Huayhuash Trekkers visit Laguna Churup

Huayhuash Trekkers at Laguna Churup (Tyler Nachand)

IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports from Peru that the team had a second day of acclimatization hiking today with a trip up to Laguna Churup: “Following our delicious breakfast at Hotel Morales, we made our way up the windy mountain roads above Huaraz to Pitec, where our trek to Laguna Churup began. Starting at 12,600ft, we slowly made our way up to Laguna Churup where we enjoyed stunning views and homemade empanadas for lunch. Above the lake we made our high point of the day at 14,800ft with another breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding glaciated peaks, the closest of which is Nevado Churup at 18,000ft. Our descent felt smooth and easy compared to the uphill as we made our way back to the trailhead for our drive back down to town. Another enjoyable dinner and final gear check for the Huayhuash circuit rounded out our last night in Huaraz. Tomorrow we’ll be heading south towards the Huayhuash circuit trailhead at Quartelhuain, 13,700ft, our first campsite of the trip.”

Huayhuash Trekkers are in Huaraz

Aug 5, 2024 – IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports that everyone made it to Lima, Peru yesterday with all their luggage. Well done, team! From there they traveled up north to the mountain town of Huaraz which is tucked in at the foot of the snowcapped Cordillera Blanca range. Their goal for the trip will be a circumnavigation of the nearby Corrdillera Huayhuash range, one of the world’s classic high mountain treks. Today the team had a nice acclimatization hike with our local guides Maximo and Michel, reaching an altitude of 12,300 ft at the Laguna (lake) Wilcachocha, where they had lunch. Now they are back in Huaraz for showers and dinner. All’s well in Peru!

Huayhuash trekkers on the way to Laguna Wilcacocha with the high peaks in the background (Tyler Nachand)

Mt. Rainier Summits!

July 30, 2024

Defying all odds with crummy weather the past few days, our 3.5 Day DC Climb led by Brad Swanson summited this morning via the DC! Congrats to this crew!

With our last Kautz and Emmons launching in the next week or so, our big summer rush is starting to come to an end. Now it’s just North Cascades rock season and time to finish strong on the DC!

DC Summits!

July 16, 2024

DC Team led by Max Bond on the summit of Mt. Rainier (Max Bond)

Our guide team worked tirelessly over the past five days to reestablish a climbing route on the DC, and the fruits of their labor has delivered! Our DC summit climb this morning, led by Max Bond, reached the summit with the team.

We’re full steam ahead in the Cascades!

July Kilimanjaro is a wrap!

July 16, 2024

Back down through the forest on the last day of the climb (Ang Jangbu)

The team with their summit certificates back at the hotel (Ang Jangbu)

The team had a nice hike down through the forest today to the Mweka Gate, where they paid off their porters and camp staff and said goodbye to them. Then, it was time to get in the vehicles and head down through the tea, coffee and banana farms on the slopes of Kili to the town of Moshi, at the base of the mountain. After getting showers and certificates, the team enjoyed a dinner with their guides. Thanks to Ang Jangbu, Kassim, and everyone who helped make the trip a success!

Kili climbers back to Mweka Camp

Ang Jangbu reports that everyone is down to the Mweka Camp at treeline, tired, safe and sound. Tomorrow the team will be heading back to Moshi to wrap up the climb with a barbeque dinner with their Chagga guides. Well done team!

July Kili climbers on Uhuru Peak (Ang Jangbu)

Kilimanjaro Summits!

July 15th, 2024

On the climb with the lights of Moshi in the background (Ang Jangbu)

Ang Jangbu called on the sat phone from Uhuru Peak to let us know that everyone was standing on the summit of Kilimanjaro. Well done! They had a nice climb up and are now in the process of descending to Mweka Camp. Additional summit photos will be forthcoming, but in the meantime he sent us one amazing photo from the team’s departure from Barafu Camp at midnight, with the lights of Moshi and the stars of the southern sky in the background. Wow!!

Kili climbers are in position for the summit climb

July 14th, 2024

: Karanga Camp with Mt Meru in the distance (Ang Jangbu)

: On the climb up to Barafu Camp (Ang Jangbu)

: Kili from Barafu Camp (Ang Jangbu)

The team spent last night at Karanga Camp (13000 feet) the third night in a row at that approximate elevation, as they have traversed around the south side of Kilimanjaro. Now they are ready to push higher! Today they climbed up to Barafu Camp (about 15000 ft) which left the afternoon for eating, hydrating, resting and getting packed up to for the summit climb. Their plan is to depart about midnight, which will hopefully put them on top shortly after dawn. So far so good, best wishes to everyone for their climb tonight!

Climbers reach Karanga Camp

July, 13th 2024

: Barranco Camp with the Breach Wall and Icicle above (Eric Simonson)

: The team at the top of the Barranco Wall (Ang Jangbu)

: Kilimanjaro from Karanga Camp (Eric Simonson)

Ang Jangbu reports that the team had a nice day, with good weather and everyone doing well. This is one of our favorite days of the trip, first climbing the steep trail up the Barranco Wall, and then traversing for several hours below the Southern Glaciers (or what is left of them) until reaching the Karanga Valley, and the camp just beyond it. The small creek in the valley is the last water source on the ascent, so the porters will carry water tomorrow from Karanga up to the Barafu Camp.

A classic day on Kilimanjaro

July 12th, 2024

: Kili by moonlight from Barranco Camp (Ang Jangbu)

: Arriving Barranco Camp (Ang Jangbu)

: Shira Camp (Ang Jangbu)

Ang Jangbu reports that team had a good hike today, ascending to 15000 feet at Lava Tower (where they took their lunch break) and then descending down to 13000 at Barranco Camp. This is the perfect acclimatization profile: “climb high, sleep low”. The day started clear as a bell, but on the descent from Lava Tower to Barranco the clouds rolled in and delivered an afternoon rain shower. Then, by the time they went to bed it was clear as a bell! Everyone is doing well, and they are looking forward to heading to Karanga Camp in the morning.