ourselves, noÂ sherpas, noÂ tourists, noÂ satÂ phones, noÂ rescue, noÂ nothing!

In the years that followed those exploits, Phil has continued to distinguish himself as a remarkable mountain guide, who has personally led well over a hundred expeditions around the world and inspired a whole generation of guides and customers. All of us who have climbed and worked with him are continually amazed by his perseverance, good humor, even keel, and great judgment. He is a real asset for us here at IMG. Way to go, Phil!

â€”Eric Simonson and George Dunn

Read the full story and see more photos on Phil Ershler’s 25th Everest Anniversary PageÂ Â»

IMG Bhutan Team Enjoying Himalayan Hot Springs

October 19, 2009

I talked to Mike late last evening, which means morning in Bhutan on the 19th.Â They’d just finished breakfast and were ready to leave for their final day of trekking.Â Last night was spent in Gaza (9750′) and included a soak in the hot springs there.Â They visited a large monastery in Gaza before dropping down to the hot springs .Â Other than the occasional blister, the team has done well. Perfect weather since getting soaked the first couple of days on the trail.

They’re heading now to Damji at about 7500′.Â One last night in a tent and they’ll be driving for Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, on the 20th.Â No real need for a shower as they got clean at the Gaza hot spring.Â They’ll likely take one regardless at the Hotel Druk.

Phil Ershler

IMG Climbers Summit Lobuche Peak, Nepal

October 19, 2009

Justin Merle called on the sat phone to say the climbers successfully climbed Lobuche.Â He reports that the snow conditions were excellent up high and the weather has been good.Â They used about 400m of fixed rope going up to the ridge and had a nice summit day.

IMG climbers on upper Lobuche (photo: Justin Merle)

Now they have now descended down to Dingboche for a couple rest days before moving up to Ama Dablam BC.

Eric Simonson

IMG Bhutan Team in Laya at 12,600′

October 15, 2009

Another big day for the team trekking through Bhutan, and another very successful day.Â Up and over Sinche La at 16,400 feet and now in the village of Laya .Â Weather remains perfect with no signs of changing.Â The group has just walked back about 100 years in time.Â At 12,600 feet, Laya is a very special place.Â The women have a unique way of dressing and will show off their unique dances tomorrow evening for the team around a bonfire.

Two nights in Laya with a full day of rest now for the crew.Â There’s a school in town, and Iâ€™m sure the team will pay a visit tomorrow. The group will be talking about this part of the trek for a long time.

And most importantly, everyone is doing well.Â Strong and no major problems with the altitude.Â That’s huge.Â The hot springs of Gasa are now only a few days away.

Phil Ershler

IMG Bhutan Team at 13,900′

October 13, 2009

Talked to IMG lead guide, Mike Hamill yesterday. Weather has improved and all are doing well. No altitude issues and the team is handing the rigors of the trek well.

Yesterday would have been a long day, reaching the village of Shomuthang at about 13,900 ft.Â Next couple of days will again be about 8 hours of walking. They’ll be heading for Robluthang at 13,600 ft today and going over Jari La at just under 16,000 ft to get there. The views never cease to amaze. So far, so good.

Phil Ershler

IMG Himalayan Team in Dingboche, Nepal

October 13, 2009

IMG Leader Justin Merle reports from Dingboche that the team is doing well.Â Today they are enjoying a rest day, with some day hikes, the last internet contact for a few days, and hot showers.

Dingboche in the snow (photo: Justin Merle)

The weather has been normal for the autumn trekking season, with sunny mornings for the most part, and afternoon clouds.Â The climbers have packed the Lobuche climbing gear to be taken straight to Lobuche BC, where they will head after the trip to Everest Base Camp. Tomorrow they head up the big hill of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, to Lobuche village.Â So far, so good!

Eric Simonson

Ama Dablam Update

October 10, 2009

IMG Leader Justin Merle reports from Namche Bazaar that everyone arrived yesterday in good shape.Â Today they visited the weekly market and did some acclimatization hiking.Â Everything is going well and the team expects to move up the valley tomorrow to Tengboche monastery.

Looking down at the village of Khumjung just below Namche Bazaar

Eric Simonson

Cho Oyu Wrap-up

October 10, 2009

One final wrap-up for all you Cho Oyu fans… below is a summary written by IMG Cho Oyu Guide Greg Vernovage

——-

What an expedition! This yearâ€™s team was quite diverse which made for a great time at camp. We had all corners of the glove covered including:Â Poland, Singapore, Germany, Greece, Nepal, Tibet, and the United States, truly international. I am proud of the group for having the ability to come together as a team; it was quite easy for them.

Weâ€™ve all left Kathmandu for our respective cities with lots of stories to tell. What a climb â€“ from the first day in Kathmandu to our arrival at Base Camp and on up to the different camps â€“ we worked hard but had fun too.Â Summit day was amazing, we arrived on the summit just before dawn which made for a chili summit photo but it didnâ€™t matter we were on top of an 8000m peak and the worldâ€™s 6th tallest mountain!

Heading downhill to camp Congratulations to this yearâ€™s team:

From Poland, Renata, who is as strong a climber as I have had the honor to watch on the mountain.Â She was patient and had a great climb.

Rafal, also from Poland, excelled on Summit day along with his Sherpa, Da Nuru. Rumor is out that they may have ran across the summit plateau!

Mayk from Germany, who I have now had the pleasure of climbing 3 mountains with – reaching the summit of all three â€“ and great weather on each nonetheless! Denali, Vinson and now Cho Oyu!

Sandhosh, from Singapore.Â Where to start here, congratulations on your 1st 8,000-meter peak.Â Well done sir!

Jim, USA.Â Congratulations!Â You did it!Â Jim, like all of us, had good days and challenging days and the result was that he overcame everything and was a GREAT teammate in the process.Â A big thank you for being such a great teammate and lugging those cameras around.

Tasia, Greece.Â The FIRST GREEK WOMAN to summit an 8,000-meter peak.Â Congratulations to Tasia and the Athenian Alpine Club.Â I cannot say enough about how positive Tasia was throughout the entire trip.Â She earned every step of that 8,201 meter Mountain.
Congratulations to the entire team, I had a great time and the weather held on and gave us a perfect window.Â Thanks to everyone who helped make that night and morning such a success.

We worked hard but our summits would not be possible without our Sherpa and Tibetan climbing staff!Â Having this strength by my side everyday gave me added confidence which I appreciate!

Newang and Kato were our Tibetan Climbers; they did a fine job helping with the high camps.

Kaji and Rinzing, The best cooks you could ever find.Â Thank you for keeping us going at ABC!

Ang Pasang -Â Thank you for coordinating all the logistics from the ground! Couldnâ€™t have done it without you.

Mingma Dorjee, No load too heavy and never without a smile.Â One of the best Sherpa around!

Mingma Tenjing, 5 Everest Summits & 5 Cho Oyu summits.Â Strong and fast.Â Together with Da Nuru, they carried a load from ABC to Camp 3 and returned in under 7:30 hours.Â THAT is moving.

Da Nuru Sherpa, 11 Everest Summits-10 Cho Oyu Summits.Â The strongest climber and Sherpa I have had the honor of climbing with.Â His achievements are too great to list.

To all of the Cho Oyu Summitters, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Greg

Summit Cake by Kaji and Renzing

Kilimanjaro Expedition is a Wrap

October 10, 2009

It’s a wrap, in this case a Kilimanjaro wrap.Â The final group of the fall season is on their way home.Â Everyone had a fantastic time on safari. Within four hours of touching down in the Serengeti, they’d seen giraffes, leopard and cheetah.Â Just before dusk, they watched close up as two lions took down a cape buffalo. In fact, one of the lions ran right past the Land Cruisers to get it!
photo: Adam Angel
Reports from the team are that camps and lodges were outstanding. Drivers Emmanuel and Simba were first rate, and no one got eaten. I think we have some pretty excited and pretty satisfied climbers.Â Well done, gang.

Want some Kili bragging rights and lion near-misses of your own?

Phil Ershler

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