Weekend Update from the Khumbu Valley

October 21, 2019

Pheriche with Ama Dablam (Mitch Hobbs)

The Ama Dablam, 3X3 and Lobuche Peak teams had a good weekend in Pheriche.Â After trekking up and over the hill from Pangboche, the team settled into Pheriche (14,430â€™/4398m) for a couple days. This is a key place for acclimatization for the team. After getting settled into their rooms, the team took a short walk over to the Himalayan Rescue Association for a discussion about altitude. Sunday brought with it heavy clouds and light snow in the Pheriche and Dingboche area but the team still managed to get out for a short acclimatization hike. Tomorrow, the team will head up to Chukkung and prepare for a the climb of Chukkung Ri (18,238â€™/5558m)!

: Looking up valley from Pheriche with Cholatse (left) and Lobuche (right) (Sonam Dorge Sherpa)

: Lobuche Peak from Pheriche (Eric Simonson)

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Nepal Team Blessed in Pangboche

October 19, 2019

IMG Senior Guides Andy Polloczek and Phunuru Sherpa checked in overnight from Pangboche. The team had a great trek up the valley where they met Phunuru. After saying hello, the team made their way up to the Pangboche Monastery where they had the trek and climb blessed by the local Lama.

: Trekking to the Monastery in Pangboche (Phunuru Sherpa)

: 2019 Ama Dablam, 3X3 and Lobuche Peak Team with the Pangboche Lama (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Ama Dablam through the clouds from Pangboche (Phunuru Sherpa)

All is well, and the team is looking forward to heading further up the Valley to Pheriche!

Greg Vernovage

Teams on the Move to Tengboche!

October 18, 2019

Peaks around Tengboche (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

The Ama Dablam, 3X3 and Lobuche Peak teams made the move from Namche to Tengboche today. IMG Senior Guide Andy Polloczek checked in to let us know the team is feeling great and the weather is fantastic. The team got moved into the lodge before heading across the trail to the Tengboche Monastery for a visit. The Tengboche Monastery is one of the largest in the Khumbu Valley and is rich in history. It is a beautiful site during the trek to Everest Base Camp. Tomorrow is a shorter trekking day as the team will move up to Pangboche where they will meet IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa and head to the monastery for a blessing from the Lama.

: Namche (Nathan Berry)

: Tengboche at night (Mingma Tshering Sherpa)

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Beautiful Day in Namche

October 17, 2019

2019 Ama Dablam, 3X3 and 3X2 with Lobuche Team (Andy Polloczek)

IMG Senior Guide Andy Polloczek checked in with a great photos of the team in Namche. With beautiful weather and everyone feeling good, the team decided to take a short hike up the hill to the museum and also to visit the Tenzing Norgay statue. A bonus on a beautiful day is the first good look at Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest in the distance.

The Team will be out the door early tomorrow morning for Tengboche. This is a down and up day for the team. They will get their heart rates up as they leave Namche before bending around on the trail and dropping into the valley for lunch at the Dudh Koshi River.Â After lunch, the team takes on Tengboche Hill and will get settled in before visiting the monastery.

Yaks carrying gear to Ama Dablam Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

Phunuru also checked in on his way to Ama Dablam Base Camp with gear.Â The weather is beautiful and Phunuru along with our Sherpa Team will get Base Camp set up for our team.

Ama Dablam Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Team Returns to Kathmandu!

October 16, 2019

IMG Senior Guide Karma Rita Sherpa on the summit with IMG Climber (Karma Rita Sherpa)

The Putha Hiunchuli Team has returned to Kathmandu! After a couple flights and only a little bit of waiting in Juphal, the team is now back and enjoying a great shower and good night’s sleep in the hotel. A few more duffel bags are expected to come in tomorrow and our debrief with the ministry before we put a bow on the Expedition.

Putha Hiunchuli Team departing (Karma Rita Sherpa)

Congratulations once again to our team of climbers and Sherpa for a job well done and 100% on top!

Greg Vernovage

3X3 & Ama Dablam Teams Move Up to Namche

October 16, 2019

Ama Dablam, 3X3 and 3X2 with Lobuche Team below the suspension bridge (Andy Polloczek)

IMG Senior Guide Andy Polloczek checked in this morning to let us know the team had a beautiful day of trekking up to Namche. Typically, the team departs after an early morning breakfast in Phakding. The team did just that and are now in the growing village of Namche for the next couple days. The weather continues to be favorable for the next few days and the team is doing great!

Greg Vernovage

IMG Denali 2020 – Booking Now!

October 15, 2019

Up high on ‘The Great One’ (Nate Berry)

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Available Dates:
May 14, 2020
May 18, 2020
May 22, 2020
June 16, 2020
June 18, 2020

Sign up for your IMG Denali Expedition today.

Heather Garland

Putha Hiunchuli Team In Juphal And Ready To Fly

October 15, 2019

2019 Putha Hiunchuli Base Camp (Pega Sherpa)

The Putha Hiunchuli Team made the short trek from Dunai to Juphal today and they are excited to be on the first flight back to Kathmandu in the morning. The team has had a great trek back and they are looking forward to taking a hot shower and finalizing their plans for the trip home.

Join IMG on Putha Hiunchuli (7246m/23,773â€™) in 2020!

Greg Vernovage

Ama Dablam, 3X3 Teams Trek to Phakding

October 15, 2019

2019 IMG Ama Dablam and 3X3 trek with Lobuche Team (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

The Team had a smooth trip from Kathmandu to Manthali, and with good weather in Lukla, the team flew in on schedule. After arriving to Lukla, the team gathered their trek duffels and met the Sherpa guide team who will be with them for their journey. The team is in Phakding for the night and will head out for Namche in the morning. Phakding is a great little village, and we stay in a lodge near the river where we can visit and listen to the calming sounds. IMG Senior Guide Andy Polloczek checked in with a short but sweet message, â€œThe team is looking forward to getting a full night’s sleep and is happy to be in the Khumbu Valley.â€

: Lukla to Phakding trek house (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

: Phakding (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

All is well in Nepal!

Greg Vernovage

Ama Dablam, 3×3 and 3×2 Arrive to Kathmandu!

October 14, 2019

Rooftop meeting in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

It has been a busy weekend in Kathmandu with the arrival of our Ama Dablam, 3X3 Trek and 3X2 with Lobuche Peak Teams. The president of China made a last minute decision to visit Nepal over the weekend as well, creating many delays. The good news is all climbers and trekkers have arrived with all of their gear! Great job by the staff in Kathmandu and incredible patience shown by our team of climbers and trekkers.

IMG Guide Andy Polloczek receiving Ama Dablam climbing permit_(Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

The best news is that we are on schedule.Â IMG Senior Guide Andy Polloczek received our climbing permit and all gear checks have been completed with the help of Andy and Jangbu. The team will be up early to head to the airport for their flight to Lukla.

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa has already flown to the Khumbu Valley with gear and had Phinjo Dorji, Dawa Tenzing and Nawang Tshiri climb to Camp 1 and Camp 2 to secure spots for our tents.Â The Sherpa report that there is quite a bit more snow on the mountain this Autumn which is great news for climbing as well as drinking water during the climb.

: Camp 2 on Ama Dablam (Dawa Tenzing Sherpa)

: Camp 1 on Ama Dablam (Dawa Tenzing Sherpa)

: IMG Gear for Ama Dablam (Phunuru Sherpa)

We are ready to head to the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage