September 20, 2022
IMG Manaslu Climber on Camp 2 Rotation prior to the storm (Max Bond)
The IMG Manaslu team checked in this morning. The team is still at Base Camp waiting out the current stormy weather. On the bright side, they get to catch-up on rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery during breaks in the storm. All’s going well in Nepal!
Audrey Simonson
Septemeber 19, 2022
The summit poking through the clouds with Base Camp in the foreground (Max Bond)
IMG Manaslu team practicing with their oxygen regulators and tanks while waiting for the weather to clear (Max Bond)
IMG climbers on their Camp 2 rotation (Max Bond)
IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa and Max Bond checked in from Manaslu Basecamp. The team has completed their Camp 2 rotation and is doing well. Unfortunately, a storm system has rolled in keeping the team at Base Camp to wait it out until the weather clears. To pass the time, they have been doing trainings with their oxygen tanks and regulators in preparation for future rotations and the summit push.
Audrey Simonson
September 16, 2022
The IMG Manaslu Team currently acclimatizing at Camp 2 (21,000ft). They passed through some steep and technical terrain on fixed ropes to get to Camp 2. They plan to spend tonight and tomorrow night at Camp 2 and will go to Camp 3 during the day tomorrow, before descending to basecamp the following day. This is the teams 2nd rotation and after this rotation they will be acclimatized and ready for the summit push as soon and favorable weather arrives. Our Manaslu team is doing great!
An IMG climber using fixed lines to climb steep ice on Manaslu (Max Bond)
September 12, 2022
IMG Manaslu climber (Max Bond)
IMG Guide Max Bond checked in this morning from Manaslu Base Camp. The team has finished their first rotation, and is resting. Tomorrow they plan to pack and prepare for their second rotation. All is going well!
Audrey Simonson
September 11, 2022
Our Manaslu Team has retuned to Basecamp after their first rotation. IMG Senior Guide Max Bond reports that yesterday the team climbed to 19,400ft and everyone performed well. Light new snow during the night at Camp 1 provided stunning views for the team when they woke the following morning. Some team members practiced climbing and rappelling fixed lines in the icefall as well. Now the team will spend a few days at basecamp to rest and recover before heading back up for the second rotation. Everything is going well on Manaslu!
September 10, 2022
Today our Manaslu team is headed above Camp 1 for their first acclimatization rotation. They will sleep at Camp 1 tonight and tomorrow they climb climb above Camp 1 and then spend a second night at Camp 1 before descending the following day. Everything is going well in Nepal!
September 5, 2022
IMG Manaslu Team hiking to Birendra Tal (Max Bond)
IMG Senior Guides Max Bond and Phunuru Sherpa checked in this morning from Samagaon. The IMG Manaslu team had a successful puja ceremony today, and went for an acclimatization hike to Birendra Tal. Soon the team will depart Samagaon for Manaslu Base Camp. All is well!
Audrey Simonson
September 3, 2022
Yesterday Senior Guide Max Bond drove to Soti Khola with the climber’s duffel bags, about a 4 hour drive west of Kathmandu in the Gorka District. The plan was for him to spend the night there, and fly the next day, but the weather was improving and the helicopter company decided to fly immediately to Samagaon (11,500 ft) at the base of Manaslu.
This morning, Phunuru and the rest of the team loaded into a helicopter in Kathmandu and flew direct to Samagaon where they met up with Gyalgen Dorje Sherpa. Now, they will spend a couple days acclimatizing there. Meanwhile, the rest of our Sherpa Team are up at Manaslu Base Camp (16,000 ft) and today Dawa Tenzing went up to Camp 1 to secure our camp up there. The plan is to start fixing to Camp 2 on September 5th. So far so good on Manaslu!
Eric Simonson
Photo: IMG Manaslu team at Samagaon (Phunuru Sherpa)
Photo: Loading up in Kathmandu (Phunuru Sherpa)
September 1, 2022
Today was a free day for the team, some chose to go sight seeing at Bhaktipur. Then the Manaslu Team got dinner in the evening, joined by IMG Owner Eric Simonson and IMG Senior Guide Nicole Sims.
In the morning IMG Guide Max Bond is leaving for Soti Khola with the Base Camp duffel bags by vehicle. Then the team will fly to Samagaon the following day, and also pick up Max and the duffels with the helicopter.
Photo: IMG Manaslu Team getting dinner in Kathmandu.
Photo: The Boudhanath Temple in Kathmandu
IMG Senior Guide Max Bond at the Ministry getting the Manaslu permit
Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that the IMG Manaslu Expedition is now official! Today IMG guide Max Bond went through the formalities at the Ministry and received the climbing permit.
All the Team Members have now arrived to Kathmandu with their luggage, which is always a great way to start a trip. Today the team will be doing gear checks and getting sim cards for phones.
So far, so good in Nepal!
Eric Simonson
