Kili Climbers Reach Machame Camp

Setpember 25, 2019

: Climbers and guides ready to hit the trail (Harry Hamlin)

: Starting up the Machame Route (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Hiking in the forest on the way to Machame Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG senior guide Harry Hamlin called on the sat phone to report that the team had a nice hike today up through the forest to Machame Camp (about 9,800 ft). He says the team members are all doing well and everything is going smoothly. They had a little rain along the way, but it cleared up later in the day and now the weather is looking good. Machame Camp is located right at treeline, and tomorrow they will leave the trees behind and enter the drier â€œheath zoneâ€ with giant heather plants and other strange flora. So far so good!

Eric Simonson

Putha Hiunchuli Team Moves Up To Panjing

September 25, 2019

: Traversing the steep trail on the way to Panjing (Karma Rita Sherpa)

: Mingma Dorje crossing a bridge on the way to Panjing (Karma Rita Sherpa)

: River crossing near Panjing (Karma Rita Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guide Karma Rita Sherpa checked in from Panjing (14,763â€™/4500m) to let us know the team is doing well.Â The team had a good day on the trail and were happy to report that the trail was in much better condition than the last time we made the trek.Â All mules have made it to camp as well.

Greg Vernovage

Cho Oyu Summits!

September 25, 2019

: Climbers high on Cho Oyu (Dallas Glass)

: Climbing through the Yellow Band on Cho Oyu (Dallas Glass)

: View on top of the Yellow Band (Dallas Glass)

: Cho Oyu Summit photo (Dallas Glass)

: Descending Cho Oyu (Dallas Glass)

100% on top of Cho Oyu! IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa checked in to let us know the entire team stood on top of Cho Oyu which is always good news.Â The team is now back at Camp 2 for the night and will head down to ABC in the morning.

Congratulations to all of the climbers on their summit of Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage

September Kilimanjaro Climbers Ready to Go!

September 24, 2019

IMG senior guide Harry Hamlin reports from Moshi Tanzania that our September Kili team have all arrived with their luggage, and are doing well.Â Thatâ€™s the way we like to start a trip! Today they did gear checks and got their duffels packed and weighed.Â Then, they took a short drive to the city center for a stroll around downtown Moshi and a chance to see the local market and shops.

September Kilimanjaro team (Harry Hamlin)

The plan for tomorrow starts with a 7am breakfast and a 8am departure from the hotel, then an hour or so drive up to the Machame Gate trailhead (about 5800 ft). After going through the National Park permit formalities, they have a nice hike to look forward to, ascending up through the forest to the treeline. Weâ€™ll look forward to hearing from them tomorrow evening from the Machame Camp (about 9800 ft).

Eric Simonson

Putha Hiunchuli Team Ready to Move Up in the Morning

September 24, 2019

Kagkot (Pega Sherpa)

The Putha Hiunchuli Team found a cell phone signal in Kagkot and were able to get a few photos out. IMG Guide Pega Sherpa sent a message letting us know the team is doing well:

“We arrived at Kagkot on schedule with all of our luggage. Some parts of the trail were washed away by rivers and landslides, so we had to switch to a new trail which was much longer, especially in between (Dunai to Tarakot) and (Tarakot to Musikhola). There were also some small landslides on the trails half way to Kagkot where mules could not make it, so they moved through different trails. Two days of acclimatization here at Kagkot went great. We gained 500m elevation yesterday and today we gained 300m. We are all set to leave tomorrow toward Panjing Camp (13,780â€™/4200m) with the mules ready and healthy and strong team members.”

: River crossing on the way to Kagkot (Pega Sherpa)

: Nighttime at Kagkot (Pega Sherpa)

: Acclimatizing above Kagkot (Mingma Dorje Sherpa)

All is well on Putha Hiunchuli!

Greg Vernovage

Cho Oyu Team in Position to Summit!

September 24, 2019

Climbers high on Cho Oyu (Dallas Glass)

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa just called from Camp 2 on Cho Oyu.Â The team is doing great and are ready to head to the summit in the morning. Phunuru reported a very light snowfall but clearing.Â The team is planning on departing Camp 2 at 1am.

: Climbers ascending the fixed lines above Camp 1 (Dallas Glass)

: Looking up from the Yellow Band on Cho Oyu (Dallas Glass)

All is well on Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage

Great News from Cho Oyu!

September 23, 2019

Cho Oyu ABC (Dallas Glass)

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa checked in overnight to let us know the fixing team had a great day today and fixed to the summit of Cho Oyu! Phunuru received a radio call from Chhewang Lendu at 10:30 am from the summit.Â Congratulations and thank you to all 8 of the climbers who pitched in to help fix to the summit.

: 2019 Cho Oyu Team departing ABC for the summit rotation (Kaji Sherpa)

: Heading out for the summit rotation (Kaji Sherpa)

With the summit fixed and the weather forecast in our favor, Phunuru and the team departed ABC for Camp 1 after breakfast.Â The team made great time climbing to Camp 1 and are now settled in for the night. Tomorrow, our entire team will move to Camp 2 and put themselves in position to summit.

Cho Oyu Fixing Team:

1) Chhewang Lendu Sherpa (IMG)

2) Pasang Sherpa (IMG)

3) Palden Namgya Sherpa (Alpenglow)

4) Nima Tenzing Sherpa (Alpenglow)

5) Esteban â€œToppoâ€ Mena

6) Lhakpa Ongcchu Sherpa (Himalayan Guide)

Plus:

7) Nirmal Purna (Nims dai)

8) Gesman Tamang Â (Nims daiâ€™s climbing partner)

Congratulations to a job well done by the fixing team and a special congratulations to Nims Dai who marked the 12^th 8000m peak with Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Acclimatizes in Kagkot

September 23, 2019

Karma Rita checked in overnight to let us know the team is doing well in Kagkot (10,500â€™/3200m).Â The team had a good trek into Kagkot and were pleasantly surprised to find out the trail had been repaired and the mules were able to make it all the way into Kagkot without needing to be unloaded.Â While Pega took the team on an acclimatization hike to 12,140â€™/3700m Karma Rita and Mingma Dorje rearranged loads.Â The team will be switching from Mules to Yaks for the remainder of the trek to base camp.Â The team will spend one more day in Kagkot before moving up to Panjin (13780â€™/4200m) the next day.

: IMG Camp during trek to Putha Hiunchuli (Karma Rita Sherpa)

: Trekking near Kagkot (Karma Rita Sherpa)

All is well and dry on Putha Hiunchuli!

Greg Vernovage

Weekend update from Putha Hiunchuli and Cho Oyu

September 21, 2019

: Oxygen training with Phunuru Sherpa (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Cho Oyu climber practicing with the oxygen system (Phunuru Sherpa)

Karma Rita called to let us know the Putha Hiunchuli Team has made it to Mosi Khola today.Â There were a few areas that were slightly washed out from the rain this summer but the mules were able to get across those sections without unloading.Â The team enjoyed more excellent weather and will head out tomorrow morning for Kagkot.

On Cho Oyu, Phunuru spent the morning training the team on the oxygen system they will use during the summit rotation.Â The team trained with the oxygen system and started packing food for their summit bid.Â A perfect end to the day for the team was a sizzler for dinner!Â Kajiâ€™s sizzler is always a hit with the climbing team!

Phunuru had a meeting in the afternoon with the other teams on Cho Oyu to make a plan to head for the summit.Â The Fixing Team will head up and fix to Camp 3 in the morning before returning to Camp 2 for the night.Â The following day, September 23^rd, the plan is to fix to the summit.Â This is a strong team of Sherpa ready to head to the summit.

Fixing Team

1) Chhewang Lendu Sherpa (IMG)

2) Pasang Sherpa (IMG)

3) Palden Namgya Sherpa (Alpenglow)

4) Nima Tenzing Sherpa (Alpenglow)

5) Pemba Sherpa (Climbalaya)

6) Lhakpa Ongchu Sherpa (Himalayan Guide)

7) Nirmal Purna (Nims dai)

8) Gesman Tamang Â (Nims daiâ€™s climbing partner)

All is well on Putha Hiunchuli and Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage

Resting At ABC On Cho Oyu

September 20, 2019

Morning light on Cho Oyu (Phunuru Sherpa)

Phunuru called to let us know the Cho Oyu Team had a great day back at ABC. Showers, laundry, lounging, and eating were the goals of the day. The weather cooperated with the teams plan and was nearly perfect according to Phunuru. No clouds or precipitation and only a light breeze to keep the tent cool enough for an afternoon nap.

: Afternoon on Cho Oyu (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Sunset on Cho Oyu (Phunuru Sherpa)

The Sherpa Team made a run up to Camp 2 with the last of the gear needed for the climb and were back to ABC by mid-morning. After returning from the run to Camp 2, the Sherpa also enjoyed laundry and a nap. Tomorrow, the team will do Oxygen training and start putting summit plans together. The forecast is favorable and we have our fingers crossed for the rope fixing team. Phunuru took a few photos of Cho Oyu throughout the day, we will let you decide which time of day the mountain looks most beautiful!

All is well on Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage