November 12, 2010

Otra vez sobre la cumbre!

SPOT Track of the Mexico Team

IMG Partner George Dunn just called in from the summit of Orizaba (~8:45am PST) reporting that the team is enjoying the best weather he’s ever seen in Mexico.

They’ll head back to the hut at Piedre Grande where the jeeps will meet them this afternoon to take them on down to Tlachichuca where they’ll have dinner and stay with our friends, the Reyes family, tonight.

But first things first – they’ve still got some walking to do.

Nice work team!

Tye Chapman

November 11, 2010

Next objective – Pico de Orizaba

La cumbre!!  Just as we knew, the team summited yesterday morning early.  Everyone who went to high camp went to the summit.  Pretty sweet.  Speaking of sweet, the showers much have been, too.  A quick hotel night in Puebla was well earned, but today it’s off to the town of Tlachichuca and up to the Piedre Grande hut on Orizaba.

No rest for the wicked.  This team has another mountain to climb.

Phil Ershler

November 10, 2010

Mexico SPOT trail to Ixta Summit!

We’ve been following their progress on the SPOT Tracker that George is carrying and it looks like our Mexico Team summitted this morning around 5:30am (PST). It’s not official until everybody is down safely but everything seems to be going as smoothly as George anticipated.

We’ll have a full recap after they get down to Puebla and have had a shower and a beer!

Tye Chapman

November 10, 2010

Photo by Miles Heritage

We heard again last evening from IMG partner, George Dunn, leading the November Mexico expedition.  Keep that good news coming, George.  High camp was established, weather remained perfect and the team was doing well.  One member decided he wasn’t quite up for the summit attempt and remained at the Altimoni Hut.  Nice part is that logistics on this trip make it easy for an individual without a health issue to remain at the Hut and not impact other team members.

The summit team should be nearing the summit even as we make this post.  And, we should be receiving confirmation of their success soon.  But the summit will be only the first milestone this day.  Then, the crew has to get down, break high camp, hiking back to the vehicle and then push to the city of Puebla for those much-anticipated showers.  Not many groups who aren’t excited about heading for the hotel after a climb, even if it means a long day.  Like many things, the pleasure is worth the pain.

Hope to be reporting on George’s team’s success at our next post.

Phil

November 9, 2010

Another Mexico expedition is well underway.  IMG partner, George Dunn, has broken away from our Ashford office to lead another expedition to the fun and sun of Mexico.  Assisting him are Austin Shannon and Fernando Posadas.  The guides were down in Mexico City late last week doing a bit of last minute shopping and prepping for the team’s arrival on Saturday.  For the last couple of days, they’ve been out acclimatizing near Paseo de Cortes.  As many times as some of our customers, and guides, have been to altitude, it’s still necessary to log some acclimatization time.  Just no way to short cut this process.  They headed to the Altzomoni Hut near the Cortes Pass yesterday, carried a load to high camp on Ixta and are heading to high camp this morning.  George called in yesterday to confirm that everyone’s in good health, strong and appear quite ready for these climbs.  As usual for this time of year, weather is simply perfect.

Tomorrow’s summit day.  It’s a long one.   Up around midnight, climb, descend and pack camp and bolt for showers in the city of Puebla.  The Ayoloco Glacier is calling first, however.

Ayoloco Glacier above high camp

Follow the team’s SPOT progress here.

Phil Ershler

February 19, 2010

Phil Ershler called from Puebla, Mexico after a tough run at Orizaba.  He said that the team wasn’t able to make it out of the hut due to 6 inches of snow and high winds that brought visibility to zero.  To make matters worse, the conditions were as such that the team was forced to carry down the mountain 2,000 feet because the road became impassible.  Too bad for these unexpected challenges, but once they got down the hill they were picked up and are now resting in Puebla.  The team will depart for home tomorrow.  Everyone continues to be in good spirits and good health.  Good job, team, for putting up a good fight! 

IMG Office

February 17, 2010

Phil called from Orizaba.  They had a good training day today in spite of the snowy and windy weather.  They hope that the weather will clear for their summit bid tomorrow.  Because of these factors, this will be a close call.  They plan to take a shot at the summit if the weather allows.

IMG Office

February 16, 2010

Phil Ershler called from Mexico.  The Orizaba team is currently settled in at the Piedre Grande Refugio (hut).  It’s a little windy with gusts of about 25 mph, but not to worry the group will be staying at the hut for the next day and a half.  They’ll be training tomorrow and will get to bed early.  The plan is to get up and climb in the wee hours of Thursday morning.  Everyone is doing well and in good spirits.  A full day of acclimatization and rest will prepare everyone for the long summit day, which is at least 12 hours round trip: hut – summit – shower (oh and they’ll need one too!).

We wish the team luck!

IMG Office

November 16, 2009

Received word over the weekend that our November Mexico team, led by Peter Anderson, had picked off another summit.  Let’s see – that makes them two for two.  Nice job, gang.  Report had it that the weather was about as good as they were going to get.  Stars a bunch, knock your socks off sunrise and views for as far as you could see.  And everyone climbing with Peter, Oso and Fernando went right to the tippy top.  Not easy for everyone but nothing worthwhile usually is.

The trip ended as it should.  Everyone safe, great success and pretty happy about the whole week.  Oh yeah, that plus a good steak dinner.  Flights home were Sunday and now it’s time for everyone to get back to the office.  And, of course, to start planning the next adventure.

Phil Ershler

November 12, 2009

Peter Anderson, IMG Senior Guide, reported in last night from the city of Puebla. Safety and success was the message. In Peter’s words, “we slayed the ‘sleeping lady’”. ‘Sleeping lady’ is a name used for Ixtacciuatl. Even though the ascent from high camp wasn’t that long, it is a long day. Up to the summit, back to high camp, pack, walk back to the road and then drive to Puebla. But it’s all worthwhile with Ixta in the rear view mirror.

Today, the team’s off to the town of Tlachichuca. A nice lunch with our Mexican partners, the Reyes family, and then it’s off to the Piedre Grande refugio. Orizaba, their next objective, will be waiting for them early Friday morning.

Let’s hope the good news continues. One down and one to go.

Phil Ershler