International Mountain Guides Everest 2009 : Plans for Summit Bids in Improving Weather

Today was a final day of R and R and organization. All the climbers and Sherpas are back up from down valley. Tomorrow we finally have climbers moving up. Greg, Dave A, and Philippe will head to Camp 2 to begin their Lhotse bid. Also heading to Camp 2 are Mike, Paul, Louis, Dasona, Chris and Pemba Dorge, and Dawes and Mingma Chirring. The weather is still a bit unsettled, but the forecasts are for an improving trend. We'll keep you posted.

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Plans for Summit Bids in Improving Weather

The weather is still unsettled, with rain in Nepal, but showing signs of improvement. The sun came out today and it didn't snow, so that was a major improvement over the last few days. All our sherpas are now back to Base Camp after some of them took a quick run down to their homes. We spent the day plotting and strategizing about summit bid plans, more to follow on that. We still have some team members doing R and R down the valley in Pheriche, but they should be back tomorrow. Knock on wood, this next week or so will see some summits!!

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: This morning was windy and snowy, and at 5:30am, Justin, Jon, Jon, and their sherpa team roped up and headed down from Camp 2. The trip to Camp 1 was low visibility and it made them happy that IMG had put in wands in the Cwm, for navigation in these conditions. By the time they got to Camp 1, the weather started to improve, and when they got to BC it was very nice. It was great to get them back to BC, and they had quite a story to tell of their descent to C2 from the Col yesterday. Later, the clouds rolled back in and it snowed again this afternoon. The weather is quite unstable right now with moisture coming through each day now. Hopefully it will improve in a few days!

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: The sherpa community forms the soul and backbone of Everest climbing. The rest of us are mere guests in their native land and fortunate to have their priceless help when we come to climb this mountain. Whenever a sherpa is lost on Everest, a large community is devastated. The pain goes far beyond grief for a lost friend or family member, and for many, the reality of severe economic hardship looms large.

The international climbing community can only offer our sincere thanks and sympathy to that sherpa community and give our direct support to the families involved.

As in the past, IMG will organize a relief fund to be directed to support the family of Lhapka Nuru Sherpa, lost in the recent avalanche on Everest (see post below from May 7), through our affiliated non-profit organization, AFFIMER (American Foundation for International Mountaineering Exploration and Research.)

Those who wish to help Lhapka's family in this time of great need can make tax deductible donations to the fund as follows:

Write checks payable to "AFFIMER � Lhapka Fund"
and mail directly to:
AFFIMER
P.O. Box 155
Ashford, WA 98304
USA

AFFIMER is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes and is operated exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. AFFIMER is dedicated to promoting the exploration of mountains for the purpose of increasing geographic, cultural, and scientific understanding of the global alpine environment. Founded in 1990 by a group of alpine mountain climbers and researchers from across the United States, AFFIMER is governed by a volunteer board of directors and receives its funding from private contributions and donations from the public.

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: This morning our South Col team woke up to windy weather and some more snow overnight, and decided to head on down. Justin, Jon, John, Mingma Tenzing, Phinjo, Kancha Nuru, and Ang Karma descended successfully from the Col to Camp 2 and will be heading down to BC in the morning.

We had a sad story develop today at Base Camp with the death of one sherpa cook boy overnight and the near fatal poisoning of another, from other expeditions, both stricken after drinking locally purchased bootleg whiskey made with methyl alcohol. The weather at BC was too cloudy to get a helicopter in today for him, and HRA docs Eric and Torrey worked hard all day to save the life of the second guy. At this time his status is still uncertain. I hope the Liason Officers will do an investigation into this crime; this is really such a tragedy.

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Shea, Golden, Merle, and four sherpas made it up to the Col yesterday by 11am but during the afternoon, the weather deteriorated so they were unable to make a summit attempt (they were planning to start in the late evening).

Down at Base Camp we had snow in the afternoon, and it is cloudy this morning and looks like it may continue. This morning Justin reports from the Col that they are all OK after their overnight there, and now are above the clouds, but that they are going to be coming back down to Camp 2 today.

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: Climbers Shea, Golden, Merle, Phinjo, and Mingma Tenzing decided to take a shot at the summit, despite the less than ideal forecast. They left Camp 2 at 1:30 this morning (May 10) and are currently (8:30am) above the Yellow Band on the way to Camp 4. Weather is holding, so far so good. Their plan is to rest this afternoon at the Col and try for the top tonight. We'll keep you posted on their progress.

This morning the Singapore climbers descended from C2 to BC along with Kami, Jamling, Datenji, and Phinjo Dorge. Several members of the IMG team are heading down to Pheriche today for some thick air, and a final rest before their summit bids. Last night we spoke on the radio to IMG guide Chris Meder who is leading (along with Phu Tashi) our "Sherpa Trek " group in to Base Camp. It sounds like everything is going well for them and they have been having a good time on the trek so far. They are currently taking a rest day in Dingboche and tomorrow they will be heading up to Lobuche, with a planned arrival at Base Camp on the 14th.

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: The winds picked up on schedule yesterday afternoon as the jet stream passed over the top of Mt. Everest, as forecasted. Today is also windy up high. The weather window on the 11th and 12th that we were shooting for has gotten smaller, bracketed by stronger winds both to the east and west, so most of the team members have opted to come back down and wait for a better weather window.

Scott, Karel, Dawes, Petya, Kamen, Ed, Jamie, and all their sherpas have come down today to BC. The Singapore team has stayed up at C2 for more acclimatization. Jon and John, with Justin, Mingma Tenzing and Phinjo are going to go ahead and take a shot at the summit, weather permitting. Stay tuned!

Lhotse Team members Greg, Philippe and Dave A. are at BC resting prior to their summit bid. We figure that we'll need about 1000 meters of rope to get the Lhotse Couloir fixed, and we are working with several other teams that also have Lhotse permits to get the fixing done. Tomorrow we are sending Ang Karma and Pasang to Lhotse Camp 4 to drop gear for fixing (400 meters rope, 11 pitons, 5 screws, 9 pickets, caribiners). If the weather cooperates we hope that we'll be able to start fixing on the 13th.

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: This morning Jon Shea and John Golden, with Phinjo, headed up to Camp 2 to join the climbers already up there. Their tentative plan for the next few days is to head up to Camp 3 and beyond, depending on the weather!

At BC this morning, we had a meeting with a number of other expeditions at HRA to debrief what went well and what can be improved for the future regarding rescues, such as the one that occurred yesterday. IMG is sending our rescue pack and oxygen pack, both used yesterday, over to the Himex storage tent which is located near the glacier at BC, within easy reach of climbers deployed for rescue activities. Some of the other main teams here will also do the same, to make the gear more accessible in an emergency. Regarding communications in the future, we discussed how some teams can do a better job tracking the location of their members � yesterday there was quite a lot of confusion as to who was missing after the avalanche.

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed on the weather!

�Eric Simonson, IMG Expedition Leader

Earlier: Today started out pretty normal, with the first team making a timely departure and climbing the Icefall in good form. Later, Rejean was descending the Icefall with Dawa, his sherpa, and three of our IMG sherpas who had already carried to C2 and were on the way back down to BC (Mingma Tenzing #2, Thunang, and Karma Dorje). The five of them made good time back down the Icefall until about 10 am when a huge ice avalanche swept down the lower Icefall from the West Shoulder and blasted them. Immediately afterwards they radioed to us that they were all OK. Only later, when they all returned to camp, did we get the whole story. When they saw the avalanche break loose above them, they only had maybe 10 seconds to seek shelter. Dawa led them around an ice block, where they crouched down and were blasted by snow and ice chunks. After the dust settled, they looked for some other climbers that had been nearby them, and noted that three of them were missing. Climbing down to a nearby crevasse, they met other climbers that had also been descending. Buried in the bottom of the crevasse were two climbers. Of the 22 climbers at the accident scene, only Dawa had a climbing rope and a pocket knife. With the help of Pasang, a sherpa from Indian Army expedition, they engineered the rescue of the two buried climbers from the crevasse, one of whom was brought to the surface unconscious and hypothermic. Then they started down, carrying this unconsciousious victim. Later, they met up with other climbers and sherpas climbing up from below, who were able to start this man on oxygen and package him in a sked stretcher and sleeping bag and evacuate him. Over two and one half hours of additional searching was conducted for the missing sherpa, at considerable risk to the many rescuers who participated, to no avail. Only his backpack and one boot were found--it must have been a terrific blast that hit him. All in all it was a sad afternoon, but thanks to the hard work of Damien and Willie Benegas, Dave Hahn, Mark Tucker, Ang Jangbu, and the many climbers and sherpas that participated. At IMG camp we sent our prepackaged rescue gear and oxygen up with Phunuru and Panuru, who raced up at full speed to help. At the end, Rejean made it back to BC safe and sound, after a day he will never forget. Eric Simonson

Earlier: Panuru and Mingma Tenzing returned to BC this morning from C2 after their summit yesterday (also descending from C2 this morning were Greg, Dave A. and Phillipe). It was great to get the lowdown from them on their progress fixing. In addition to cutting down a bunch of old rope, they strung double-ropes above the South Summit to allow for both up and down traffic, and also put three new ropes on the Hillary Step (and removed about ten old ones). It sounds like they had a great day up there!

After breakfast we had a big team meeting to review plans for the summit bids. It looks like we might have a decent window about the 11/12th, so tomorrow we are going to launch our first summit team, heading for the top. The first team will be Scott/Danuru, Dawes/Mingma Chhiring, Ed/Samduk, Rejean/Dawa, Karel/Karma Rita, Kamen/Pasang Rinji, Petya/Nima Karma, Li Hui/Kancha Nuru, Joanne/Datenji, and Jane/Kami. The second team will be a day or two later, depending on how the forecast looks.

Since we had the whole team together today, we thought it was a good time for a group picture. The afternoon was spent doing final checkout with everyone on the oxygen systems, radios, and other gear for the summit bids. We also had a meeting with the Sherpas to review their jobs as part of the film team. We'll have several of them accompanying the team, wearing the microwave "sherpa cams" and also carrying the sound recording equipment for the Discovery Channel show. Keep your fingers crossed for the good weather we'll need to pull this off!!

Earlier: IMG sherpa Mingma Tenzing was first on top of Everest for 2009 at 12:25pm. Panuru (IMG), Kami Rita (AAI), Dorje and Nima Tsering (Himex) were a few minutes behind him. They left the Col at 2:15am. Over the last two days the five sherpas fixed the ropes from South Col to the Summit and cut away a lot of old ropes on the rock step below the South Summit and the Hillary Step as part of the continuing efforts this year to clean up the route of a lot of the old ropes that have been left on the mountain over the years. After their climb, they descended to the Col, took down their tent, then descended to Camp 2, a very impressive performance on the part of these men.

Also today Greg, Dave A., Phunuru, and Philippe descended to C2 from C3. Dave R. and Justin descended to BC from C2.

Eric had a visit today at Base Camp from an old friend, Rick Wilcox from North Conway, NH. Rick was leading a trek group and swung by to say hi. Rick and Eric summitted Everest the same day, May 15, 1991, Eric from the North and Rick from the South. Rick runs the IMCS guide service in the Mt. Washington Valley, and at IMG we regularly trade both guides and customers with his outfit. We reminisced about the old days when men were men, sheep were scared, and the route was not fixed to the summit. We both agree, though, it sure is safer now with the ropes, and kudos to the sherpas who did such a great job the last couple days!

Earlier: The weather was fairly grim today � wind and snow, so not much in the way of progress on the mountain. Greg, Justin, Phillipe, and the two Daves are at C2. Sherpas took a rest today, and tomorrow we have a big push scheduled for the South Col coinciding with the start of the fixing above the Col. Mingma Tenzing and Panuru will be leaving C2 at 2am for the Col, with the plan to go fix to the Balcony along with one AAI sherpa and two from Himex. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!

Yesterday was a historic day for route making on Everest. Kari Kobler donated his Hilti bolt gun and guides Willie Benegas and Adrian Ballinger drilled six new 10cm Mammut stainless steel bolts up on the Yellow Band to anchor two new ropes � one for up traffic and one for down. Good work you guys. In the process they also cut down over 30kg of old rope. The immediate beneficiaries will be the Sherpas, who have had to deal with a spider-web of old ropes over the years. Now, this is much safer for them. When the climbers start going up to the Col in the next few days they will find that this makes it a lot faster and less confusing. We are hoping to do the same thing up on the Geneva Spur next, and hopefully up in the rock step below the South Summit too.

Earlier: Most of the sherpas had a well deserved rest day today, after a busy week. Tomorrow they are back at it, stocking C2 and C4. Our Camp 3 acclimatization rotation is now almost over. The Singapore team descended from C3 today and John, Jon, and Matt went up to C3 for their overnight there. Justin and Dave are up at C1 tonight. Hamill's team is back to BC now. Kamen and Petya went down to Pheriche for some R & R today prior to the summit bids.

Before that can happen, we still have the issue of the fixing above the Col, estimated to be about 2300 meters of rope. It looks like we will be sending Panuru and Mingma Tenzing, a couple of our top sherpas, up tomorrow with the plan for them to be moving up to the Col on the 2nd, where they will meet a few sherpas from other teams and beginning to fix on the 3rd, weather permitting. Right now it looks like we might get a little snow over the next few days, so we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

Earlier: Today we had 11 sherpas carry to the South Col. Mike, Louis, Paul, Dasona, Chris, and Pemba Dorje climbed to C3 and are spending the night there now. Descending this morning from their C3 overnight to C2 were Kamen/Nima Karma, Petya/Pasang Rinjing, Dawes/Mingma Tshering, Karel/Karma Rita. They will come down to BC tomorrow.

Jon is at C2 now with John. Greg, Philippe, and Dave took a Cwm hike today up to the base of the Lhotse face and are staying at C2 again. The Singapore team is heading for C3 in the morning. Weather was good today but our most recent forecast has a chance of precip coming in by the end of the week, so we are going to keep pushing hard here for a few more days. We have another big sherpa carry to the Col scheduled for the morning.

This afternoon at Base Camp, Jangbu hosted a big meeting of the Sirdars (sherpa leaders) from a bunch of the various expeditions to review how the fixing went to the Col and how to do the fixing above the Col. As we had hoped, a number of teams have stepped up and made good contributions to the efforts. We appreciate that many expeditions want to help � thanks to all those teams who have participated. We will continue to try to work together and build concensus. Everest is an international mountain and it works best if we can all work together.

Earlier: Today was another good one for the IMG team. The weather cooperated and the wind died down, allowing five sherpas to carry to the Col. Four more went to C3, where they set up more tents. Climbing to Camp 3 today were Kamen, Petya, Karel, and Dawes, who are now all spending the night there with their personal sherpas. Hamill and his crew, along with John and Chris, took an acclimatization climb to the base of the Lhotse Face today. Vernovage and his Lhotse team ascended to C2, along with the Singapore team. Shea moved up to C1. Scott, Ed, and Rejean descended to BC.

We had additional sherpas carries today to C1 and C2, and tomorrow we have a number of sherpas moving to C2 to start making carries to the Col. So, things are rolling and we are shooting to get C4 at the Col well established in the next few days, as weather allows. Jangbu has a meeting scheduled tomorrow with a number of the sirdars of the various teams to start making plans to fix above the Col.

IMG climbers Ed, Scott, and Rejean descended from C3 to C2 after a windy night on the Lhotse Face. The team at C2, Kamen, Petya, Dawes, Karel who hoped to go to C3 today were forced to hold at C2 due to the wind. If tomorrow is better, they will take another shot at going to C3. Several other teams lost tents at C2 today, but our camp stayed in place! Moving up to C2 from C1 was Mike, Louis, and Paul. Greg and his Lhotse team stayed put at C1 today. The Singapore women moved to C1 from BC.

If tomorrow is decent, we have five sherpas scheduled to work at C3 erecting more tents, and five more sherpas going to the South Col. However, it seems that the jet stream is perched right over the top of Mt. Everest right now � we can hear the wind blowing up high down at BC, and it sounds like the proverbial train.

Today we had 2 Sherpas carry to Camp 1 and 11 Sherpas carry to C2. Moving up to Camp 1 this morning were Mike, Louis, Paul, Dasona, Chris, Pemba Dorje (Everest); and Greg, Dave, Phillipe, Pasang Nuru (Lhotse). Karel and Karma Rita moved from C1 to C2. The sherpas set up three tents at C3, and moving to Camp 3 today were Scott, Danuru, Rejean, Dawa, Ed, and Samduk. They are the first residents of C3.

The big news on the mountain was that the route to the Col was established today, with IMG sherpas Chewang Lendu and Karma Serki being the very first to the South Col, finishing the route after three days of fixing. They started below the Yellow Band, which they fixed with 9mm rope, then fixed from over the Geneva Spur and on into the Col.

Here is Jangbu's official tally of the teams that worked on the route, and the number of sherpas they contributed to the fixing each day, over the last three days:

April 23 � Base of Face to C3 (double ropes fixed)
IMG 2
Himex 2
AAI 2
RMI 1
AC 1
Altitude Junkies 1
Jagged Globe 1
7Summit 1
Peak Freak 1
Asian Trek 1

Thanks to those teams for the help with the route work! In addition, a number of other teams helped carry rope to Camp 2 and donated gear, rope, etc. We'll have a complete summary in the future of who helped and who were the slackers!! Jangbu has a meeting planned in the next day or two to work out the strategy for getting the route above the Col fixed. Before that can happen there is a lot of work to do to get the Col established with tents, rope, oxygen, etc.

Earlier: There was another collapse in the Icefall overnight, near the Popcorn, but our sherpas found a way around it and managed to do a big carry to Camp 2. Today we finished our first acclimatization rotation, with the successful descent from Camp 2 to Base Camp of Nancy, Panuru, and the Camp 2 cooks. Tomorrow starts the beginning of the second rotation. We'lll send up new cooks, along with Scott and Rejean and over thirty sherpas who are making a huge carry tomorrow to Camp 2 in preparation for starting to fix the route to Camp 3.

Today we sorted out over 150 bottles of oxygen, checked the tank pressures, and these cylinders will start moving up the hill starting tomorrow. Greg Vernovage and the Lhotse team did a day of training out on the glacier, practicing fixed line techniques, cramponing, and other skills they will need for their Icefall rotation in a few days. The weather continues to be reasonably good and we are hoping that this trend continues!

Earlier: IMG guide Greg Vernovage and the Lhotse team of climbers and trekkers arrived in Everest Base Camp today. Everyone is doing well and were happy to finally be here. They are all looking forward to the good food, hot showers from our propane water heater, washing some clothes, and all the other creature comforts of Base Camp.

Up on the mountain, there was a route collapse in the Icefall at 5:30am this morning that gave us a scare, and blocked the way for the Sherpas, but they found a new way through and were able to complete their carries to camps 1 and 2. Chris went up to Camp 2 today. Hamill's team and the Singapore team remain at Camp 2. We are now working on getting all the rope moved up to Camp 2 to begin the route fixing on the Lhotse Face. So far Ang Jangbu has secured about 8700 meters of rope from the various teams, along with screws, pickets, caribiners, and oxygen (for the fixing above the Col). The fixing is scheduled to start on the 23rd.

Earlier: Today was a beautiful day, but a bit windy. We heard from Tucker and Merle on the radio periodically throughout the morning, as they ascended Lobuche Peak, reaching the summit about 11 am. Congrats to the Lobuche climbers!! They have now all successfully descended back to Lobuche base camp.

At Everest, the Icefall sherpas made good progress today and are now only a day or two from Camp 1. This photo shows the route, currently up past the football field. IMG team members continued their acclimatization program with several climbers and sherpas ascending to the Popcorn area of the icefall while others IMG climbers went hiking today, reaching Pumori Camp 1, which is over 19,000 feet and gives a great view of the base camp area.

We spoke on the radio this morning to Greg Vernovage and the Lhotse team, as they left Namche � they are in Tengboche tonight and all is going well with them.

Tomorrow is Easter for us, and we are looking forward to a special brunch for the team. We send best wishes to all our friends and family.

Earlier: After a couple snowy days the weather improved and many team members are washing clothes and taking showers today.

IMG guides Mark Tucker and Justin Merle called on the radio this afternoon from high camp on Lobuche Peak. The team has made it into position to attempt the summit tomorrow. The weather is looking good and everyone is doing well.

At Everest, the Icefall Doctors today extended the route to almost the top of the icefall, so we are hoping that within the next couple days the route to C1 will be finished. Most team members have now managed to go partway up the Icefall to practice their ladder crossing techniques.

IMG Guide Greg Vernovage reports from Namche that the Lhotse team (the members were originally planning to go to Cho Oyu before the Chinese closed Tibet) are all doing well. The are planning to move to Tengboche tomorrow and will be joining us at Everest Base Camp next week.

Earlier: Today saw several IMG team members making initial forays into the Icefall. Ed Wardell and Jamie Berry of the Discovery film team went up with the Icefall doctors to shoot the installation of some of the ladders. The Icefall route is now established through the "popcorn" section and up to the "football field". It will take another couple days of work to build the route up the final steep pitches of the Icefall.

In the meantime, other IMG members and some of our new sherpas are continuing to work on the ropes course that Panuru set up near the bottom of the Icefall. This, along with the ladder practice area we have set up, is a good chance for everyone to get dialed on the icefall techniques.

Tomorrow we have a number of the team heading up partway for practice and acclimatization runs. This afternoon we were joined at BC by the JF Carrey trek group from eastern Canada (JF summited with IMG on Everest a couple years ago, the youngest Canadian to climb the mountain). They had hiked in via the Gokyo Valley route and will be here another day before heading down. With them is our final Everest team member, Rejean Audet. Now we are all here and everyone is doing well.

Tomorrow morning Mark Tucker, Justin Merle and the Lobuche Peak team head down the valley to climb this attractive 20K footer near Mt. Everest. They will be back to Base Camp in four days. So far so good!

Earlier: The IMG Everest team went to bed last night to a snowy scene, as a storm moved up the valley late in the afternoon and dumped about six inches of snow by bedtime. This morning is was clear and blue, but again this afternoon more snow came, though not as heavy as yesterday. This trend of clear mornings and snowy afternoons is not unusual, and we are glad to see some accumulation on the mountain. The Khumbu has had a very dry winter with very little snowfall, and the upper part of Everest is quite black, so some snow will improve the climbing conditions for our team.

We are still organizing the 20,000 pounds of food, fuel, and gear that was shipped to Base Camp, so we have a few more days of work here before everything is well organized. Today Mark Tucker led the Lobuche climbers for a climbing school on the glacier near the Icefall, and Justin Merle led some of our climbers up into the Icefall for some climbing practice. Tomorrow we plan to set up a ropes course to further practice the skills that will be necessary for the Icefall and Lobuche Peak.

The IMG Everest team reached Everest base camp today and had the Puja (blessing ceremony) with our sherpas. We were joined by the lama from Pangboche monastary who led the ceremony. The weather was excellent and everyone had a great time celebrating the official beginning of the climb. The Icefall Doctors (icefall route sherpas hired by SPCC) have now placed nine ladders and have reached the "popcorn" section of the icefall. They are hoping to finish the route up the icefall in the next few days if all goes well.

Earlier: Expedition Leader, Eric Simonson, reports that yesterday the team trekked from Dingboche (14,450') to Lobuche (16,000') and will stay there for another rest day and good night's sleep. The team is doing well and enjoying the big views from day hikes around Lobuche.

Eric is excited that the Icefall doctors have started their work on the Khumbu Icefall. Ang Jangbu in Everest Base Camp says the Icefall Doctors had their Puja (blessing ceremony) yesterday and began working in the icefall today. The Icefall Doctors are a few Sherpas, paid for by all the climbing expeditions, whose job it is to set the best possible route through the icefall and maintain it throughout the climbing season as the glacier moves and inevitable destroys parts of the route which have to be reset. We expect that the icefall route will be set in a week or so. The team plans to make it to Everest Base camp on Monday, March 6th, and everything is moving forward as planned!

Ang Jangbu in BC reports that the Singapore women's group did summit Lobuche Peak yesterday at around 11am and returned to Lobuche base camp safely. They are taking a rest day there today and plan to come all the way to Everest Base Camp tomorrow. While John Golden's group is in Dingboche and everyone is doing well.

Earlier: Tengboche, Pangboche, Pheriche: IMG expedition leader Eric Simonson called in to say that yesterday the team hiked from Namche to Tengboche Monastery at 12,700', and then went a little further to spend the night in Pangboche.

Today the team will be moving up to Pheriche at around 14,000' where they'll spend the night and have a rest day, acclimating and doing some short hikes. In Pheriche they'll also meet with the HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) who have established a clinic in Pheriche and treat anyone who needs their help for a nominal fee. They meet with climbing and trekking expeditions to better prepare them for altitude issues and other potential mountaineering health issues.

All is well, and everybody is doing fine. Typical for the Khumbu Valley in the Spring, the weather is cold and clear in the mornings with some light (but melting away) snow in the afternoons.

Earlier: Over the next few weeks people from all over the world will converge on Kathmandu, Nepal to join in one of the world's classic human-powered challenges. For some the goal will be the summit, for others it will be Base Camp. Each year at Mt. Everest there is a different mix of teams and countries represented, but we all share personal goals, a love of the mountains, and an adventurous spirit.

In Kathmandu, preparing for our arrival, IMG leader Ang Jangbu and his team have already received our big oxygen shipment, as well as 50 new tents, 2500 meters of 8 and 9mm fixed rope, and additional food and supplies that were shipped ahead of our departure. They have repackaged everything into yak loads, and we have now had several big MI 17 helicopter flights to Shyangboche (above Namche), with over 3000 kg of food, fuel, and gear on each flight. These flights were met on arrival by our sirdar, Ang Pasang, and his crew, and sent toward Base Camp by yaks. Currently we have some of the Sherpa team at Base Camp, constructing the tent platforms. Since the camp is on a moraine, underlain by ice which moves and melts, these need to be reconstructed each year (and sometimes even during the expedition!) IMG leaders Mark Tucker, Justin Merle, Mike Hamill, and I are all on our way to Nepal and will be there in the next few days. Next stop, Kathmandu!

We have a great team for 2009 and I am personally looking forward to meeting everyone soon.

This Everest expedition is truly a team effort. On behalf of everyone on the IMG team, from Ashford to Kathmandu, thanks for following along with us. We'll look forward to sharing our 2009 Everest adventure with you!

Earlier: In 2009 IMG will return to with a few more members! IMG Himalayan Director Eric Simonson, and a film team featuring IMG on Discovery Channel�s popular Everest TV series, will join the great group of climbers and trekkers already on board for IMG�s 2009 Everest expedition. Since 1991 IMG has successfully supported 179 people from 14 countries to the summit of Everest, and we are looking forward to another great season on Everest.The planning and preparations are already well under way. Ang Jangbu reports from Kathmandu that the first 3000kg of gear was sent last week by helicopter to Shyangboche. The loads are now moving by yak toward Base Camp, where the Sherpa team has already started building our camp. Stay tuned for more!

This is a picture of the popular South Col Route up Mt. Everest. Base camp is located at 17,500 feet. This is where climbers begin their true trip up the mountain. This is also where support staff often remain to monitor the expeditions and provide medical assistance when necessary. Many organizations offer hiking trips which just go to base camp as the trip is not technically challenging (though you must be very fit).

From base camp, climbers typically train and acclimate (permitting the body to adjust to the decreased oxygen in the air) by traveling and bringing supplies back and forth through the often treacherous Khumbu Icefall. This training and recuperation continues throughout the climb, with the final summit push often being the only time to climbers do not go back and forth between camps to train, bring supplies, and recuperate for the next push.

The Icefall is in constant motion. It contains enormous ice seracs, often larger than houses, which dangle precariously over the climbers heads, threatening to fall at any moment without warning, as the climbers cross endless crevasses and listen to continuous ice creaking below. This often acts as a testing ground to judge if less experienced climbers will be capable of continuing. The Icefall is located between 17,500 and 19,500 feet.

Camp I - 5900 meters

After the Icefall, the climbers arrive at Camp I, which is located at 19,500 feet. Depending on the type of expedition, Camp I will either be stocked by the climbers as they ascend and descend the Icefall, or by Sherpas in advance.

The area between Camp I and Camp II is known as the Western Cwm. As the climbers reach Camp II at 21,000 feet, they may be temporarily out of sight of their support at Base camp. Nonetheless, modern communication devises permit the parties to stay in contact.

Camp II - 6500 meters

As the climbers leave Camp II, they travel towards the Lhotse face (Lhotse is a 27,920 foot mountain bordering Everest). The Lhotse face is a steep, shiny icy wall. Though not technically extremely difficult, one misstep or slip could mean a climber's life. Indeed, many climbers have lost their lives through such mishaps.

Camp III - 23,700 feet (7200 meters)

To reach Camp III, climbers must negotiate the Lhotse Face. Climbing a sheer wall of ice demands skill, strength and stamina. It is so steep and treacherous that many Sherpas move directly from Camp II to Camp IV on the South Col, refusing to stay on the Lhotse Face.

Camp IV - 26,300 feet (8000 meters)

As you�re leaving C4�it�s a little bit of a down slope, with the uphill side to the left. There are typically snow on the ledges to walk down on, interspersed with rock, along with some fixed rope. The problem with the rope is that the anchors are bad, and there�s not much holding the rope and a fall could be serious. Fortunately it�s not too steep, but there is a ton of exposure and people are usually tired when walking down from camp. The rock is a little down sloping to the right as well, and with crampons on, it can be bit tricky with any kind of wind. There�s a little short slope on reliable snow which leads to the top of the Geneva Spur, and the wind pressure gradient across the spur can increase there as you�re getting set up for the rappel. Wearing an oxygen mask here can create some footing issues during the rappel, because it�s impossible to see over the mask and down to the feet. For that reason, some people choose to leave Camp 4 without gas, as it�s easier to keep moving down the Spur when it�s important to see all the small rock steps and where the old feet are going. Navigating down through all of the spaghetti of fixed ropes is a bit of a challenge, especially with mush for brains at that point. One lands on some lower ledges which aren�t so steep, where fixed ropes through here are solid. At this point, it�s just a matter of staying upright, and usually, the wind has died significantly after dropping off the Spur. The route turns hard to the left onto the snowfield that leads to the top of the Yellow Bands.

Camp IV, which is at 26,300 on the Lhotse face, is typically the climbers' first overnight stay in the Death Zone. The Death Zone is above 26,000 feet. Though there is nothing magical about that altitude, it is at this altitude that most human bodies lose all ability to acclimate. Accordingly, the body slowly begins to deteriorate and die - thus, the name "Death Zone." The longer a climber stays at this altitude, the more likely illness (HACE - high altitude cerebral edema - or HAPE - high altitude pulmonary edema) or death will occur. Most climbers will use oxygen to climb and sleep at this altitude and above. Generally, Sherpas refuse to sleep on the Lhotse face and will travel to either Camp II or Camp IV.

Camp IV is located at 26,300 feet. This is the final major camp for the summit push. It is at this point that the climbers make their final preparations. It is also a haven for worn-out climbers on their exhausting descent from summit attempts (both successful and not). Sherpas or other climbers will often wait here with supplies and hot tea for returning climbers.

From Camp IV, climbers will push through the Balcony, at 27,500 feet, to the Hillary Step at 28,800 feet. The Hillary Step, an over 70 foot rock step, is named after Sir. Edmond Hillary, who in 1953, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first people to summit Everest. The Hillary Step, which is climbed with fixed ropes, often becomes a bottleneck as only one climber can climb at a time. Though the Hillary Step would not be difficult at sea level for experienced climbers, at Everest's altitude, it is considered the most technically challenging aspect of the climb.

Summit - 29,028 feet (8848 meters)

Once the climbers ascend the Hillary Step, they slowly and laboriously proceed to the summit at 29,028 feet. The summit sits at the top of the world. Though not the closest place to the sun due to the earth's curve, it is the highest peak on earth. Due to the decreased air pressure, the summit contains less than one third the oxygen as at sea level. If dropped off on the summit directly from sea level (impossible in reality), a person would die within minutes. Typically, climbers achieving the great summit will take pictures, gain their composure, briefly enjoy the view, then return to Camp IV as quickly as possible. The risk of staying at the summit and the exhaustion from achieving the summit is too great to permit climbers to fully enjoy the great accomplishment at that moment.

As most readers of this page know, the return trip can be even more dangerous than the climb to the summit.