January 18, 2013
The crew a couple days ago.
Austin called in this afternoon just as they rolled into Tlachichuca for the night reporting that they summited Orizaba earlier this morning. 6 of 7 touched the top in great conditions on a ‘splitter day’!
They’ll stay the night with our friends, the Reyes family, tonight and then make their way to Mexico City tomorrow for some free time and a farewell dinner.
Tye Chapman
January 17, 2013
The gang on the summit of Ixta yesterday.
Austin called in from the Piedre Grande hut on Orizaba this afternoon. All went smoothly today. The team’s short term plan was dinner by 5pm and in bed by 6pm followed all to quickly by an early wake up call for another big summit day.
Austin wasn’t quite sure if all members of the team would be climbing tonight/tomorrow, 2 big summit days in +/-48 hours is quite the test. He’ll know a lot more when that alarm clock goes off at at midnight or 1am.
The weather is great and the forecast calls for more of the same.
Tye Chapman
January 16, 2013
Dawn on summit of Ixta (Elizah McLaughlin)
Austin called in reporting great conditions for the team on their summit day of Ixta. They’re back at High Camp now and will take a quick break, pack up camp, before heading down to their vans which will take them straight to Puebla for the night. They should pull into Puebla just in time for a shower and nice group dinner. Tomorrow they’re off to Tlachichuca for lunch and then it’s onto the Piedre Grande hut where they’ll spend a short night… that’s right, they’ll climb early the next morning!
That’s all for now.
Tye Chapman
January 15, 2013
The upper mountain.
Austin just checked in from High Camp on Ixta, all continues to go well. They just finished up dinner (pasta, chorizo and peppers) and are heading to bed, the 1:00am wake-up call will come soon enough.
The weather has been great and looks reasonable for tomorrow. Austin estimates a 4-5 hour push to the summit. After returning to camp they’ll pack up and head down to their awaiting vans and then it’s straight to Puebla.
Oh, and Ann Sparks says hi.
Tye Chapman
January 15, 2013
The team before Ixta.
Austin called yesterday afternoon after a successful carry up to high camp. The team enjoyed fantastic weather and an awesome sunset. The team is doing well. They plan to move up to high camp today and summit tomorrow.
All is well in Mexico.
Tye Chapman
January 14, 2013
Mexico
Hey Tye, we had a great hike up to the hut on Ixta today to about 13,000 ft. Fantastic (t-shirt) weather and views of Ixta and smoking Popo in the distance. Great, friendly group and really fun. Next it’s showers, gear check, dinner, margaritas, then bed. Sounds like a good plan!! Back up to the hut tomorrow morning and then a gear carry to high camp. Hope all is well with you. -Dustin
Aconcagua
Ty called in from Plaza de Mulas, all continues to go well. It was raining pretty good today which forced them in their tents for awhile (nap time!). They bumped into Hamill and his crew who are also doing great. Ty and his team will be at the trailhead tomorrow afternoon – just an 18 mile hike left in front of them. Then it’s onto Mendoza tomorrow evening – likely a midnight arrival at the Nutibara Hotel.
Ecuador
No word yet from Phil today, but they’re off climbing Pasochoa today, a nice acclimatization hike.
January 12, 2013
Here’s a quick update on what’s going on in South America…
The Plaza de Mulas camp on the descent (Photo: Tye Chapman)
On Aconcagua, Ty Gimenez and his team tagged the top this morning! The weather held nicely and it didn’t snow until they had already rolled back into camp. 7 of 8 made the top, and an excellent effort by all. They’ll head downhill to Plaza de Mulas tomorrow and will hit the trailhead on Monday.
Mike Hamill and his private Aconcagua team were shooting for Confluencia Camp tonight. They’re heading up a different route which puts them at Plaza de Mulas tomorrow night. If you’re doing the math, they’ll be there the same night as Ty and his crew. It’s a pretty cool feeling to walk into camp knowing you have friends waiting for you.
On the other side of the mountain is Peter Anderson and his crew. They haven’t checked in, but no news is good news, so we’re sure they’re just plugging along en route to Base Camp.
Down in Punta Arenas, Chile is Greg and a couple of his Vinson climbers; they’ve officially wrapped up and are all en route home with their summit!
Up in Ecuador is Phil and his team. They enjoyed the market in Otavalo today and a nice dinner in Old Town. They’ll head out to Pasochoa tomorrow for an acclimatization hike. The weather has been good which makes everything easier.
And way up north (or south based on perspective) is Austin Shannon and Dustin Balderach and their Mexico Volcanoes team. They’re just getting settled in. Tomorrow they’ll load up and head out on their acclimatization hike near Ixta.
I think that covers all the bases…
Tye Chapman
November 16, 2012
Route follows the glacier center-left in the photo (Phil Ershler)
George Dunn, leading the current IMG Mexico trip, just called in. 100% on top of Orizaba. He was super excited about how well everyone did. All stood on top. He was calling from below a spot called the Labyrinth. It’s a series of gullies which provide access to the upper mountain. Sometimes they’re easy snow, sometimes a bit icy. George said they were a bit on the ‘firm’ side this week but that the entire team is already through that area. Now, it’s pretty much a matter of a couple of hours of rocky trail and they’ll be back to the hut. The driver and 4-wheel vehicle will be waiting for them. Then, it’s another couple of hours down to the Reyes family compound in Tlachichuca. Beer, showers and dinner – and in that order. Great job and congratulations to all.
Phil Ershler
November 14, 2012
Iztaccihuatl circa 1941
My partner, George Dunn, is in Mexico right now with one of our teams. Almost impossible to have anything other than a great time if George is at the helm. Weather’s been excellent and George called this morning to say – “summit”. All but one stood on top of Ixta this morning. Weather remains great and the team will head to Puebla for a night of R & R before heading to Tlachichuca on Thursday.
One down.
Phil Ershler
February 13, 2012
A lot going on in Latin America this week – here’s the latest news from our IMG teams abroad…
Nice day for a dip (Photo: Tye Chapman)
Patagonia Trek
The first IMG trek in Patagonia, led by Operations Manager Tye Chapman, is off and running. All trekkers, with all their luggage, arrived this evening in Punta Arenas, Chile. Breezy and cool in Punta with a bit of sun. Sounds about right for this time of year. Tomorrow morning, they head to Puerto Natales with a stop en route to say “Hi” to the penguins. Tye and Doug initiated the first annual Patagonia Polar Plunge by jumping into the Straights of Magellan.
Aconcagua
High camp, Aconcagua (Photo: Dale Funk)
We heard from both Mike and Greg today. Teams are doing well. Mike and crew carried to C1 today and plan on moving there Monday. Elevation – about 16,000 ft. Greg called from C3 – high camp. The team arrived in good form. We talked about forecasted weather and strategy. Weather is forecasted to remain clear but with increasing winds as the week progresses. The crew is planning on a 5 AM departure for the summit Monday morning. Keeping our fingers crossed.
Josh's Angels (Photo: Jim McGill)
Mexico
I was very ably joined on the Mexico trip by IMG guide, Josh McDowell. I’m not sure if the ladies on our climb took Josh under their wing or the other way around. That said, we finished off a great week with a great day/evening in Puebla before flying home to family, friends and commitments. We’ll be back in November 2012.
Phil Ershler