Summits On Ixtaccihuatl!

Nov 8, 2022 – IMG guide Porter McMichael checked in to report the team had a nice climb today to the summit of Ixtaccihuatl (17,338′).Â They started climbing about midnight and reached the top shortly after dawn.Â Along the way they had great views looking east at Orizaba and south to PopocatÃ©petl (17,802 ft, which we used to climb before it started erupting). Â Now the team is heading by vehicle to the old city of Puebla for the night.Â Then, tomorrow, they head to Tlachichuca where they will prepare for their climb of Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico.Â Well done team!

Senior Guide Porter McMichael on top of Ixta early on Nov 8, 2022 (Porter McMichael)

Senior Guide Porter McMichael and IMG team on top of Ixta early on Nov 8, 2022 (Porter McMichael)

Nearby volcano Popocatepetl issues some ash (Porter McMichael)

Sunrise from Ixta (Porter McMichael)

The view of nearby PopocatÃ©petl from Ixta (Porter McMichael)

Mexico climbers ready for Ixtaccihuatl

November 7th, 2022

IMG Mexico volcanoes team ready for Ixta (Zach Moore)

IztaccÃhuatl from Amecameca showing the knees route from the right

IMG senior guide Porter McMichael reports that the team moved up on Sunday to La Joya, near to the Paso de Cortes, and in the afternoon they took another nice acclimatization hike, ascending several thousand feet on the slopes of Ixta.Â Today they will do a final acclimatization hike and then this afternoon theyâ€™ll work on getting prepared for a very early morning start, in the dark.Â Tomorrow will be a big day, as they climb to over 17,000 feet on the 8^th highest mountain in North America.Â Ixta is sometimes referred to as â€œthe sleeping womanâ€ since the profile of the mountain shows the head,Â chest, knees, and feet, and the climbing route ascends via the â€œkneesâ€.

Eric Simonson

IMG’s Ecuador Team Begins Their Expedition

Nov 6, 2022 – IMG Senior Guides Timm Phillips and Romulo Cardenas checked in from Quito this morning. The team has arrived and is busy acclimatizing for their upcoming ascents. Tomorrow, the team will further their acclimatization by hiking up the scenic Fuya Fuya, and later in the week will tackle their first objective, Cayambe.

Views of Quito (Romulo Cardenas)

The IMG Ecuador Team poses for a photo while exploring Quito (Romulo Cardenas)

Interested in joining us in Ecuador? Join us in January:

2023 Trip Dates:

7-22, 2023

Read more about it on our website: mountainguides.com/ecuador/shtml.

Mexico Climbers Start Acclimatizing

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 IztaccÃhuatl and PopocatÃ©petl 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 CortÃ©s at (about 12,000 feet, this is the saddle between the PopocatÃ©petl and IxtaccÃhuatl volcanoes). After that, we they have some more acclimatization hiking in preparation for their climb of Ixta (5,230 m (17,160 ft). Allâ€™s well in Mexico!

Eric Simonson

Ama Dablam Summits!

Nov 4, 2022 – Phunuru reports from Ama Dablam Base Camp that the team had a gorgeous summit day on Ama Dablam.Â They spent the night at Camp 3 yesterday and made the top about 6 am, then proceeded to descend safely all the way down off the mountain.Â Congrats to Phunuru, Tashi, Mike, and Max and thanks to our support team!

Eric Simonson

IMG climbers pose on top of Ama Dablam for a summit shot (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG climbers on top of Ama Dablam (Sonam Tashi Sherpa)

The “Mushroom Ridge” to Camp 3 and route to the summit

Ama Dablam update â€“ Ready to Climb!

2 November, 2022

After a good puja yesterday at Base Camp the Ama Dablam team are ready to move up.Â First up will be the trek to â€œyak campâ€ (the end of the trail) and then a short climb up to Camp 1 (about 18,700â€™) at the base of the South Ridge.Â Everyone is feeling good so fingers crossed for the next few days!

Eric Simonson

Photo: IMG Ama Dablam team at Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

Photo: Puja ceremony at Base Camp with Taboche peak in the background (Phunuru Sherpa)

Photo: Camp 1 on Ama Dablam with the South Ridge above (Harry Hamlin)

That’s A Wrap in Bolivia!

Oct 31, 2022 – Our fall Bolivia trip is wrapping up after a successful and fun trip! The team was able to not only climb some of the Southern Hemisphere’s highest peaks, but they were also able to explore local culture. From visiting the shore of Lake Titicaca to spending time with IMG’s Bolivian guides, the team was able to get the full experience out of their trip to Bolivia.

IMG will be back to Bolivia in summer 2023:

July 16-28, 2023
October 10-26, 2023

Ready to sign-up? Want more information?

Check out our website: https://www.mountainguides.com/bolivia.shtml

An IMG climber ascends Pequeno Alpamayo at sunrise (Justin Sackett)

Ama Dablam climbers and trekkers reach Base Camp

Oct 30, 2022 – Good news, everyone has arrived to AD BC, coming via three routes. Phunuru and the climbers and trekkers helicoptered up from Lukla this morning. Nicole hiked up from Pangboche, while Max and Maila descended from Mera Peak, then east to Hongu valley, then north, crossing the Amphu Labsta pass, to the Imja valley and Ama Dablam. Well done!

Tomorrow morning the team will have the traditional puja ceremony, before the climbing begins.

Ama Dablam above the Khumbu Valley, the South Ridge climbing route ascends the right shoulder against the skyline (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG climbers enjoy a sunny morning at Ama Dablam Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

Lhotse and Everest (left side of the frame) overlook Ama Dablam (right side of frame), as seen from a helicopter (Eric Simonson)

Illimani Team Approaches

Oct 29, 2022 – Lead Guide Justin Sackett departed La Paz today in Bolivia after a few days of rest. The expedition team has spent the last couple of weeks climbing iconic peaks in the Bolivian Andes, including Pequeno Alpamayo and Huayna Potosi. Today the team will approach the base camp of Illimani, one of the tallest peaks in the region, and prepare for their ascent to high-camp in the coming days. All is well in Bolivia!

Illimani high camp at sunset (Harry Hamlin)

Bolivia Team Summits Huayna Potosi

26 October, 2022

Great news from Bolivia this morning! IMG Senior Guide Justin Sackett reported that the team summited Huayna Potosi (19,974ft) in excellent weather. The team has safely descended to basecamp and is headed to La Paz tomorrow to recover before heading to Illimani.

Climbers approach High Camp on Huayna Potosi (Justin Sackett)