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

Putha Hiunchuli Team Back to Dunai

October 14, 2019

Climbing on Putha Hiunchuli (Pega Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guide Karma Rita Sherpa checked in from Dunai to let us know the team is doing well during their trek out. They will have a shorter day tomorrow as they head to Juphal, and we are hoping to get flights changed so the team can fly back to Kathmandu on the 16^th. We also received some great photos from Pega Sherpa from this Autumnâ€™s climb. More photos will be up on the webpage soon!

: Karma Rita breaking trail (Pega Sherpa)

: Climbing to Camp 2 on Putha Hiunchuli (Pega Sherpa)

: Climber with Pega on summit of Putha Hiunchuli (Pega_Sherpa)

All is well with the Putha Hiunchuli Team!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Team Set To Depart Base Camp!

October 11, 2019

: Putha Hiunchuli Base Camp with Yaks and the mountain (Karma Rita Sherpa)

: Yaks arriving at Putha Hiunchuli Base Camp (Karma Rita Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guide Karma Rita Sherpa checked in to let us know the mountain is clean and everything is packed and ready to make the trek out. The plan is to do breakfast at 8am and hit the trail by 9am. The yaks have arrived and the team will head to Kagkot in the morning. The weather is cool but clear and the team is excited to be heading home after an incredibly successful expedition.

Join IMG on Putha Hiunchuli in 2020!

Greg Vernovage

100% on Top of Putha Hiunchuli!

October 9, 2019

100% on top of Putha Hiunchuli was the message we received overnight! It is always great to hear that the team had a good climb to the summit. Just as great to hear that they are back down to Base Camp for the night. The Sherpa Team worked hard, breaking trail from Camp 2.5 to the summit under clear skies during their climb. The wind picked up just before reaching the summit but the team pushed on and were warm with the use of supplemental oxygen. We look forward to sharing more photos when the team gets back to Kathmandu!

: Climbers approaching the summit of Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

: The summit of Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

Congratulations to our Putha Hiunchuli Team!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli in Position at Camp 2.5

October 8, 2019

View from above Camp 2 on Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

Karma Rita checked in overnight to let us know the team is in position to summit! It was a little cloudy on the climb to Camp 2.5 for the team but sometimes we need to move in less than perfect weather to put ourselves in position to have a great summit day. The weather is favorable and the team is planning on departing Camp at 1 am. Having oxygen for the climb will help the team stay warm and move efficiently as they head for the summit.

Sherpa Team preparing water at Camp 2.5 (Karma Rita Sherpa)

Looking forward to hearing from our team on the summit of Putha Hiunchuli!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Team Departs for the Summit Rotation

October 7, 2019

: Climbing to Camp 2 on Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

: Approaching Camp 2 on Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

Our Putha Hiunchuli Team is on the move and heading uphill for their summit rotation.Â The team is doing great and our Sherpa Team is confident with the weather and route conditions.Â There has been a little more snow on the mountain as a result of the lingering monsoon but we are confident we can break trail to the summit.Â The team will move up to Camp 2 in the morning and be in position to head for the summit on the 9^th. A nice bonus for the team is getting to put on oxygen; this will allow our team to move efficiently and warm in the cool temperatures up high.

All is well on Putha Hiunchuli!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Team Heading to Camp 1

October 6, 2019

Karma Rita checked in from Putha Hiunchuli Base Camp to let us know the team is doing great and ready to head up on the summit rotation.

IMG Senior Guide Karma Rita heading up Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

The weather looks favorable for the team, and they are aiming for the 9th to stand on top! The team will head up to Camp 1 in the morning to begin putting themselves into position!

All is well on Putha Hiunchuli!

Greg Vernovage

Kilimanjaro Expedition is a Wrap

October 5, 2019

Harry and team checked in one last time from the Farmhouse Lodge. Classic lodge/restaurant below Ngorongoro and an absolutely great spot to wrap up the trip.

IMG team enjoying a wonderful meal at the Farmhouse (Harry Hamlin)

They finished the safari portion of their trip exploring the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. Itâ€™s just all pretty special. An easy day after lunch back to Kilimanjaro International Airport with a stop in Arusha for a bit of repacking and a bit of shopping prior to flights home.

Thanks and congratulations to all our climbers and letâ€™s do this again in December when Phunuru Sherpa heads back with another IMG team at the holidays.

Phil Ershler

Kili Update

October 4, 2019

Another of the Big Five (Harry Hamlin)

The team spent a full day game viewing and moving through the Serengeti in our private safari vehicles. It went about as well as one could expect with many sightings, including 8 cheetah.Â Ngorongoro Crater with a stop beforehand at Oldavai Gorge will keep the team busy today. Their last night together will be just below the Crater at a place called the Farmhouse.

Nice way to end a nice trip!

Phil Ershler

Kili Team Completes Safari Day 1

October 3, 2019

: Stars above Kilimanjaro (Harry Hamlin)

: One of many reasons why you do the safari after summiting Kili! (Harry Hamlin)

Harry sent us good news and a couple of great photos.Â Day 1 of their safari is complete. Day 1 is always exciting, especially when totally relaxed after a great climb and you start seeing so many of the Big Five on even the first day!Â The elephant photo he sent is a good example.Â Allâ€™s good, everyoneâ€™s â€˜jackedâ€™ and looking forward to another day as they work their way through the Serengeti and onwards towards Ngorongoro.

And check out the â€˜starâ€™ photo from the climb which Harry was able to send.Â Pretty cool.

All is about as good as possible in Tanzania!!

Phil Ershler