May 10, 2021

Descending a section of the Khumbu Icefall (Kevin Kayl)

Expedition Leader Jonathan Schrock checked in to let us know that 6 Sherpa have now fixed to the summit of Lhotse!  This means that both Everest and Lhotse routes are in and ready for climbers to go when the weather allows.

The Icefall labyrinth (Kevin Kayl)

Our Team is doing great with climbers at both Camp 2 and EBC.  The remainder of the Team will be back to EBC in the morning and will then take time to rest and prepare for their summit rotations.  The Camp 3 rotation is challenging for everyone and by completing it, climbers have put themselves in position to head up for the summit rotation.

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa (Kevin Kayl)

The current forecast has the Jet Stream to the South of Mount Everest and slowly working its way back to the North.  We will rest at EBC and wait for the Jet Stream to move across the summit.  This is a typical pattern for this time of year and we are looking forward to getting a little rest while we wait!

All’s well for IMG on Mt Everest.

Greg Vernovage

May 8, 2021

Upper Icefall to the Lhotse Face (Phunuru Sherpa)

Good news today from up high on Everest, with the 12 members of the fixing team reaching the summit.  Congratulations to these men, they are the first Everest climbers in nearly two years! Now the route is open and hopefully the various teams will soon start making their summit bids.  By getting the fixing work done early in the season, there will be more time in the coming weeks to spread out all the summit bids, which should mitigate any traffic jam problems (like in 2019 when late fixing and bad weather caused the summit bids to get compressed into just a few days).

Our IMG climbers are doing well on their Camp 3 rotations.  Today our Team 1 made good time on a cold and breezy climb of the Lhotse Face to Camp 3, where they took a nice break for eating and drinking before returning to Camp 2.  Tomorrow they will descend to Base Camp as the Team 2 climbers move up into position. Over the next couple days the Team 2 climbers will also be climbing to Camp 3 and then descending to Base Camp.

With the route fixing done and the Camp 3 rotations underway, the final phase of the expedition is now beginning to take shape. The IMG climbers will all be back to Base Camp for a final rest before heading back up for the summit bids when the weather looks reasonable!

Greg Vernovage

May 6, 2021

Looking up the Western Cwm (Phunuru Sherpa)

Camp 2 on Mount Everest (Phunuru Sherpa)

Expedition Leader Jonathan Schrock checked in to let us know that the team at Camp 2 is prepped and ready to climb the Lhotse Face to Camp 3 in the morning.  Getting to Camp 3 the first time is a hard day of climbing, but the climbers are feeling strong and the conditions and weather report look favorable for tackling this highly anticipated section of the route.  A solid performance by the climbers during this rotation will give them confidence and will mean that they have qualified for the summit bids, once the fixing is done and the their weather window is open.

Our second group of climbers at EBC are also ready to go and feeling strong. They have been patient and have benefited from a good rest at Base Camp.  In the morning they will head up the Icefall with IMG Guide Andy Politz to put themselves in position to move to Camp 2, and then to Camp 3 on the Lhotse Face.

All is well on Mount Everest!

Greg Vernovage