100% Chimborazo Summits

On the summit! (Romulo Cardenas)

We had good news over the weekend from Ecuador when IMG leaders Timm Phillips and Romulo Cardenas report that the team had a good climb of Chimborazo Â (20,561′), with 100% on the summit! Â This is the highest mountain in Ecuador, and the highest on the Earth, if you measure from the center of the globe (due to the oblate spheroid shape of the planet).Â The climbers have now all returned to Quito and are heading for home.Â This wraps up our November Ecuador trip, which was a good one!

Next up for Ecuador is Our January 7, 2023 Trip.Â If you are looking to climb some fun volcanoes and get some great altitude practice, you canâ€™t beatÂ climbing in Ecuador!

Eric Simonson

Ecuador Team Prepares for Chimborazo

November 16th, 2022

2022 Ecuador Team eating a post-Antizana breakfast this morning.

Our Ecuador Team checked in today! They had a great meal and rest at IMG Senior Guide Romulo Cardenas’ home last night and today they had a lovely post-Antizana breakfast at Mechahuasca Refugio. Tomorrow the team is traveling to the Whymper Hut at 15,744′ to stage for their climb of Chimborazo, the highest peak in Ecuador.

Wishing the team good luck on their final climb of the trip!

Audrey Simonson

Ecuador Update

Nov 15, 2022 – Senior IMG Guide Timm Phillips called in to report that the Ecuador climbing team was unable to summit Antizana this morning. Despite the team’s best efforts, the weather closed in with high-winds and blowing snow making travel challenging. IMG Guides Timm and Romulo elected to turn the team around and returned safely to high-camp.

The IMG Ecuador team looks up at Antizana before their summit attempt (Timm Phillips)

The team returned to the lowlands this afternoon in high spirits and enjoyed a local meal at IMG Guide Romulo Cardenas’ house and is on to Chimborazo in the coming days. All is well in Ecuador!

Ecuador Team Prepares for Antizana

November 14, 2022

IMG climbers climbing Cotopaxi (Jorge Ignacio Anhalzer)

The IMG Ecuador Volcanoes team has had an excellent trip so far, and they are preparing for their ascent of Antizana. Due to the active status of Cotopaxi, the team has rearranged to Antizana, a nearby volcano with similar caliber climbing to Cotopaxi. Tonight, the team will stage and do their final preparations before attempting the 19,000′ peak.

All’s going well in Ecuador!

Audrey Simonson

Ecuador Team Climbs Cayambe

November 11th, 2022

IMG Senior Guides Romulo Cardenas and Timm Philips checked in to report that the team had a successful summit on Cayambe on Saturday morning! Weâ€™re excited that the team is starting their trip off on the right foot before attempting Cotopaxi next.

IMG climbers near the Summit of Cayambe on Saturday (Timm Phillips)

After descending from Cayambe, the team will travel to Papallacta, a famous location known for its natural hot springs and lovely hotel accommodations. The team will spend the day here and then travel to Hacienda El Porvenir to stage for their upcoming climb of Cotopaxi (19,347′).

The hot springs of Papallacta (Romulo Cardenas)

Audrey Simonson

Mexico Volcanoes Climbs Pico De Orizaba

November 11, 2022

IMG Mexico team climbing Orizaba at sunrise (Porter McMichael)

The shadow of Pico de Orizaba at sunrise (Porter McMichael)

IMG Mexico team at the summit of Pico de Orizaba (Porter McMichael)

IMGâ€™s Mexico Volcanoes expedition is almost complete as the team summits their final peak, Pico de Orizaba. The team ascended to the summit of the third-highest peak in North America this morning after a wonderful adventure. The team has descended back to Tlachichuca to have dinner and celebrate a successful expedition! We’d like to extend a huge thanks to our Mexican guides and partners for their help in putting together another great trip.

Weâ€™re happy that our Mexico Volcanoes trip has wrapped up, and the team has safely returned. If youâ€™re interested in joining us next year or want more information, check out our website!

Audrey Simonson

Ecuador Team Prepares For Cayambe

November 11th, 2022

IMG guides on Cayambe (Romulo Cardenas)

The view from Fuya Fuya (Romulo Cardenas)

This morning IMG Senior Guides Romulo Cardenas and Timm Philips checked in. They reported that the team is feeling well acclimated, and is doing final preparations for their climb of Cayambe (18,996′). They will do an “alpine start” to hopefully reach the summit at sunrise. All is well in Ecuador!

To stay updated with their progress, keep checking back here or on our Instagram!

Audrey Simonson

IMG Mexico climbers heading to Orizaba

November 11, 2022

First view of Orizaba (Chris Meder)

Piedra Grande hut (Chris Meder)

Puebla Cathedral (Porter McMichael)

After their successful climb of Ixtaccihuatl IMG leader Porter McMichael checked in to report that the team had a nice overnight break in the old colonial city of Puebla.Â They strolled the central square and visited the 16^th Century Puebla Cathedral, a world heritage site.Â Then they moved on to Tlachichuca, a small farming town at 9500 ft and the jumping off spot for Orizaba climbers. To climb Pico de Orizaba (also known as CitlaltÃ©petl) the team will take a rugged 4WD truck ride up to the climber camp at Piedra Grande refugio, about 14,000.ft.

Orizaba (5636 m/ 18,491â€²) is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America (after Denali in Alaska and Mt Logan in Canada).Â From Piedra Granda the team will ascend a steep rocky trail to the Jamapa Glacier, which can be icy with crevasses.Â Weâ€™ll keep you posted on their progress!

Ecuador Team Climbs Fuya Fuya

November 9, 2022

IMG climbers visiting Peguche (Romulo Cardenas)

IMG climbers infront of Mojanda Lake (Romulo Cardenas)

IMG climbers on Fuya Fuya (Romulo Cardenas)

IMG Senior Guide Romulo Cardenas and Timm Philips checked in to report that the team is having a great time continuing to acclimatize in Ecuador. The team climbed both Fuya Fuya as well as Imbabura to prepare for their upcoming ascents. In addition to climbing today, they visited the local weavers in Peguche to learn about their craft and indigenous culture of Ecuador. The team is doing well and is excited to start their climbs.

Keep checking in here or our Instagram for more trip updates!

Audrey Simonson

Ecuador Team Continues to Acclimatize

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)