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
August 25, 2022
Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that our Sherpas Gyalzen Dorje and Dawa Tenzing went ahead of the mule team, directly to Manaslu BC , secured our camp site, and set up a few tents. Then, they dropped back down to Samagaon.   Ang Karma, Dendi, and Devraj and the mule team stopped for the night at Samdo yesterday, and today they will be reaching Samagaon. The plan is to take a reorganization day and then start moving the loads up to Base Camp the following day with the help of local porters. After that, the team will start working on setting up the big tents at Base Camp for kitchen and dining, and more sleeping tents.  We have a helicopter booked for the 27th to fly our cook Kaji Sherpa along with a load of fresh food and more supplies directly from Soti Khola to Samagaon. So far so good at Manaslu!
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Eric Simonson
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Aug 24, 2022 –
The IMG team heads up the valley towards Bimthang (Gyalzen Dorje)
The IMG Base Camp team reached Dharapani safely with food and supplies, and met with the mule team. Now they are moving north and east, arriving at Bimthang (about 3800m) yesterday. Next up is a crossing of the long and high Larkya La pass (about 5125m) which divides the Annapurna Region (to the west ) from the Manaslu Region. Once over the pass they will be dropping down to Dharamsala (4460m). Another couple days on the trail with the mules and they will arrive in Samagaon, at the base of Manaslu.
Eric Simonson
Manaslu supplies headed for Bimthang (Gyalzen Dorje)
Loading the bus to Besishahar (Ang Jangbu)
Ang Jangbu and Phunuru report from Kathmandu that the IMG Base Camp Staff left Kathmandu today, with a load of food and gear on the first leg of the 2022 Manaslu Expedition.
“We loaded a bus at 2 AM and they left the office 3AM exact. They will reach Besishahar around noon and then switch to small 4-wheel trucks (jeeps) for Dharapani today. Mules are arranged to meet them there this evening, and the goal is to reach Samagaon on 27th.”
We’ll fly our cook and fresh food in next week. The guides and climbers arrive Kathmandu August 30, and will be flying by helicopter up to Samagaon a few days later. The 2022 Manaslu Expedition is on the way!
Eric Simonson
