March 31, 2009

Expedition Leader Eric Simonson called in a few minutes ago (roughly 6am Nepal time) to relay that the group was in Pangboche (3930m) and will make the move to Pheriche (4240m) today. A scheduled rest day tomorrow will give the team the opportunity to take a small hike and check out the Himalayan Rescue Association‘s clinic in Pheriche..

Everybody is doing just fine… weather has been cold and clear in the mornings with some light snow in the afternoons.

 Full Expedition Coverage

March 25, 2009
The entire IMG team has now reached Kathmandu and everyone is doing fine.

Last night we had a big team meeting and welcome dinner which was a great chance to finally meet everyone in person.

On March 23rd IMG guides Justin Merle and Mike Hamill spent 5 hours at the Ministry of Tourism and received our Everest permits.  IMG was the first Everest expedition of 2009 to get permits and we will be the first to start towards Everest Base Camp.  On the 24th the Singapore Women’s Team flew to Lukla and began their trek and this morning (the 25th) Mike Hamill and Paul and Louis are flying to Lukla. The rest of the team is working on gear prep and final packing in preparation for our early morning Lukla flight tomorrow, the morning of the 26th.

Ang Pasang called from Pangboche yesterday to report that the IMG sherpa team at Base Camp are doing great and that our camp prep and set up is coming along nicely. We’ll have a nice layout waiting for us when we get there. We are still the only team at EBC, but I am sure that will change soon.  Ang Pasang said that the Icefall Doctors (who will work for the SPCA putting in the icefall route) are leaving Namche today for EBC and will be there in two days.

We’ll stay in touch…

Eric Simonson
Expedition Leader

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Full coverage, photos and more detailed information on this year’s expedition.

Friday, March 20

IMG Guides Mark Tucker, Justin Merle and Mike Hamill are en route to Kathmandu (KTM)… IMG Partner and Everest Program Director Eric Simonson will join them a day later.

Our climbers and trekkers will begin arriving in KTM on March 24th, after a layover day in KTM and a short flight to Lukla, the 12 day walk to Everest Base Camp begins…

For full Expedition Coverage follow the link below.

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Tye Chapman
Operations Manager

Tuesday, March 17 2009

View other IMG videos in our Video Gallery.

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PO Box 246
Ashford, WA 98304

Friday, March 13 2009

IMG Himalayan Director Eric Simonson and IMG Guides Mark Tucker (Everest), Mike Hamill (Everest), and Greg Vernovage (Cho Oyu) packed some last minute expedition food and snacks yesterday.  After a huge shopping trip to Costco, they spent the rest of the day removing all the extra cardboard and packaging just to repack everything into easy to carry yak loads.

Now the food duffels are all ready to send to the airport and ship to Nepal. Once in Nepal they’ll be sent to Shyangboche by helicopter and put straight on the yaks… then it’s off to Base Camp!

Photos:
Top Left: Mark Tucker packing for yet another Everest Expedition. Mark is a seasoned veteran of our Everest Expeditions, and a well known face at EBC. He is often called the “Mayor of Base Camp”.

Top Right: Greg Vernovage (left) will be leading our Cho Oyu team this Spring. And Mike Hamill (right) is heading back to Everest for the second straight year. Mike is a seasoned international climber having spent over 200 days outside of the US last year.

Bottom Left: IMG Partner and Himalayan Director Eric Simonson and daughter Audrey with the van all loaded up.

Bottom Right: A yak (unnamed).