December 9, 2019
Here are the final team photos from Vinson. All members are sleeping in their own beds tonight except for one; Flint stayed on the Ice and is skiing the last 60 miles, ‘The Last Degree’, to the South Pole.
A fun trip was had by all!
Phil Ershler
December 6, 2019
The IL-76 (Phil Ershler)
The Vinson team is flying off the Ice tonight (the 6th). Winds may be increasing soon so no time like the present. That’ll put the team back in Punta Arenas early the 7th. Just don’t see how this trip could have gone much smoother or been more successful. And, from what I hear, it was pretty darn enjoyable, too. Thanks to all team members for putting their faith in IMG and for doing their part in making the trip safe, successful, and enjoyable. Come early January 2020, we’ll be reporting from the Ice once more!
Congratulations, all!
Phil Ershler
December 5, 2019
Ready to fly (Phil Ershler)
When you’re hot, your hot. Justin Merle checked in at about 5 pm, Seattle time, on Wednesday evening to let us know the team had an easy night at high camp after their summit day. They packed up, headed down the fixed ropes, and continued all the way to Vinson base camp. More packing continued as the Twin Otters were ready to fly them over to Union Glacier. ALE had a big meal ready for them and afterwards, they pitched tents and settled in for what we hope is about a two day wait for their IL76 flight off to the Ice and back to Punta Arenas. We still need good weather for that flight but, as for now, this trip couldn’t have gone much smoother or more successfully.
Great job, team. Great job, Justin. Great job ALE. And, thank you, mother nature!
Phil Ershler
December 3, 2019
Vinson Summit Panorama (Greg Vernovage)
100% on the summit of Vinson this morning. Congratulations to Justin and the team. They plan on spending this evening at high camp and get down to Vinson base camp tomorrow and, hopefully, fly over to Union Glacier later that evening. Weather is good and forecast remains good for the next couple of days. Couldn’t have planned it much better. Everyone performed well and the weather cooperated. News couldn’t get much better from down South today.
Phil Ershler
December 1, 2019
I love Justin’s messages from the Vinson Expedition he’s leading:
“No sun but no wind. Not too hot. Perfect day for a carry to the top of the fixed rope. Team did well. They’re strong. Came back down here (C1) and it’s ripping now at high camp. You can hear it from down here. Today (meaning Dec 1st), wind is diminishing and forecast calls for more improvement the next two days. So, we’ll pop up to high camp tomorrow (Dec 2nd) and climb the following day. All going to plan so farâ€.
Between C1 and High Camp on Vinson (Emily Johnston)
I have nothing to add.
Phil Ershler
November 29, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving to the team on the Ice and from the team on the Ice to family and friends. All is well. They haven’t stopped moving since they left home back on the 23rd. Flights, packing, briefings, gear checks. Then, more flights to the Ice and they’ve already made their carry and move to C1. Just relayed that weather was a little unsettled now but that they would make their carry to high camp at the first opportunity. Then it’s wait — wait for the right couple of days to move to high camp and summit. C1, not high camp, is the good place to wait out any inclement weather.
Dragging sleds on Vinson (Emily Johnston)
Bottom line is that the team is in a great spot and doing well. So, for now, there’s nothing but good news from the Ice, and we’ll let you know as soon as they can get in their carry to high camp. Hard to believe that things are moving this smoothly, but that’s a good thing.
Phil Ershler
November 27, 2019
Weather and avalanche information for Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range, NH (Heather Garland)
A traverse of the Presidential Range in winter is one of the most challenging and coveted mountaineering adventures in New England. The terrain is rugged and the scenery is wild. Average nightly temperatures are often well below 0° Fahrenheit with average winds of 40 mph or more. The ~23 mile traverse begins on Mt. Madison in the north and moves south along the ridgeline that connects the “Presidentials”, summiting seven peaks along the way. Climb Mt. Madison 5367′, Mt. Adams 5774′, Mt. Jefferson 5712′, Mt. Washington 6288′, Mt. Monroe 5372′, Mt. Eisenhower 4780′, and Mt. Pierce 4310′ this winter with IMG!
Available dates:
March 8-11, 2020
March 15-18, 2020
March 29 – April 1, 2020
A worthy objective in its own right, a guided traverse is also ideal when preparing for Denali or a climb in the Wrangell-St. Elias.
Email: office@mountaingides.com for more information or submit your application now to reserve your spot!
Heather Garland
November 26, 2019
Daybreak on the Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, Peru (Betsy Dain-Owens)
We are down to just over a month left to sign up for the July 14-23, 2020 Machu Picchu Trek. Permits for the Inca Trail are limited and all applications must be submitted by Dec 31. Don’t miss out on your chance to explore the hidden secrets of this lost city!
Classic Machu Picchu Trek
July 14-23, 2020 (Sign up by Dec 31, 2019)
Additional treks in the Peruvian Andes:
Cordillera Huayhuash Trek
July 4-19, 2020
Salkantay Trek
July 5-14, 2020
September 5-14, 2020
Email: office@mountainguides.com for details!
Heather Garland
November 26, 2019
Aboard the IL76 (Justin Merle)
It’s always summer somewhere. Seems a bit odd to say that about Antarctica but it’s the truth. The Austral summer has begun and so has the Vinson climbing season . AND, right on schedule. IMG’s first team for the season arrived in Punta on the 24th, prepped and organized on the 25th, and began flights to the Ice this morning – 26 November. First leg is the flight on a 1970’s vintage Russian cargo jet – the IL76. This 4 hour flight takes the team to about 80 degree S, a place called the Union Glacier. If they get lucky, they won’t be at the Union Glacier long before boarding a twin-engine Otter and flying about another hour over to Vinson base camp.
IMG Senior Guide, Justin Merle, is at the lead of this team and will keep us posted when he can. Thanksgiving will be on the Ice but what a unique way to spend the holiday. Getting TO the Ice is the first big hurdle and it looks like that’s going to happen on schedule.
Phil Ershler
November 22, 2019
Paradise at 5,400′ on Mt. Rainier may be famous for its wildflowers and hiker-friendly (if not a bit steep!) trails in the summer months, but winter on Rainier presents an entirely different scene. Paradise receives over 50 feet of snow on average, making it the perfect playground for snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and most importantly, the launching point for a 6 day winter mountaineering expedition seminar.
Who should register?
The Denali Prep Seminar is perfect for climbers seeking a primer in cold weather mountaineering skills and those with aspirations of greater climbs in the Wrangell-St. Elias or Alaska Range. The seminars climb in expedition style with the team working their way up from Paradise to Camp Muir, training along the way. Once at Camp Muir, the team will assess weather and conditions and may scout a route to the summit. Should an attempt be possible, there will be hands-on training in route finding, avalanche hazard evaluation, cold weather survival, and glacier travel. The chance of summiting Mt. Rainier in early season is not high, but the training opportunities are limitless!
Space is available on the following dates:
February 8-14, 2020
February 22-28, 2020
Topics include:
• Basic skills with ice axe and crampons
• Sled rigging and use
• Expedition camp building and maintenance
• Construction of snow caves and snow shelters
• Ascending and descending fixed ropes
• Building snow anchors and anchor systems
• Expedition glacier travel, route finding, and avalanche hazard evaluation
• Crevasse rescue practice
• Lectures on high altitude medicine
Email: office@mountainguides.com or call 360-569-2609 for details!
Heather Garland
