November 20, 2019
NEWS FLASH – 100% on the summit of Chimborazo this morning for Rikki, Romulo, and team down in Ecuador! Team is already down to the hut and completely off the mountain soon. Pictures will follow as available!
Phil Ershler
November 20, 2019
NEWS FLASH – 100% on the summit of Chimborazo this morning for Rikki, Romulo, and team down in Ecuador! Team is already down to the hut and completely off the mountain soon. Pictures will follow as available!
Phil Ershler
November 20, 2019
Join us this February for a trip to 3 degrees south of the Equator, where the weather is excellent and the wildlife viewing on the safari is fantastic. This is the peak of the famous “Migration†on the Serengeti and with millions of animals on the move, it is truly one of the great spectacles of the natural world!
IMG Senior Guide, Phunuru Sherpa, is leading the trip. He has led three IMG Kilimanjaro trips this year (for a total of 14 ascents), was one of our leaders on our Everest expedition (12 ascents), led our Cho Oyu expedition this past autumn (his 19th ascent, which is the record). Most recently, he led the IMG Classic Team to the top of Ama Dablam (for his 13th summit). Additionally, Phunuru has trained with the NPS Climbing Rangers in Denali and Yosemite National Parks and is the lead instructor at the Khumbu Climbing Center in Nepal. Join him in February for a fun trip to Kilimanjaro!
Email kilimanjaro@mountainguides.com for more information!
Eric Simonson
November 19, 2019
The team’s recent summit of Cotopaxi was followed by a visit to a couple of haciendas, including the spectacular San Augustin. They also visited the home of a famous Ecuadorian climber/guide/photographer and very dear friend – Jorge Anhalzer. Romulo’s wife, Patricia entertained the team at their home and then it was time to get some of our members back to Quito and on flights home Monday. They should be home later today.
Four members are staying with Rikki and Romulo and going to take a shot at Chimborazo. This one a bit of a tougher challenge than Cayambe and Cotopaxi. A lot depends on getting lucky… lucky with weather and lucky with the conditions on the mountain. We’d consider a summit of Chimborazo the real frosting on the cake but, regardless, it’ll be a good experience and a real challenge. Let’s see!
Phil Ershler
November 16, 2019
Great news from Ecuador: 100% on the top of Cotopaxi this morning.
Team got back down to the hut, packed and hiked to their bus. From there, it was maybe two hours, and they’d checked into their hotel and emailed us the news from lunch. I’m sure Rikki and Romulo will get some pics headed our way later. Until then, it’s time to eat.
Phil Ershler
November 15, 2019
This year marks 10 years of climbing Lobuche Peak! Congratulations again to the climbers who reached the summit of Lobuche East this Autumn. We are receiving photos from the climb now and wanted to share.
Our 3 Peak and 3 Passes Team completed the loop trek from Lukla, up valley to Chukkung Ri, over Khongma La to Kala Patthar and EBC. From EBC the trekking Team went over Cho La to Gokyo before crossing the final pass of Renjo La and back to Lukla.
Thank you for sharing photos from your trip to the Khumbu Valley!
Greg Vernovage
November 13, 2019
Quick update from Ecuador – 100% on the summit of Cayambe this morning. Hope Rikki, Romulo and crew have a smooth, safe descent and that they’ll be able to get a few photos out later today. Great news from the team!
Phil Ershler
November 12, 2019
Our November expedition to Ecuador is off to a great start! Rikki Dunn and Romulo Cardenas are showing the team more of Ecuador than ever imagined possible–first a tour of old town Quito, then a visit with a local weaver friend in the town of Peguche, followed by a jaunt through the market of Otavalo.
Acclimatization was the next order of business with hikes up Fuya Fuya and Imbabura. You can’t shortcut acclimatization and now’s the time to squeeze in as many hikes as possible.
The team is heading to the hut on Cayambe now that the acclimatization hikes are complete. They’ll be spending two nights there before taking a summit shot. A little more acclimatization and a bit of refresher training thrown in, to boot.
Everyone’s doing well!
Phil Ershler
November 8, 2019
Our Ama Dablam Team is now making their way back to Kathmandu and will then make plans to head home. While they pack and prepare to leave Base Camp, our Guide Team will continue to finish clearing more gear off the mountain. IMG Senior Guides, Phunuru Sherpa and Andy Polloczek, were able to get photos out of the two summits days we enjoyed. We will be posting more great photos from the expedition on our website where you can sign up for the 2020 Ama Dablam Expedition.
All is well and enjoy the photos from the 2019 Ama Dablam Expedition!
Greg Vernovage
November 7, 2019
IMG Senior Guide, Phunuru Sherpa, called from the summit of Ama Dablam to let us know the team had perfect weather conditions and the upper mountain completely to themselves. A light breeze with warm temperatures allowed the team to move up the mountain and enjoy the summit. With no other climbers on the upper mountain, Phunuru said the team moved incredibly well and made great time. The team is now back at Camp 1 for the night and will return to Base Camp tomorrow for a big celebration!
Congratulations to all of the climbers and guides on Ama Dablam!
1 | Raymond Talley Goodson | USA |
2 | Phinjo Dorje Sherpa (Guide) | Pangboche, Nepal |
3 | Andreas Polloczek (Guide) | Germany |
4 | Hannah Goodson | USA |
5 | Ngawang Tshiring Sherpa (Guide) | Phortse, Nepal |
6 | David William Buchwald | USA |
7 | Peter Bilodeau | USA |
8 | Phunuru Sherpa (Guide) | Phortse, Nepal |
9 | Dawa Tenzing Sherpa (Guide) | Thamo, Nepal |
10 | Matthew Scott Demey | USA |
11 | James Ernest Bedison, Jr. | USA |
12 | Sonam Tashi Sherpa (Guide) | Phortse, Nepal |
13 | Ang Karma Sherpa (Guide) | Phorste, Nepal |
Greg Vernovage
Next year’s trip is booking now!
October 12 – November 15, 2020
https://www.mountainguides.com/amadablam.shtml
November 6, 2019
Great news from IMG Senior Guides, Andy Polloczek and Phunuru Sherpa. Andy summited with his team with absolutely perfect weather conditions. “Clear skies and only a light breeze†during the climb and on the summit. Andy and his team had the summit to themselves and are now back down to Camp 1 for the night. They will continue to descend to Base Camp in the morning.
IMG Senior Guide, Phunuru Sherpa, checked in from Camp 2.5 with a healthy and strong team. They made great time getting to Camp 2.5, welcoming Andy’s Team as they rolled through. The Team has plenty of time to rest and the weather is still looking fantastic for the summit climb in the morning. The plan for Phunuru’s Team is to be climbing by 3am. We will be excited to hear more great news!
All is well on Ama Dablam!
Greg Vernovage