Nov 8, 2022 – IMG’s Ecuador Team continued their acclimatization in preparation for their upcoming climb of Cayambe. The last couple of days of activity have included travelling through the small towns of Peguche and Otavalo, visiting indigenous markets and climbing the small peak Fuya Fuya (13,986ft). In the coming days, the team will travel to Cayambe and attempt to climb the Ecuadorian volcano.

The IMG team crosses the equator, checking their GPS units (Romulo Cardenas)

The IMG Ecuador stops for lunch on Lago San Pablo (Romulo Cardenas)

IMG Senior Guide Timm Phillips poses with the climbing team on an acclimatization hike (Romulo Cardenas)

Nov 6, 2022 – IMG senior guide Porter McMichael checked in to report that the IMG Mexico volcanoes expedition has begun! The climbers all arrived yesterday, on schedule with their luggage, to Mexico City (about 7300 feet). After a night in the city, today the team moved up to Amecameca which is about 1000 feet higher. This afternoon they went for a nice acclimatization hike on the slopes above in Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl National Park. They said the hiking was great, but clouds prevented from seeing the volcanoes.

Acclimatization hiking in Iztaccihuatl and Popocateptl National Park (Porter McMichael)

Next up for the team is a move higher up to the Paso de Cortés at (about 12,000 feet, this is the saddle between the Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl volcanoes). After that, we they have some more acclimatization hiking in preparation for their climb of Ixta (5,230 m (17,160 ft). All’s well in Mexico!

Eric Simonson