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

Putha Hiunchuli Team Reaches Tarakot

September 20, 2019

: Juphal Village (Mingma Dorje Sherpa)

: Mingma Dorje with our Mule train (Mingma Dorje)

IMG Senior Guide, Karma Rita, checked in this morning to let us know the team had a beautiful day trekking to Tarakot. Our entire team of Sherpa and Climbers are now together after our advanced Sherpa Team collected the remaining duffels and gear from the last flight. We have 13 mules and 3 drivers trekking with the team for a few days before switching to yaks for the final stretches into base camp. The team is enjoying beautiful weather and everyone is happy to be on the trail and stretching their legs.

Greg Vernovage

Cho Oyu Team Back At ABC

September 19, 2019

Camp 1 on Cho Oyu (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guide, Phunuru Sherpa, called this morning (evening on Cho Oyu) to let us know the team had a great rotation on the mountain. The team climbed well and spent 4 nights above ABC.Â The team had a little snow and some wind during the rotation but everyone ate well and was strong through the acclimatization rotation. They will now rest at ABC for a few days before making plans to head up on their summit rotation. Tomorrow will be a day of showers, laundry, Kajiâ€™s good cooking, and oxygen training.

: Climbing towards the ice cliff with Camp 1 below (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Looking up towards the ice cliff from Camp 1 (Phunuru Sherpa)

Our Sherpa Team will head back up to Camp 2 in the morning with the last of the gear and oxygen needed for the summit bid. Phunuru is also going to make a plan to fix to the summit in the following days. Weather dependent, we hope to get the mountain fixed by the 20^th or 21^st.

All is well on Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage

Putha Hiunchuli Team On The Move!

September 19, 2019

: The start of the trek to Putha Hiunchuli (Pega Sherpa)

: Trekking route to Putha Hiunchuli Base Camp

: Trekking to Dunai (Pega Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guides, Karma Rita and Pega, checked in from Dunai (7,020â€™/2140m) to let us know the team is doing great. The team has been quite fortunate with the weather so far. With the monsoon yet to retreat from Nepal, the various flights needed to get to Juphal have been few and far between. That said, our team is right on schedule and are now in Dunai for the night. Tomorrow, the team will continue trekking to Tarakot (8,323â€™/2537m).

The Putha Hiunchuli Team is off to a great start!

Greg Vernovage