Kili Team Summits!

June 21, 2010

The summit of Africa is just a few steps away...

IMG guide Adam Angel reports that the entire team reached the summit of Kili this morning and they have now descended back down to Mweka Camp. They started climbing about midnight and reached the top shortly after dawn. It sounds like it was a gorgeous summit day, with blue sky and a little fresh snow on the route to make everything look pristine. After a well earned rest tonight at Mweka, they will descend to the trailhead in the morning, where they check out with the Kili Park rangers and then head to the hotel for showers and beer!

Eric Simonson

JanSport Climbers Having Fun

June 20, 2010

IMG Guide Anne Keller celebrates her birthday. (Photo: John Race - iPhone)

Just got word from our JanSport Team over on the Emmons… They’re all settled in at their first camp on the Inter Glacier (7800ft.). Not that they need more to celebrate, but it’s Anne’s (guide) birthday. Fellow guide John Race was kind enough to bring along a little cake to help celebrate the day. They’ll move on up to Camp Schurman tomorrow morning and if all goes as planned they’ll summit Tuesday morning.

On the other side of the mountain our Disappointment Cleaver team enjoyed a nice day outside practicing their skills in a Mountain Day School led by George Dunn and Jason Edwards. Geo and Jason have over 800 Rainier summits between them so the team was in good hands! They will enjoy a nice dinner tonight and one more night at Paradise before heading up to Camp Muir tomorrow morning.

Jansport Emmons Team In The Cook Tent) - (Photo: John Race - iPhone)

Jansport Emmons Team At Camp 1 (Inter Glacier 7800') - (Photo: John Race - iPhone)

More to come…

Tye Chapman

Kili Team Reaches High Camp

June 20, 2010

International Mountain Guides Kilimanjaro climbers en route to high camp.

Yesterday the Kili crew had a good day hiking from Barancco to Karanga, beneath the glaciers that spill down the south side of Kilimanjaro. This is one of our all time favorite days high altitude hiking, as the trail traverses the slopes of Kili. The team reached Karanga camp (about 13,000’) just in time, as an afternoon shower pelted them shortly after arrival. Later, it cleared up and IMG leader Adam Angel reports that there was some fresh snow deposited up high on the mountain. After a good night, today the team moved to Barafu (about 15,000’), arriving in time for lunch and a good afternoon of rest. After getting all packed up for the climb this afternoon, and an early dinner and bedtime, the plan is to start climbing about midnight. So far everything is going well and the team is looking forward to tomorrow.

Eric Simonson

Kili Team At Barranco Camp

June 18, 2010

Barranco Camp (13,000’) with the Breech Wall in the background.

Adam Angel reports that the entire team had a good day of hiking today. From Shira Plateau they climbed to over 14,500’ below Lava Tower, then dropped down to Barancco Camp (about 13,000 feet) where they are now situated. Tomorrow they climb up the steep trail over Barancco Wall to Karanga Valley, a delightful section of hiking. So far so good!

Eric Simonson

New Partnership With JanSport

June 18, 2010

Phil Ershler descending from the North Col after summiting Everest in 1984

We’re happy to announce a new partnership with JanSport, the original outdoor gear brand that equips people globally with quality backpacks, travel gear and collegiate apparel.

While our official partnership with JanSport might be new, it’s no secret that we’ve known Skip and the JanSport team since the 1970’s. JanSport built the very first dome tents, some of the first modern backpacks, and crafted our first down suits for our expeditions on Everest in the early 80’s.

JanSport has a strong and storied connection to Mt. Rainier and we’re happy to continue that connection with the 38th annual JanSport Climb. We’ll actually have two separate teams on the mountain (June 19-23) – one team will be on the Disappointment Cleaver route while the other will be on the Emmons route. These two teams will reach the summit on different days but exit on the same day ensuring plenty of stories at the annual JanSport Party here in Ashford.

These two climbs can be followed on IMG’s and JanSport’s Blogs.

DC Team Summits, Kautz and Emmons Turned Around

June 17, 2010

Our Rainier teams reported in this morning…

Phil and his team summitted on the DC, but the Kautz and Emmons teams turned around. Low visibility and tough navigation for the Emmons team and some unstable snow condition for our Kautz crew, but all are back at their camps safe and sound. They’ll take advantage of the day and do some training before descending tomorrow morning.

Moving uphill today is another DC team, this time led by Mark Allen. Cooler than normal temps are foretasted along with some precipitation… but that’s nothing new for this spring if you’ve been keeping up with the Rainier weather!

That’s all for now…

Tye Chapman

Kili Team Reaches Shira Plateau

June 17, 2010

Climbers en route to Shira Plateau camp among the moss covered scrub trees at about the 11,000 foot level.

IMG guide Adam Angel called in on the sat phone to report the entire team is doing well. Yesterday they started their climb of the Machame Route at the Machame Gate (about 5900’) and overnighted at the Machame Camp (about 9800’ near the top of the forest zone). After a good night, today the team today entered “the zone of weird plants”, climbing to their second campsite at Shira Plateau (about 12,500’). So far everything is going smoothly and the team is looking forward to trekking to Baranco camp tomorrow.

Eric Simonson

Kilimanjaro Homepage

Kili Team Arrives In Moshi

June 16, 2010

Kili in the distance. Photo taken from the JRO Airport.

IMG guide Adam Angel reports that the June Kili team has all arrived on schedule in Moshi and they are all doing well. Today is their free day to go through the gear and get all packed up, and also visit the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project office in Moshi, which IMG supports. After a day of preparations and sightseeing, tomorrow morning bright and early they head for Machame Gate and the first day on the trail. We’ll keep you posted!

Eric Simonson

DC, Kautz and Emmons Teams On Rainier

June 15, 2010

Summit! Our Disappointment Cleaver (DC) team summitted quite early this morning due to cold conditions and the direct route up the Ingraham Glacier. After summitting around daybreak, they quickly made their way down to The Flats and into Camp Muir. After a nice break at Muir they cruised on down the snowfield for a quick chat with our uphill team, led by Phil Ershler, then they loaded up the IMG van and were back in Ashford by 2pm. Currently Phil and his team are at Muir enjoying dinner…They’ll head up to The Flats in the morning.

On the other side of the mountain is our Emmons team, led by John Race, who started walking this morning and are now at their first camp (7800ft) on the Inter Glacier. After some early training tomorrow they’ll head up to Camp Schurman. All is well – a little light snowfall on their approach, but overall they’re doing just fine.

And on the south side of the mountain is our Kautz team, led by Brian Warren, who just pulled into their first camp after some tough postholing on the the lower Nisqually Glacier this morning. A tough day for sure, but some good food and a good nights sleep will ready them for their move to High Camp tomorrow.

All is well on Mt. Rainier.

Tye Chapman

Rainier Team At ‘The Flats’

June 14, 2010

IMG Guide Greg Vernovage just radioed in from The Flats here on Mt. Rainier… All is well! A few teams summitted early today so it’s looking good for our guys in the morning. They’ll wake up nice and early and hit the route when it’s cold hoping to hit the summit around daybreak. They’re eating an early dinner now and plan to get some horizontal time before their midnight wake-up call.

Kili Team Summits!

JanSport Climbers Having Fun

Kili Team Reaches High Camp

Kili Team At Barranco Camp

New Partnership With JanSport

DC Team Summits, Kautz and Emmons Turned Around

Kili Team Reaches Shira Plateau

Kili Team Arrives In Moshi

DC, Kautz and Emmons Teams On Rainier

Rainier Team At ‘The Flats’

Aconcagua Crew Carried To Camp 3

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