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)

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