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)
Dec 29, 2022 – A final breakfast in Moshi and then the team departed to Arusha, where they had a flight booked to the middle of the Serengeti. It takes almost an hour, and there is nothing like it, flying at low altitude over such an immense area! Upon arrival the team did a game drive on the way to the hotel, and now they are enjoying themselves in a place with no cell phone service.
Giraffes near Seronera Lodge (Phunuru Sherpa)
The team departs for the Serengeti (Phunuru Sherpa)
The team enjoys a luxury dinner at eh Seronera Lodge (Phunuru Sherpa)
Dec 29, 2022 – IMG Senior Guide Jonathan Schrock called to report that Aconcagua Team 2 departed Mendoza this morning bout for Uspallata. Tonight, the team will prepare and stage their climb before departing for the trailhead tomorrow morning. All is well in Argentina!
IMG Aconcagua Team 2 poses for a group photo before departing Mendoza (Jonathan Schrock)
Dec 29, 2022 – IMG Chief Guide Justin Merle called this morning to report that the IMG Vinson team landed safely at Union Glacier. The conditions were windy in Punta Arenas, but the Boing 757 bound for Antarctica soon took off shuttling the team south. The team will wait at Union Glacier until weather allows them to fly to Vinson Base Camp via a smaller Twin Otter plane. All is well in Antarctica!
The large plane that takes passengers from Punta Arenas, Chile to Union Glacier, Antarctica (Justin Merle)
The 2022 IMG Vinson Team (Justin Merle)
28 December, 2022
In the morning Aconcagua Team 2, lead by IMG Senior Guide Jonathan Schrock, will be flying out of Mendoza to begin their climb of Aconcagua. The food in Mendoza is worth enjoying before the trip as Mendoza is well know for it’s amazing steak and wine,
28 December, 2022
IMG Chief Guide Justin Merle checked in to let us know that team team is in Punta Arenas and they are planning to fly South to Union Glacier in the morning, as long as the weather holds. The team is ready to go and excited to climb in one of the most remote places on earth.
28 December, 2022
A huge congratulations is in order for our Kilimanjaro team as they arrived back in Moshi today! They received their summit certificates and had a well deserved celebratory dinner. IMG Senior Guide Phunuru checked in to let us know that everyone was happy with their summit success and looking forward to a relaxing few days of safari after the snowy summit day that saw 100% summit success from our team!
Photo: The Team celebrate their summit certificates back in Moshi! (Phunuru Sherpa)
Photo: the teams enjoys a well deserved dinner after many days of hard work climbing Kilimanjaro (Phunuru Sherpa)
