Archive for the ‘Everest’ Category

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Nepal Weekend Wrap-up

April 27, 2012

Cho Oyu and Everest from the south. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

Everything is going well in Nepal for our IMG teams.  Greg Vernovage reports that the Everest and Lhotse Sherpa teams have now established the route to Camp 3, and the IMG climbers have all been up to Camp 2 now  for acclimatization.  The Hybrid team will be starting their second rotation tomorrow, with the goal being to sleep at Camp 3.

On Annapurna 4, Eben Reckord reports that everyone made it down to Base Camp safe and sound, and now they are enjoying a couple rest days.  Today Thunang and Phinjo ran a load of tents, fixed rope, and pickets up to Camp 1 and tomorrow they are going back up to start working on getting the Camp 2 and 3 established in preparation for the team’s next rotation.

Liam O’Sullivan and the Ama Dablam crew are pulling into Everest BC today, after a couple days of acclimatization hiking from Lobuche BC.

Over on Ama Dablam, Kami Sherpa reports that they have the climbing route now fixed up to Camp 3 and Kami, Kalden and Ang Sona are now working on getting the camps established.

Jenni Fogle and the custom trek team are doing well in Dingboche now, enjoying an acclimatization day before they head up to Lobuche Base Camp.

So, we are all super psyched with the progress so far and will be keeping you up to date on their comings and goings.

Eric Simonson

Posted in Ama Dablam, Annapurna IV, Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse | Comments Off

IMG Teams On The Move In The Khumbu

April 25, 2012

Up on Everest, we have now have IMG climbers at Base Camp, Camp 1, Camp 2 and the Sherpas are getting ready to head for Camp 3 in the next couple days.  Follow their progress on our Everest Expedition Coverage Page.

Down the valley, we have both our Ama Dablam and our Custom EBC Trek team heading for Everest Base Camp.  IMG guide Jenni Fogle reports from Namche that the “Maida’s Mountaineers”  trek team is doing well.  They have enjoyed good weather the last couple days as they cross suspension bridges, dodge yaks and porters on the trail, and enjoy the spectacular vistas that have unfolded as they gained altitude.  After their first night in Phakding, they climbed the famous “Namche Hill”  where they spent the last couple nights as guests of our old friend Pemba, and his staff, at the Khumbu Lodge.  Now the team heads for the rhododendron forests of Deboche, where they will enjoy a couple days to visit Tengboche monastary and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, IMG guide Liam O’Sullivan, Phu Tashi Sherpa, and the Ama Dablam team wrapped up two days of acclimatization hiking in the Pheriche area, and are heading today to Lobuche Base Camp, prior to the big push up to EBC.

Eric Simonson

Posted in Ama Dablam, Everest | Comments Off

‘Maida’s Mountaineers’ Trekking to EBC

April 22, 2012

Jerry Maida Everest group in Kathmandu

IMG guide “LTC” Jenni Fogle reports from Kathmandu that after a few rest days, she is getting ready to fly back into Khumbu.  For this next trek to Everest BC, she will be leading a custom group that we put together for Jerry Maida and his friends.  The group ranges in age from 25 to 69 with both experienced trekkers and new ones. The team is comprised of Tim, an estate trusts attorney from FL; Rita, a family personal assistant and HIV/Health counselor; James, a heavy equipment mechanic from CA; Elizabeth (Doll) a lasik eye surgeon and runner from GA; Grace, an investment banker from WV; Susan, a prosecutor from WA; Skeets, a retired insurance executive from FL; Robin, a marathoner and volunteer from NY; Brewster, an insurance salesman from CT; Kurt, a financial advisor from NJ; Katherine, a college student from FL; and Jerry, a lasik surgeon and spectacular organizer from FL.

Working with Jenni is Lobsang Sherpa.  It sounds like a fun group, and there should be lots of good dinner conversation!.  We’ll look forward to tracking their progress as they head on to Base Camp.

Eric Simonson

Update (6:59am): We just heard that all members and luggage now have reached Lukla, and they have started trekking!

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IMG Everest Teams Reach Base Camp

April 10, 2012

Everest Base Camp (photo: Ang Jangbu)

The 2012 IMG Everest teams are now arriving at Base Camp, after 12 days of trekking.  Check out our complete Everest Expedition coverage on the Everest page.

Eric Simonson

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USA – KTM – LUA – Phakding

March 28, 2012

Which way to EBC?

The weather in Kathmandu was beautiful today and the team’s two early morning Twin Otter flights went off without a hitch, with members and their duffels arriving on schedule to Lukla (9100ft/2800m). After some tea and snacks at the Lukla bakery, they hit the trail. Today the hike was pretty easy, basically downhill the whole way, with a lunch break along the way!

Now they are in Phakding (8500ft/2600m), one of my favorite spots. After traveling halfway around the world, it is great to spend the night down by the river and know that now all you have to do is walk.

Eric Simonson

Check out the Everest Expedition page for full Everest coverage.

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We Summit; You Eat

March 21, 2012

As if anybody needed another reason to pull for the Everest climbers this year...

If you’ve been around the mountains long enough you’ve likely run into a Swedish Fish or two. If not, you should know that they’re considered a super food around here. It’s no wonder Greg Vernovage has bags and bags of them hidden in several countries around the world.

In this photo here, you’ll notice that he has both endeared himself the folks in the office, while at the same time angered them, not an easy task. Two months is a long time; we’ll revisit this as the clock ticks…

Challenge accepted.

Tye Chapman

 

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2012 Everest Season Approaches

March 7, 2012

2012 Everest Expedition Coverage

For IMG, Everest season starts well before the flights to Kathmandu take off. IMG Partner & Everest Program Director, Eric Simonson, has been planning and orchestrating the 2012 season for several months, and as the season approaches things are starting to heat up…

For full coverage be sure to check out the 2012 Everest Expedition Coverage webpage.

Tye Chapman

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A Gathering Of Friends – And Everest Summits

December 22, 2011

Left to right: Mike Hamill (4x - 2008-2011), Justin Merle (4x - 2006, 2008-2010), Eric Simonson (1991), Tap Richards (2006), Phil Ershler (2x - 1984 & 2002), Heidi Richards (2006), Jason Edwards (2001), Ang Jangbu (1990), Eben Reckord (2010), George Dunn (1991), Greg Vernovage (2010). (Photo by Tye Chapman)

Last Thursday, in honor of Ang Jangbu being in the USA, we made some calls and invited a few folks over for a slice of pizza and a beer.

The result: a room filled with friends, family, loved ones as well as 11 IMG Guides representing 18 Everest summits. Pretty cool stuff!

Tye Chapman

 

Posted in Everest, Guide Features, IMG News | Comments Off

Ang Jangbu Visits IMG

December 14, 2011

Our good friend & Nepalese partner, Ang Jangbu Sherpa, is here in the US visiting some friends & family and taking care of a little business along the way. Today he spent the morning with Eric Simonson and Greg Vernovage going over some of the details for the upcoming Everest season.

Ang Jangbu, Greg Vernovage and Eric Simonson going over details for Everest 2012

Later this week a lot of our guides who have spent time with Jangbu over the years will get together to swap stories and share some memories. The world gets smaller everyday.

Tye Chapman

 

Posted in Everest, Guide Features | Comments Off

Annapurna Trekkers Reach Jomson, Everest Trekkers Climb Kala Pattar

The Team at Thorung-la Pass

Annapurna Trekker Jacqueline found the internet in Jomson and sends this report: “the team is happy and healthy at a hotel in Jomson, right by the airport. We had a very windy stroll in, but it was a great final day of walking. We’re all hoping the climbers are having similar success up on Chulu. Please find attached a photo of the trekkers up at Thorung-La Pass. Counter clockwise: Phinjo, David, Jacqueline, Rebecca, Beth, Charlotte, Laura, Lobsong and Harka. Lobsong can’t quit talking about how wonderful our weather was up there. Perfectly sunny, with almost no wind. Everyone had a great experience.”

On Chulu Peak, Eben Reckord reports that the team climbed today to about 17,500 feet, a little below Camp 1. They fixed some rope in the rock band and scouted the route above, then descended to BC.  The plan is to take a rest day tomorrow, then move up to Camp 1 the following day.

Summit of Kala Pattar

Over on the Everest Trek, Justin Merle reports that the team made it to Gorak Shep today and climbed Kala Pattar (18,192 ft / 5,545 m ).  Tomorrow morning some of the group will continue up to Everest BC to check that out (though there are no Everest climbers up there now), and then they will start heading back down the valley.

Eric Simonson

Posted in Annapurna Trek & Chulu Climb, Everest | Comments Off

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