April 8, 2022
Mount Everest from the summit of Lhotse (Phunuru Sherpa)
For ongoing Everest 2022 Updates, please visit the link on our website that will include exclusive Everest 2022 Updates!
Everest 2022 Updates
It’s Kilimanjaro time!
April 5, 2022
Sunset on Kilimanjaro and Mawenzi (Eric Simonson)
We have some great news from Tanzania which is a big improvement for travelers, with updated Tanzania Travel Requirements. Now to go climb Kilimanjaro and do a world class safari you only need to document your fully vaccinated status!  No longer is Covid testing required to enter Tanzania, and no longer are tourists at risk (if they test positive) of being sent to a supervised quarantine facility at their own cost, until they test negative.
Here at IMG we are looking ahead to our summer season Kilimanjaro trips. We have three scheduled, and each winds up with a classic safari to the Serengeti.  And, our annual holiday trip in December finishes up the year!
2022 IMG Kilimanjaro Dates:
Jun 20 – Jul 2, 2022
Jul 18-30, 2022
Sep 19 – Oct 1, 2022
Dec 20 – Jan 1, 2023 (Early Safari Confirmation Required)
If you enjoy rugged hiking and are in good health and fitness, then Kilimanjaro is a great goal for you!
It’s Kilimanjaro Time!
April 5, 2022
Great view from the top of the Barranco Wall (Phunuru Sherpa)
We have some great news from Tanzania which is a big improvement for travelers, with updated Tanzania Travel Requirements. Now to go climb Kilimanjaro and do a world class safari you only need to document your fully vaccinated status!  No longer is Covid testing required to enter Tanzania, and no longer are tourists at risk (if they test positive) of being sent to a supervised quarantine facility at their own cost, until they test negative.
Here at IMG we are looking ahead to our summer season Kilimanjaro trips. We have three scheduled, and each winds up with a classic safari to the Serengeti.  And, our annual holiday trip in December finishes up the year!
2022 IMG Kilimanjaro Dates:
Jun 20 – Jul 2, 2022
Jul 18-30, 2022
Sep 19 – Oct 1, 2022
Dec 20 – Jan 1, 2023 (Early Safari Confirmation Required)
If you enjoy rugged hiking and are in good health and fitness, then Kilimanjaro is a great goal for you!
Gorgeous day in the Khumbu Valley
April 4, 2022
Panorama looking down valley from Phortse (Phunuru Sherpa)
Both Teams had beautiful weather today. Team 1 departed Phortse early so they could get to Pangboche and visit the monastery. No visit to Pangboche and the monastery is complete without visiting Lama Nawang. The visit to the Lama is very important to our entire team because he offers a blessing for safe travels and a successful climbing season.
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- Trekking to Phortse with Ama Dablam (Justin Merle)
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- Team 2 arrives to Namche (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
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- Blessing from Lam Nawang in Pangboche (Phunuru Sherpa)
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- Team 2 at the Museum with Tenzing Norgay monument (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
Lama Nawang (Phunuru Sherpa)
Team 2 took it easy today and walked up to the viewpoint and visited the Sherpa Climbing Museum. At the museum, the team saw photos of great Sherpa mountaineers and looked at climbing equipment from generations earlier. Tomorrow, the team will trek up to the Everest View Hotel for more acclimatization and views before dropping into Khumjung to visit the monastery and Hillary School.
Beautiful days in the Khumbu Valley!
Teams moving up in the Khumbu Valley
April 3, 2022
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- Team 2 heading into Sagarmatha National Park (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
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- Fun times on the suspension bridge (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
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- Great look at the suspension bridge enroute to Namche (Porter McMichael)
Team 1 and Team 2 checked in to let us know that everyone is doing well and have moved up today. Team 2 was up and on the trail early with excellent trekking weather for the climb up Namche Hill. The team made great time and will now spend a some time acclimatizing and touring the famous village. There is plenty to do including the museums, shops, Everest View Hotel, the Hillary School in Khumjung and of course, a stop at one of the local bakeries.
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- Trekking with Phortse in the distance (Phunuru Sherpa)
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- Team 1 in front of KCC Training Center in Phortse (Phunuru Sherpa)
Team 2 also had a great day trekking to Phortse. This is one of the best days on the trail…everyday on the trail is great but on this day, the team heads up and out of Namche, traversing the valley and getting more looks at many of the great peaks. Leaving the main trail they head up to Mong for lunch before going back down to the river crossing and moving their way through the trees and into the village of Phortse. It just does not get any better than walking into Phortse where many of our Lead Guides live. It is also the home of the Khumbu Climbing Center where many of the top Guides on Mount Everest train and learn important skills necessary to climb.
Great days in the Khumbu!
Nice day in the Khumbu Valley
April 2, 2022
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- IMG Team 2 Photo just outside of Lukla (Ang Tshering Sherpa)
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- Team 1 with Everest in the distant middle (Phunuru Sherpa)
It was a pretty nice day to be in the Khumbu Valley and what made it an even better day is when Ang Jangbu checked in to let us know that all of Team 2 had arrived to Lukla! Team 1 had a great acclimatization day, hiking up to Everest View Hotel where they were not let down and given great views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest among other great peaks in the Khumbu. The team is doing great and getting along extremely well. They are excited to get up tomorrow and see what is around the corner.
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- Team 2 members loading the flight to Lukla (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
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- Trekking high above Namche looking down valley (Phunuru Sherpa)
Team 2 arrived in Lukla, met the trekking team ed by Ang Tshering and made their way to Phakding. The team pulled in at 3:00, just in time for afternoon tea time. Very nice weather and it feels good to be on the trail to stretch the legs. That first night in the Khumbu at Pangboche is just special, you have cool, clean air along with the sound of the river to help get everyone through that last night of jetlag. Tomorrow, they have breakfast at 7 am and will be on the trail by 8:00, heading to the Sagarmatha National Park entrance and up the hill to Namche.
All is well in the Khumbu Valley!
Lot’s happening in Nepal!
April 1, 2022
IMG Everest Team 2 Group Photo (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
Let’s start in Kathmandu where Ang Jangbu and Porter McMichael had a great day with Team 2. It started after breakfast with the trip briefing. The Team is now packed, prepped and ready to head out tomorrow morning for the heli fights to Lukla. Joining the briefing is our Custom Manaslu Trek who will be flying out in the morning as well. After the briefing, the team had the day to visit some local sights including Swayambunath and Thamel. Wake up calls are scheduled for 5am and departure at 5:30.
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- Team 2 morning briefing (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
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- IMG 2022 Team 2 Welcome Dinner (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
Team 1 made great time in perfect trekking weather up to Namche. They had plenty of good views of Mount Everest and enjoyed the high suspension bridge; this is a trip highlight! Once in Namche, they had lunch and then visited the Friday afternoon Bazaar. the team is getting along great and will take a hike to the Everest View Hotel for acclimatization in the morning.
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- Team 1 entering Sagarmatha National Park (Phunuru Sherpa)
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- Let’s go cross the Suspension bridge to Namche! (Phunuru Sherpa)
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- Crossing the high suspension bridge to Namche (Phunuru Sherpa)
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- A few more steps and we are in Namche (Phunuru Sherpa)
Further up the valley in Pangboche, IMG Senior Guides Lopsang and Thunang pulled into Pangboche with our team and will visit the monastery and enjoy beautiful views of Ama Dablam. They will also say hello to Head Chef Kaji Sherpa who flew in with more gear, fresh food and Base Camp duffel bags.
Our Advanced Sherpa Team is still hammering away at EBC and have made great progress. Some of the team has descended to Lobuche Base Camp to begin setting up for the teams arrival. The Icefall Doctors are also making great progress and Phunuru said they have reached just above the Football Field area of the route. Rumor has it that there are just three ladders to the Football field at this time.
Team 1 in Monjo and Team 2 in Kathmandu
March 31, 2022
Team 1 departing Lukla (Phunuru Sherpa)
Phakding (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
All of Team 2 has now arrived to Kathmandu with their gear! The team navigated the flights and requirements of international travel and are happy to be at the hotel. IMG Guide Porter McMichael handled all of the gear checks and will have the team briefing in the morning along with Ang Jangbu.
Suspension bridge crossing on the way to Monjo (Phunuru Sherpa)
Team 1 had a nice day of trekking in the Khumbu Valley, making it to Monjo and the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park. The team was up and out the door early this morning and reported cloudy skies with a small amount of precipitation before it started clearing up in the evening. They are beginning to get some views and are looking forward to the hike up to Namche in the morning where they will take the opportunity to visit the Namche Market. IMG Expedition Leader, Andy Polloczek said “the team is doing great, everyone is getting along very well and almost done with the jetlag. The clean mountain air feels great!”
All is well in Nepal!
Everest Team 1 in Lukla and Team 2 arriving to Kathmandu
March 30, 2022
Lukla Airport (Greg Vernovage)
Introduction of our Sherpa Trekking Guides with Team 1 (Phunuru Sherpa)
It has been a busy few days in Kathmandu and we expect a couple more before we can settle into our routine. Team 1 was up and out the door early this morning to catch helicopter flights to Lukla. As is often the case, the team did a great job getting out the door, checking in and being ready for the flight to Lukla. The weather in Lukla decided to give the team a little more time to think about the flight and what is to come. Fortunately, the skies cleared enough for all heli flights to get in and the team is now in Lukla. With this slightly later arrival time, the team decided to enjoy Lukla for the afternoon and the hospitality of our friends at the Paradis Lodge and will get up early and hit the trail.
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- Helicopter departing with members of Team 1 (Justin Merle)
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- More Heli departures from KTM to Lukla (Justin Merle)
Team 2 is arriving to Kathmandu and will confirm they have all their luggage and gear needed for the trip. Team 2 has a great group of climbers and trekkers who have EBC, Lobuche Peak, Island Peak, Gokyo, Everest and Lhotse in their sights. Ang Jangbu and Porter McMichael will knock out gear checks with everyone and get the Team ready to go. Flight arrival times change frequently and our incredible teammate, Mohan has been on top of these changes, waiting at the airport with his big “Welcome to Nepal” smile.
Our Custom Trek is meandering up the Khumbu Valley and is now in Phortse after spending a night in Khunde and the Monj. Also arriving to Nepal is our Manaslu Trek Team who will be obtaining their trekking permits and flying into Jagat on Saturday.
All is well in Nepal!
Team 1 is Ready to Head into the Khumbu Valley!
March 29, 2022
IMG 2022 Everest Team 1 (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
Team 1 met for a briefing led by Andy Polloczek and Ang Jangbu Sherpa this morning. This briefing is a great opportunity to get the entire team together and go over details for the coming days ahead. Highlights of the briefing include patience and flexibility. Our team has worked a long time to get to this point and they are now ready to head up the valley towards Everest Base Camp. Staying healthy and taking their time during the trek is an important key!
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- IMG Team 1 Briefing (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
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- IMG Team 1 Welcome Dinner (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)
After the briefing, the team was free to explore Kathmandu, take care of any last minute details, prepare for tomorrow morning and probably take a few naps to continue getting over jet lag! The day ended with the Welcome Dinner celebrating the start of their trip. Tomorrow will come fast s the team will be up early to head to the airport for the helicopter flight to Lukla!
All is well in Kathmandu!