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Everest Gear On The Move

Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that our team finished packing up all the food and equipment, and it is on the way to Everest!  Yesterday the team loaded the big container truck which is now en route with head cook Kaji Sherpa, heading east to Thaksindu (the end of the road).  If the weather cooperates, the gear will be flown by helicopter sling load from Thaksindu up to Shyangboche (above Namche) in the next couple days.

Loading the container truck in Kathmandu (Phunuru Sherpa)

 

Up at Everest Base Camp our sherpas Ang Karma and Nima Sona report that there was recently a big snowstorm in the Khumbu and everything looks like winter!  They have secured the campsite that was previously claimed by Sonam Dorje, and begun to set up tents.  There is a lot of work to do building tent platforms in the rubble and ice of the moraine and setting up the big tents.  The rest of our sherpa advance team will be joining them in the next couple days to complete the build out of Base Camp.  So far so good at Mt Everest!

 

Eric Simonson

Building tent platforms at Everest Base Camp (Eric Simonson)

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2023 Everest logistics in full swing

9 March, 2023

An Everest expedition starts long before the climbers and trekkers show up in Nepal, and our Sherpa team have now been working for several months on the preparations.  In Kathmandu Ang Jangbu reports that they have now received our big initial food shipment.  These items are now being repacked into loads and barrels.  Next up will be sending this food along with other supplies and equipment by truck from Kathmandu east to Thaksindu (the end of the road).  Then, it will all be airlifted by helicopter sling load to Shyangboche (above Namche).  We’re rolling now!

Everest food packing in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

 

The big food delivery arrives in Kathmandu (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

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Success on Mt Washington

March 3, 2023 – IMG guide Angie Diana reported that her team summited Mt. Washington last week. The team braved ~50 mph winds and cold conditions to reach the top. With abnormally icy conditions, they achieved their goal of practicing cramponing and testing the limits of their winter gear.

An IMG climber stands atop Mt Washington (Angie Diana)

It’s still winter in New England! The Mt. Washington Valley has seen over a foot of snow in the past week… custom programs are still available for this month!

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Ngorongoro Crater Doesn’t Disappoint

Feb 24, 2023 –

Phunuru Sherpa reports the final day of safari was a good one!  The team left Ndutu this morning and visited Olduvai Gorge and the Maasai village on the way to Ngorongoro Crater.  They hit the jackpot shortly after arriving down in the Crater, when the rhino made a guest appearance, walking quite close to the vehicle (this is rare, as the rhinos are quite shy and are usually hard to get close to).  Along the way they also saw a leopard, which is also quite difficult to spot since they are often in the trees!  This makes the last of the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, cape buffalo, leopard) for the team to have seen.  Now they are all settled into their luxury lodge for a final night in Tanzania.  Tomorrow they’ll take an easy morning, then head back to Arusha for final shopping and packing, before heading to the airport.  It sounds like it’s been a great trip, well done team!

The team with Ngorongoro Crater in the background (Phunuru Sherpa)

A rhino in Ngorongoro Crater (Phunuru Sherpa)

Dinner at the lodge (Phunuru Sherpa)

Dinner at the lodge (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG climbers visit the Maasai village (Phunuru Sherpa)

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The Migration, and IMG’s Kilimanjaro Team, reach the eastern Serengeti

February 23, 2023-

Phunuru checked in from Ndutu, in the shortgrass plains of the eastern Serengeti.  This is where all the animals of the Migration (especially the Wildebeest and Zebra) come to give birth each year.  All total there are something like 2 million animals involved, and roaming the area are countless predators, who follow the herds waiting for such an abundance of food.  Needless to say it is quite an amazing spectacle, reminiscent of what the Great Plains of the USA must have been like several hundred years ago with the herds of bison.  Tomorrow the team will visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of many archeological discoveries.  Then, they will go to Ngorongoro Crater, and take a nice game drive down to see the resident population of animals.  So far so good in Tanzania!

Eric Simonson

eric@mountainguides.com

Cape buffalo in the Serengeti (Phunuru Sherpa)
Cheetah enjoying the shade and camouflage in Serengeti
(Phunuru Sherpa)
Simba rules the Pride Lands! (Phunuru Sherpa)
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It’s Serengeti Time!

February 22, 2023-

Phunuru reports that the Kilimanjaro team departed from Moshi this morning and headed west to Arusha.  After some shopping and lunch, it was time to head over to the domestic airport, and load up for the 45 minute flight to Seronera.  Upon arrival in the central Serengeti, the team were met at the bush airstrip by their safari drivers with their vehicles, ready to start looking for critters.  Apparently they were quite abundant, and Phunuru said they saw over 25 different animal species in a few hours, including lions and elephants.

Tonight the team is ensconced in a luxury tented camp, complete with a first class cook and camp crew and real beds under the canvas wall tents.  The lodges are great, but there is nothing like being out on the Serengeti listening to the animals (with a camp guard nearby!).  Tomorrow the team heads for the Ndutu area, the epicenter of the Migration.

 

Eric Simonson

eric@mountainguides.com

It’s a good day to be an elephant in the Serengeti National Park (Phunuru Sherpa)
Here kitty kitty (Phunuru Sherpa)
Dinner under the stars in the Serengeti (Phunuru Sherpa)
Getting ready to depart Arusha for Serengeti (Phunuru Sherpa)
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Kilimanjaro climbers back to Moshi and getting ready for safari!

February 21, 2023-

Phunuru reports the team had a smooth descent from Millennium Camp back down through the forest to the Mweka Gate today, and they have now returned to the hotel in Moshi.  This evening they had a celebration dinner and are now looking forward to a nice well deserved sleep in a bed.  Well done team! Tomorrow they depart in the morning for Arusha, from where they will be flying out to the Serengeti for three days of safari. 

More fun to come!

Successful climbers show their summit certificates! (Phunuru Sherpa)
Kili climbers and Chagga crew all back to Moshi (Phunuru Sherpa)
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Kilimanjaro Summits!

Phunuru checked in to report that the team had a very nice climb today.  The team started from Barafu Camp at about 12:30AM and reached the summit at dawn.  First they hit Stella Point (the crater rim), then traversed around to Uhuru Peak, just as the sun was rising.  Well done!  The team have now all descended to Millennium Camp (about 12,000 feet) for the night, and they will finish the descent to Mweka Gate in the morning.  All’s well on Kilimanjaro!

Hiking around to Uhuru Peak at sunrise (Phunuru Sherpa)

Team on Uhuru Peak (Phunuru Sherpa)

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Kilimanjaro Climbers are in position to climb!

February 19, 2023

Yesterday the Kilimanjaro team moved to Karanga Camp, which is one of the most beautiful days of hiking.  First they ascended the steep trail on the Barancco Wall, then traversed below the Southern Glaciers before crossing the last running water at Karanga Valley and climbing to the nearby Camp. Last night was the third in a row at about 13,000 feet, which was great acclimatization for them.  Today, Phunuru Sherpa reports the team got up and made the short but steeper move up to the Barafu Camp, at about 15,000 feet.  They arrived in time for a hot lunch, and then spent the afternoon resting and preparing for the climb tonight.  The team plans to leave at 12:20AM for the summit.  We’ll keep you posted!

Traversing to Karanga Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)
Leaving Karanga Camp heading for Barafu Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)
The team at Barafu Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

 

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Kili Team Reaches Barranco Camp

Feb 17, 2023 – Phunuru Sherpa reports the IMG Kili team had a great acclimatization day, ascending to 14,500 feet at Lava Tower, then dropping back to 13,000 feet at Barancco Camp.  Climb high, sleep low!  Tonight the stars in the Southern Sky will rise above the lights of Moshi below, while the immense Breach Wall towers above them.

Barranco Camp with the Breach Wall above (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG Kilimanjaro climbers reach Barranco Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

Phunuru and the IMG Team cross the Shira Plateau on their way to Lava Tower (Phunuru Sherpa)

Porters approach Barranco Camp among the giant groundsel plants (Eric Simonson)

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Breaking News

  • Everest Gear On The Move

    Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that our team finished packing up all the food and equipment, and it is on...

  • 2023 Everest logistics in full swing

    9 March, 2023 An Everest expedition starts long before the climbers and trekkers show up in Nepal, and our Sherpa...

  • Success on Mt Washington

    March 3, 2023 – IMG guide Angie Diana reported that her team summited Mt. Washington last week. The team braved...

  • Ngorongoro Crater Doesn’t Disappoint

    Feb 24, 2023 – Phunuru Sherpa reports the final day of safari was a good one!  The team left Ndutu...

  • The Migration, and IMG’s Kilimanjaro Team, reach the eastern Serengeti

    February 23, 2023- Phunuru checked in from Ndutu, in the shortgrass plains of the eastern Serengeti.  This is where all...

  • It’s Serengeti Time!

    February 22, 2023- Phunuru reports that the Kilimanjaro team departed from Moshi this morning and headed west to Arusha.  After...

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