December 5, 2022
IMG Senior Guide Nickel Wood checked in to let us know that the first Aconcagua team has arrived at Casa de Piedras. The team is performing well and having a great time while at the same time!
Aconcagua peaks out of the clouds down the valley from Casa de Piedras (Harry Hamlin)
Looking down the velley en route to Casa de Piedras (Harry Hamlin)
December 4, 2022
IMG Aconcagua Team 1 at the Gran Hotel in Uspallata (Nickel Wood)
IMG senior guide Nickel Wood and our first Aconcagua team of the season departed Mendoza on schedule yesterday, and moved up to the Gran Hotel in the town of Uspallata, about 60 miles to the west at about 6700 feet in the foothills of the Andes. After enjoying their last night in beds and eating in restaurants, this morning the team continued by highway up to the Punta de Vacas at about 9800 feet, which is the trailhead for groups heading to the Relinchos Valley on Aconcagua. After several days of traveling, they were all looking forward to lashing their duffel bags on to the mules and finally starting the three day hike to the Plaza Argentina Base Camp. They are off!
Eric Simonson
December 2, 2022
IMG Senior Guide Nickel Wood reported that the whole team has arrived safely in Mendoza. They are checked into the Nutibara Hotel and are working on sorting and checking their gear one last time before heading to the mountain! All is well in Argentina!
The IMG Aconcagua team in the Nutibara Hotel (Nickel Wood)
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  (20,561′), with 100% on the summit!  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). The climbers have now all returned to Quito and are heading for home. This wraps up our November Ecuador trip, which was a good one!
Next up for Ecuador is Our January 7, 2023 Trip. If you are looking to climb some fun volcanoes and get some great altitude practice, you can’t beat climbing in Ecuador!
Eric Simonson
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
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!
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
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! We’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
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)
IMG’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.
We’re happy that our Mexico Volcanoes trip has wrapped up, and the team has safely returned. If you’re interested in joining us next year or want more information, check out our website!
Audrey Simonson
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
