January 25, 2012
Chimborazo
Kurt, Russ, Romulo and Jorge just emailed from the town of Banos to let us know that they all stood on top of Chimborazo this morning. Heck of a job, gang. This is a long, serious climb and the gang did well. They’ll head back to Quito tomorrow and fly home early Friday. Perfect end to a great couple of weeks for all in Ecuador.
Next departure date is June 7, 2012. Be there with us.
Phil Ershler
January 24, 2012
The hut on Cayambe.
Phil called from Houston, TX today. Almost home. We lost an email in cyberspace over the weekend but suffice it to say that through some persistence and route finding, most of the team tagged the top of Cayambe. A quick photo, and like horses to a barn, they cruised downhill to the hut. From there it was a seemingly short bus ride (nap-time!) to the Hot Springs of Papallacta.
They soaked their bones and raised their glasses in celebration!
Congrats on a great trip!
Tye Chapman
Inca walls surround the team's dinner table. (Photo courtsey San Augustin)
After a summit of Cotopaxi and a day strolling the market the team enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Hacienda San Augustin. Inca walls surround the team’s dinner table which featured some high Andean cuisine such as llapingachos (potato cakes), locro (cheese & potato soup) with fresh aji (Andean salsa).
Today, the Cayambe hut awaits. Tomorrow they’ll climb or use their contingency day to acclimatize.
January 19, 2012
Phil snapped this photo this afternoon at the market.
Aconcagua
Eben called in to report that there is a significant puddle of water building up near his vestibule and that the lid to the hot sauce was not tightened properly before he put it in his pack. Aside from these two things the team is doing great. They’re at C2 (18,000ft) and all is well. We’ll keep you posted on the puddle situation as well as how the hot sauce debacle plays out. These guys are having a blast!
UPDATE (3pm Jan 19): The puddle situation worked itself out. It froze. The hot sauce situation continues to weigh on the team.
Ecuador
Phil called in from the farmer’s market in Saquisili. They’re stretching their legs and sampling some of the seemingly endless fruits Ecuador has to offer. They’ll hold up for the night at Hacienda La Cienega and head up to the hut on Cayambe tomorrow.
Tye Chapman
January 18, 2012
Cotopaxi. (Photo by Jorge Anhalzer)
Ecuador
Phil called in to report that the team tagged the top of Cotopaxi today! They’re safe and sound at the hacienda for the night. Tomorrow brings another market while they rest up for Cayambe later this week. All good things.
Aconcagua
Eben reports from C1 that all is well. They successfully carried to C2 today in phenomenal weather. It was so nice they opted for a nap in the col on their way back to camp. Warm and not a breath of wind. They’ll head up to C2 tomorrow then take a well deserved rest day on Friday.
Josh Tapp called in from lower down on the mountain. His team had a great hike to Pampa de Llenas, our first trekking camp along the trail. Smooth sailin. They’re still in shorts and approach shoes and are just about a week behind Eben’s team.
Tye Chapman
January 15, 2012
Things don’t always go as planned, if they did this job would be boring.
The sun setting on Camp 1. (Photo by Tye Chapman)
Aconcagua
Eben called in with good news on Aconcagua, despite the recent snow, they were able to make their carry to C1. Tomorrow they’ll make the move and establish camp, tonight it’s back to Plaza Argentina for what everybody hopes is a better nights sleep.
Josh Tapp called in from Mendoza. He’s preparing for our next Aconcagua expedition. He’s one duffel bag short, but it sounds like the airlines are straightening things out.
IMG HQ/Denali Prep Training Grounds
Mt. Rainier
Greg makes it all the way from Antarctica without a hitch and what happens…? You guessed it, a storm on Mt. Rainier that forced the park to shutdown uphill traffic at Longmire. No worries, the Denali Prep crew hung tight here at HQ and did some training. Sled rigging, crevasse rescue (self-extraction), rope travel with sleds, etc. Probably easier to digest this stuff in a controlled environment anyways. Tomorrow they’ll head up to Paradise for the remainder of the program.
Ecuador
Phil called in yesterday to report that all is well in Ecuador. Their acclimatization continues today with a hike up Pasachoa (13,780ft). Then it’s off to our favorite little hacienda – Tierra del Volcan ( Volcano Land) which sits at just about 12,000ft -a perfect place to sleep and continue the acclimatization.
Tye Chapman
January 13, 2012
Ecuador Team on the Equator
Ecuador
Phil called in from Otavalo. The team enjoyed some urban acclimatization with a tour of Old Town Quito. Remember Quito sits at roughly 10,000ft so just getting around town is an adjustment. After their tour they loaded up and made their way to Otavalo, but not without a quick stop at the Equator (see photo). This evening they’ll check out some local weavers in a small town called Peguche. Tomorrow they’ll visit the Otavalo Indian Market.
Argentina
Eben dropped us a line from Aconcagua Base Camp (Plaza Argentina). All is well, though the precipitation theme continues. About an hour of snow fell this afternoon followed by some lightning and thunder; the sun also made an appearance. Their job now is to rest up and prepare for the climb. Burritos tonight and rest day tomorrow.
Chile
Greg’s route from Antarctica to Mt. Rainier continues. He’s made it to Santiago and if all goes to plan he’ll be in Seattle tomorrow afternoon, Ashford tomorrow evening and on Mt. Rainier Sunday morning.
Tye Chapman
January 11, 2012
Eben Reckord snapped this photo on his last Aconcagua expedition at C1.
This time of year things get a little hectic in Central & South America. Let’s have a look at what’s happening to our South:
Ecuador
Phil is in the air heading to Quito today.
Argentina
One Aconcagua program has wrapped. Our second team heads out today, led again by Eben Reckord. Three days to Base Camp aka Plaza Argentina. Three more IMG Aconcagua expedition are to follow.
Antarctica
Greg and his Vinson team are still hanging tight at the airstrip at Union Glacier after having summitted last week.
On the horizon (across the world)
Three more IMG Aconcagua Expeditions
Our Patagonia Trek will get started Feb. 11.
Mexico Volcanoes (Orizaba Only) gets going Feb. 1
Kilimanjaro – Our first of 3 Kili climbs led by Craig John gets started later this week.
Our first Winter Seminar of the season gets started on Mt. Rainier this weekend.
Ice Climbing in Ouray, CO. is where you’ll find a lot of our guides this time of year.
And for the skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers alike we have our Avalanche Courses at Crystal Mountain here in Washington.
I think that’s enough for the moment.
Tye Chapman
December 1, 2011
Chimborazo in good weather (Photo: Jorge Anhalzer)
Well, their luck finally ran out, just as the string of good weather ran out. Corn snow, wet snow, rain – and lots of it. Climbing was out of the question. Enough snow that the guys were concerned about even getting the vehicle stuck. So, they left the Whymper hut last evening – but down and not up, and headed back to Quito.
Not folks to sit around, however, so they headed out this morning and hiked up Pinchincha, an hour or two outside of Quito. Now they’re done. Dinner tonight and lots of good byes. Flights home early Friday morning.
Great adventure, great team, great friends. That’s a success.
Phil Ershler
November 30, 2011
Chimborazo (Photo: Jorge Anhalzer)
The sat phone call just came in from Greg Vernovage. Our Chimborazo team is at high camp. Weather is reasonable and route conditions seem reasonable. They need weather to hold through tomorrow and the team will need to put in a big effort to pull this one off. But, they’ve got a chance.
Tune in tomorrow and we’ll let you know what happened. Chimborazo is a BIG mountain – over 6000 meters and higher than Denali. It’s best attempted with a small, strong, team. No walk in the park, this one.
Phil Ershler