January 9, 2023
IMG Ecuador team above Quito (Romulo Cardenas)
Our January Ecuador team has all arrived in Quito successfully. The team spent their day touring around the city visiting local museums and churches including La Basilica Del Voto Nacional. In the next few days, the teams will continue their trip with acclimatization hikes of Fuya Fuya and Imbabura before starting their attempt on Cayambe.
For more updates follow along on IMG’s blog or social media!
Audrey Simonson
Jan 6, 2023 – Senior Guide Jonathan Schrock called to report that Aconcagua Team 2 reached Camp 2 today. Tonight the team will rest at the nearly 18,000ft camp, resting and acclimatizing for the days ahead. Jonathan reported that the weather was good, light snow has been falling all day.
Senior Guide Jason Tanguay called to report that his team reached Camp 1 today. They will rest today, and begin their move to Camp 2 in the coming days by starting with a “carry” where the team carries their gear to the next camp, then returning to the lower camp to rest and recover that night.
Aconcagua Team 3 approaches camp 1 on Aconcagua (Jason Tanguay)
Jan 4, 2023 – IMG Chief Guide Justin Merle checked in from Vinson High Camp last night to report that the team had a successful summit day, with everyone standing on top of Vinson Massif. From Justin:
We’re on the summit, gloves off nice weather, good times!
The team made it safely back to High Camp and will be descending back to
Vinson Base Camp in the coming days.
All is well in Antarctica!
IMG Climber on the summit of Vinson in 2022 (Jonathan Schrock)
Jan 4, 2023 – IMG Senior Guide Jonathan Schrock checked in last night from Plaza Argentina Base Camp to report that the team had a successful carry to Camp 1, and today the team will move up to Camp 1 today. Camp 1 rests at about 16,370ft and will be the first of 3 camps that the team will utilize on their ascent to the top of South America.
IMG Senior Guide Jason Tanguay checked in from Plaza Argentina Base Camp saying that the team enjoyed a clear hike to the 13,800ft camp, and the team will rest today and prepare for their carry to Camp 1 tomorrow morning. All is well in Argentina!
IMG Aconcagua Team 2 approaches Camp 1 on Aconcagua (Jonathan Schrock)
January 3, 2023
Jonny Schrock and Jason Tanguay, IMG Senior Guides leading Aconcagua Teams 2 and 3 both reporting in today as their teams make their ways up Aconcagua. Jonny’s Team 2 is making a carry to Camp 1 and will descend back to Base Camp to rest and continue acclimatizing at Plaza Argentina. Jason Tanguay and Team 3 are arriving in Aconcagua Base Camp today. All is well in Argentina!
A mule team descends beneath an impressive, crystal-clear view of Aconcagua. (Jonny Schrock)
Jan 3, 2023
The Vinson Massif climbing team is staged at High Camp and ready to make their summit bid, reports IMG Chief Guide Justin Merle. Wish our team luck as they head to the Top of the Bottom in the coming days. All is well in Antarctica!
Panoramic view from High Camp on Mt Vinson, Antarctica. (Rob Marshall)
Jan 1, 2023 – IMG Chief Guide Justin Merle checked in from Vinson Camp 1 reporting that the team had a successful move to the 9,500ft camp. The team is enjoying clear and calm weather, and will plan on carrying their first loads to Camp 2 in the coming days. All is well in Antarctica!
2021 IMG Vinson Team at Base Camp after a successful summit (Justin Merle)
Jan 1, 2023 – Phunuru reports that the team had a wonderful safari, with multiple sightings of the elusive leopards and rhinos (along with all the rest of the Big Five and countless others). They spent New Years at the lodge on the slopes of Ngorongoro Crater, a fantastic place to ring in 2023. Today they are driving back to Arusha for some final shopping and repacking, and then on to the airport (or to the hotel, for people leaving tomorrow). It’s been a great trip, well done team!
The IMG Kilimanjaro team celebrates new years in Tanzania (Phunuru Sherpa)
An ostrich and zebra pose in the Ngorongoro crater (Phunuru Sherpa)
An extremely rare Rhino grazes in the Ngorongoro Crater (Phunuru Sherpa)
Dec 31, 2022 – IMG Senior Guide Jonny Schrock checked in from Casa de Piedras that the team is well. They continued their ascent through light rain today, arriving at the camp in the afternoon. Tomorrow, the team will ascend to Plaza Argentina Base Camp for a few days of rest and prep for the climb ahead.
IMG Senior Guide Jason Tanguay checked in from Uspallata with Aconcagua Team 3 and is hot on the heels of Team 2. Tomorrow they will drive to the trailhead and begin their ascent.
All is well in Argentina!
IMG Aconcagua Team 3 poses in Mendoza before they depart for Uspallata (Jason Tanguay)
Dec 30, 2022 – Good news in the Southern Hemisphere! Updates on our 4 expeditions in the field below:
Aconcagua – IMG senior guide Jonathan Schrock checked in as his team departed Uspallata in Argentina for the Aconcagua trailhead. The team will hike in to their first camp at Pampa de Lenas at nearly 10,000ft and will continue over the coming days to travel to Aconcagua Base Camp. Right behind Jonathan is IMG Senior Guide Jason Tanguay who will depart Mendoza tomorrow. His team spent the day preparing for their departure.
Aconcagua Team 2 departs Uspallata for the Aconcagua Trailhead (Jonathan Schrock)
Vinson Massif – IMG Chief Guide Justin Merle successfully made it to Vinson Base Camp. The team will spend a couple of days prepping for their first move up the mountain.
The Boing 757 that transports climbers from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier in Antarctica (Justin Merle)
Kilimanjaro – IMG senior guide Phunuru Sherpa checked in from the Serengeti to report that the team is doing well and seeing a lot of wildlife and enjoying a relaxing safari after their Kilimanjaro summit.
A cheetah crosses the road in the Serengeti (Phunuru Sherpa)
