Teams Checked In From The Khumbu Valley

October 28, 2019

: Cho La with Ama Dablam in the background (Harry Hamlin)

: Lobuche Base Camp (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

: Climbers departing Ama Dablam Base Camp on first rotation (Phunuru Sherpa)

All Teams in the Khumbu Valley are doing well and are exactly where they are supposed to be. This is always good news to hear when we are dealing with altitude, weather, and people on the move.

First up is our Lobuche Peak Team who moved into Lobuche Base Camp and did some excellent training. IMG Senior Guide, Ang Pasang, let us know the team is looking good and all are ready to move to High Camp. Ang Pasang is on his way to High Camp to check on the camp site and work on the route. The Team will move up and put themselves in position to summit!

Our 3X3 Team had a good day trekking over Cho La (17,485â€™/5329m) to Thagnak (17,782â€™/5420m). Tomorrow the team will have a shorter day trekking to Gokyo where they will enjoy incredible views of Cho Oyu and prepare to climb Gokyo Ri.

The Ama Dablam team departed with all smiles from Base Camp after an early lunch. IMG Senior Guides, Andy Polloczek and Phunuru Sherpa, checked in to let us know the team made great time getting to Yak Camp. The team is healthy, strong and excited to climb. Andy called from his sleeping bag to let us know that the plan is for the team to depart Yak Camp (17,000â€™/5180m) for Camp 1 (18,370â€™5600m) after 10am and will get settled in before making the plan to touch Camp 2.

The weather is looking good and the teams are feeling great in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

IMG Nepal Teams Enjoy Great Weather and Trekkers Visit Everest BC

October 27, 2019

The 3X3 Nepal Trek and Lobuche Peak Teams enjoyed fantastic weather for their trip to Gorakshep, climb of Kala Patthar and visit to Everest Base Camp.

Video by Pasang Tshering with the IMG Team on the summit of Kala Patthar

The team is feeling excellent and will head back down to Lobuche after Lunch.

View from Kala Patthar (Tye Chapman)

From Lobuche, the teams will split up with the Lobuche Peak Team heading to Base Camp and the 3X3 heading to Dzongla where they will prepare to cross Cho La (pass).

The Ama Dablam Team enjoyed the same perfect weather and had a great Puja followed by some training on a big rock near Base Camp.

: 2019 Ama Dablam Team at the Puja (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Training at Ama Dablam Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Training on the big rock at AD Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guide Phunuru Sherpa reports that the team is dialed with their technical skills and looking very strong. The team will have an early lunch before departing Base Camp for Yak Camp.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Crossing Khongma La!

October 25, 2019

: Heading to Yak Camp on Ama Dablam (Phunuru Sherpa)

: 2019 3X3 and Lobuche Peak Team at Khongma La (Pasang Tsering)

The 3X3 and Lobuche Teams made it across Khongma La and are now resting in Lobuche Village.Â This is a big day of trekking and with the threat of some snow coming in, we were excited to get the news! The team departed early from Chukkung and crossed the pass with high clouds. Everyone is happy and looking forward to heading to Gorakshep and Kala Pattar tomorrow!

On Ama Dablam, the team enjoyed a rest day and will plan on doing some training close by Base Camp to prepare for their first rotation up the mountain.Â All is well at Ama Dablam Base Camp!

Greg Vernovage

Machu Picchu – July 2020

October 24, 2019

: Inca ruins (Peter Anderson)

: Quechua people in their native attire (Jason Edwards)

Join us next July 14-23 for our annual summer trek to Machu Picchu! Once the citadel of the Incan culture, this â€œlost cityâ€ (for 400 years!) sits atop a mountain in a jungle of green landscape in the steep rugged terrain of southern Peru. Come explore this historical wonder!

All Machu Picchu programs include stays in first-rate hotels with all the amenities before and after the trek, all connections by private coach, all meals included excepting select dinners in town. The trek is fully staffed with an IMG lead guide, local lead guide & cultural expert, assistant guides, cook staff, and porters.

Email office@mountainguides.com for registration details.

Permits for the Inca Trail are limited, so don’t delay!

George Dunn

All Smiles In The Khumbu Valley

October 24, 2019

All smiles in Chukkung (Pasang Tsering)

We heard from the teams in the Khumbu Valley overnight.Â After climbing Chukkung Ri yesterday, it was time for the 3 teams to start splitting up. The Ama Dablam Team was up and out the door early this morning from Chukkung taking the high trail to Ama Dablam Base Camp. The trek to Base Camp took about 5 hours and all were welcomed by Phunuru. Every one is doing well and it is now time to reacquaint themselves with their climbing duffle and move into their tent.

The 3X3 and Lobuche Peak climbing Teams took a rest day in Chukkung today in preparation for a big day tomorrow.Â The team will be up early to head across the Khongma La (pass) (18,320â€™/5583m).Â It is a steady climb uphill from Chukkung before reaching the high point and then dropping into the non-technical section of the lower Khumbu Glacier.Â After crossing the glacier, the team will pop out at Lobuche Village. This is a long but rewarding trek with beautiful scenery.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Chukkung Ri Summits!

October 23, 2019

: Summit of Chukkung Ri with Ama Dablam (Nathan Berry)

: Chukkung Ri summit with Lhotse (Nathan Berry)

The team had another beautiful day today in the Khumbu Valley. After breakfast, the team set out for the climb of Chukkung Ri and reached the summit! Congratulations to everyone on a great climb! From the summit of Chukkung Ri, the team took in views of the North Ridge of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Island Peak – to name a few. The team is now back at Chukkung for the night.Â Tomorrow, the Ama Dablam Team will say their goodbyes and head down to Ama Dablam Base Camp while the 3X3 and Lobuche Peak Teams take a rest day before tackling Khongma La.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

Beautiful Day In The Khumbu Valley

October 22, 2019

: Ama Dablam from Chukkung (Andy Polloczek)

: 2019 IMG Base Camp with Ama Dablam (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG Senior Guides, Andy Polloczek and Phunuru Sherpa, checked in from the Khumbu Valley today. Andy is with our Ama Dablam and Lobuche climbing teams along with the 3X3 trekking team. It was a gorgeous day for trekking from Pheriche up to Chukkung. Everyone is feeling great and looking forward to their climb of the first peak on the 3X3,Â Chukkung Ri (18,238â€™/5558m) tomorrow.

Over at Ama Dablam, Phunuru called to let us know Base Camp is ready for our team’s arrival and the weather is beautiful. Taking full advantage of the weather, Phinjo Dorje, Dawa Tenzing, and Nawang Tsering headed up to Camp 1 and 2 with additional gear and to set up more tents.

Great day in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

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