Kilimanjaro Climbers Reach Machame Camp

September 17, 2025

Kili team at the Machame Camp (Max Bond)

Max Bond reports the team had a great first day on the trail. They left the hotel on schedule in the minibus to Machame Gate, winding up through the coffee, tea and banana farms on the slopes of the mountain for about an hour. Then, at the Gate, they got checked in with the National Park and met their porters and camp crew.

Kili climbers and monkeys in the forest (Max Bond)

Finally, after all that travel and duffel shuffling, it was time to start the climb! The day was spent predominantly in the forest, with some peekaboo views along the way (including monkeys in the trees!) as the team moved steadily higher. Machame Camp is at about 9300 feet, right at the treeline between the forest and the moorland zone. After a comfortable night at the camp they will enter the moorlands tomorrow, on their way to the Shira Plateau camp. All’s well on Kilimanjaro!

September Kilimanjaro Team is Ready To Climb!

September 16, 2025

The September Kili team at the hotel (Max Bond)

IMG lead guide Max Bond reports from Moshi, Tanzania that all’s well with the Kilimanjaro team: “We’re looking all set for another excellent adventure up on Kilimanjaro. The team all arrived on time yesterday evening and we had a relaxed morning today chatting about the climb, tips for success, and what to expect. We did our standard gear checks and had a nice lunch, then went to town to fill-in any gaps and get a taste of the local Moshi scene. We visited the market and enjoyed great coffee at Union Coffee, where we also got some souvenir shopping in!

: The local market in Moshi (Ang Jangbu)

: Exploring downtown Moshi (Max Bond)

Afterwards we visited a local pharmacy, and then a shopping mall to grab some snacks and other needs. We had a couple hours to rest, relax, and pack before dinner, where we chatted in more detail about what lies ahead for tomorrow. We also got to meet Kassim, our Lead Chagga Guide, and Peter, our Head Chef, this evening! Tomorrow we will eat breakfast at 7am, and depart for Machame Gate shortly after”.

The summit of Kilimanjaro rises above Moshi (Max Bond)

All is well! We look forward to more dispatches from Max soon!

An Incredible Season on Mt Rainier

August 28, 2025

Guides tend a cook stove as the sun sets over Mt. Rainier

Sunrise over Mt Rainier.

Thank you all for a wonderful 2025 season on Rainier! Our climbs on Mt Rainier have ended, and our guides are hard at work preparing our gear and camps for the winter season ahead. It’s been a summer filled with smiles and summits and incredible memories.

We’re looking forward to morechallenges, accomplishments, and sunrises coming in 2026. IMG’s 2026 programs will be released Tuesday Sept 2 at 11AM, we hope to climb with you next year!

Sign up here.

Inca Trail Trekkers Reach Machu Picchu!

August 27, 2025

Big views of Machu Picchu from Waynapicchu (Michel Henostroza)

The team got up early yesterday, before sunrise, to hit the trail and arrive at the Sun Gate at dawn. This is the traditional access point to the Machu Picchu Citadel, from which trekkers descend down to various buildings and living areas. After four days of rugged trekking the team had fun exploring the Citadel area in the early morning, before countless tourists show up. Then, our team boarded the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes (6,724 ft) for a nice lunch and hot showers!

: Going through the checkpost to ascend Waynapicchu (Michel Henostroza)

: Trekking on the Inca Trail (Michel Henostroza)

This morning the team rode the bus back up to the Citadel with the goal to climb Waynapicchu, the steep rocky peak nearby that requires a special permit to access. This is a fun climb, quite steep in places, with incredible views of the whole area. After reaching the summit, our stalwart trekkers headed down to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cusco.

Machu Picchu with the rocky peak of Waynapicchu behind (Eric Simonson)

What a great way to wrap up the trip. Well done team!!!

On The Inca Trail

August 25, 2025

Arriving at the Intipata historic agricultural terraced site on day 3 (Tyler Nachand)

Yesterday the team crossed over the famous “Dead Woman’s Pass” at 13,780′ (the Abra de Huarmihuanusca) and dropped down to their second camp at Pacaymayu (11,808′). Today is more rugged trekking on countless stone steps, literally following the footsteps of the Incas.

Rugged hiking on the Inca Trail (Eric Simonson)

The trail goes up and down along the ridge, in places quite steep. It is really fun trekking for people who enjoy the challenge of something more than a flat trail!

Today the route winds through several ecosystems and hits archeological sites at Runkuracay, Sayacmarca, and Phuyupatamarca before reaching the third camp at Winayhuayna (11,930′).

The ruins at Sayacmarca (Eric Simonson)

Approaching the Phuyupatamarca site along the Inca Trail (Tyler Nachand)

Tomorrow the team will get going before dawn, to arrive at Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate at sunrise!

Machu Picchu trekkers hit the Inca Trail

August 24, 2025

: Crossing the bridge to start the Inca Trail (Michel Henostroza)

: First day on the Inca Trail (Michel Henostroza)

: Inca Trail Map

: Start of Inca Trail (Michel Henostroza)

: The trekkers and their local Quechuan porters and camp crew (Michel Henostroza)

After another fun acclimatization day in the Sacred Valley, the team started the trek this morning. After checking in with the Park Service and showing passports to match their permits, the team was allowed to cross the bridge and start the four day trek to Machu Picchu, via the route of the Incas! IMG guide Michel Henostroza was able to send some photos from the trailhead and early on the hike, while he still had some signal. Today is a long gradual ascent to the first night at Wayllabamba, at about 10,000 feet. The camp crew will go ahead and get the tents set up, and the cooks will be working on a special meal to start the trip. All’s well in Peru!

Inca Trail Trekkers Acclimatizing in Cusco

August 22, 2025

Exploring the Saqsaywaman ruins (Michel Henostroza)

The goal for our team is to reach Machu Picchu after four days of trekking via the famous Inca Trail, the traditional route to the citadel. The permits for the Inca Trail trek route are strictly controlled to prevent overcrowding. But, before the team can start, they need to get a few days of acclimatization under their belt!

The red roofs of Cusco seen from the Coricancha Temple (Eric Simonson)

Cusco is a fascinating city to spend a few days exploring, and 11,000 feet makes it a perfect acclimatization venue. Lead guide Michel Henostroza reports the team had a nice day visiting the classic Inca sites in the area.

: Plaza de Armas in central Cusco (Eric Simonson)

: Intricate stonework in Cusco (Eric Simonson)

Next up, for tomorrow, the team travels to the Sacred Valley which was the heart of the Inca Empire. At a slightly lower altitude it will give the team another good acclimatization opportunity, while the visit more interesting archeological sites. All’s well in Peru!

Lead Guides for Denali/McKinley 2026!

August 15, 2025

Alaska season is coming fast, and we want to make sure you meet IMG Denali’s 2026 West Buttress Expedition Leaders! Spots are going fast- be sure to secure your spot on their rope teams before they run out!

Forrest Baldwin, May 12th Team Lead

Forrest has been guiding with IMG for eight seasons in Washington and Alaska. Prior to joining the IMG team, he worked as a USFS Hotshot based out of Missoula, Montana. In the winter, Forrest works as a Professional Ski Patroller at Crystal Mountain Resort where he is an on-hill Supervisor and the primary trainer of Cudi, one of the mountain’s five avalanche search dogs. Forrest is a licensed EMT at both the national and state levels and holds his AAA Pro 1 certification.

Brad Swanson, May 16th Team Lead

Although Brad is in his fifth year with IMG, he is rounding out his eleventh season working as a mountain guide across the American West with is true passion being in Washington’s North Cascades. Brad spends his winters working as a Professional Ski Patroller at Crystal Mountain Resort. At Crystal, Brad leads the patrol’s technical rescue program and works as the Assistant Avalanche Forecaster. Brad maintains his Outdoor Emergency Care certification through the National Ski Patrol and holds his AAA Pro 1 certification.

Timm Phillips, May 20th Team Lead

Timm is in his seventh season guiding for IMG in the Cascades, the Alaska Range, and internationally. Timm spends much of his winter season working as a ski guide in Japan and leading avalanche safety courses in California before making his yearly migration north. When not in the mountains, you can find him surfing waves around the world. Timm maintains his AAA Pro 2.

Max Bond, May 24th Team Lead

Max has been guiding with IMG for five out of his seven years as a mountain guide! Max has led five successful expeditions to Nepal’s highest peaks, two to the summit of Vinson in Antarctica, and two to the summit of Kilimanjaro on top of full-time Washington/Alaska seasons! Max is an AIARE Course Leader, and in his spare time he leads wilderness medicine courses and loves to tackle new split-boarding objectives! On top of his baseline certifications, Max holds an AAA Pro 2 certification.

Inca Trail/Machu Picchu Team Arrives in Cusco

August 20, 2025

Machu Picchu team hits Cusco (Michel Henostroza)

Good news, everyone made it to Cusco, Peru with all their luggage. That’s how we like to start a trip! Our Peruvian guide Michel Henostroza met everyone and they are all checked in at the hotel. They’ll head out later for a stroll and some dinner. It’s their first day at 11,000, so we’ll be reminding everyone to go slowly and keep drinking water!

The Huayhuash Trek Is A Wrap!

August 18, 2025

The Huayhuash team on the last morning of the trek at Jahaucocha (Tyler Nachand)

IMG lead guide Tyler Nachand and our six stalwart trekkers finished up their circumnavigation of the Huayhuash Range in northern Peru, managing to cross all eight high passes on this classic high altitude trek.

: Huayhuash map

: Final camp of the trek on the shores of Laguna Jahaucocha (Tyler Nachand)

Yesterday was their final day of hiking, starting at the Jahaucocha camp (13,300 ft) and finishing up at the trailhead at Pampa Llamac (10,600 ft). Then, they drove back to Huaraz for the night and final goodbyes to our local guide Michel Henostroza and his top-notch support team. Big thanks to all of them. This morning the team are on their way back to Lima for their flights home.

The view on the descent down to the last camp at Jahaucocha (Tyler Nachand)

Well done, team!!