IMG's 2016 Mt. Everest Expedition Coverage
Led by Eric Simonson, Ang Jangbu Sherpa, Greg Vernovage, Justin Merle, Mike Hamill, Emily Johnston, Josh McDowell, Phunuru Sherpa, Jenni Pfafman and Jonathan Schrock
We Are Done!
May 25, 2016
All the gear is down from Camp 1 and the last sherpas are out of the Icefall. Great job you guys! We are done with the climbing!
All the members have now left Base Camp by heli or on foot, and we are taking down the communications tent now. Jangbu and I will spend one final evening here with our Sherpa Team, and then we will depart tomorrow. Our longtime IMG sirdar Ang Pasang and his guys still have a couple days of work getting everything clean and dry so they can get it moved down to our storerooms in Gorak Shep and Pangboche. Per the terms of our permits, we are sending all human waste to the designated burial down valley (north of Lobuche village). All burnable garbage goes to the incinerator in Namche, and all cans and bottles go to Kathmandu for recycle. The empty oxygen cylinders will be sent back to KTM for inspection and refill, along with any gear that needs repair.
More than any other Everest expedition that I have been on, I had the joy of listening to the Sherpa's phrase "lau badai cha" which means CONGRATULATIONS! This has been a great season for our Team, and we are very happy that it was so successful. Thank you to everyone around the world for all of your support, and thank you to all of our Trekkers and Climbers for coming to Nepal and visiting.
—Greg Vernovage, Expedition Leader
All Members Back to BC; Sri Lanka has Summited Mount Everest!
May 24, 2016
Greg and Jangbu report that all the team members are back down to Base Camp, and the sherpas team have finished bringing all the tents, empty O2 bottles, and gear down to Camp 2. They still have a few more days of work to bring all the gear down to Base Camp and get everything packed up.
The members are now packing up and have started to depart, with some trekking down valley and others choosing to fly out by helicopter. Unfortunately, the heli flights this afternoon were cancelled as clouds rolled in and plugged up the Khumbu Valley from Namche up to Pheriche, so they will have another night at EBC.
Of all the great stories from our expedition, high on the list is the first Sri Lankan Everest expedition team of Jay and Johann. Jayanthi Kuru Utumpala Weerahennedige and Johann Lucian Shivantha Peries set out from the South Col on the night of May 20th to summit Mount Everest. Jay reached the summit at 5:03 am on the 21st. She had a great summit day, climbing with strength and determination, working through the South Summit and Hillary Step and arriving on the summit just as the sun was rising. Johann made the wise decision at 8400 meters to turn around. He had a great climb and performed very well during the entire expedition to help his country succeed in the goal of standing on the summit of Mount Everest. A huge congratulations from IMG to the Team of Jay and Johann, carrying the flag for Sri Lanka to the summit of Mount Everest!
—Greg Vernovage, Expedition Leader
Staying Focused
May 23, 2016
Our Classic team had a gorgeous day of climbing today, and were rewarded for waiting a few extra days for their summit bid. They left the South Col last night and had the entire upper mountain to themselves. As Pasang Kami (PK) said, it was perfect. Our Team climbed as strong as they had the entire expedition, and to give them even more credit, they are all back down to Camp 2 now. Their plan for tomorrow is to descend to EBC and celebrate. We'll be excited to get them back to EBC, but it's not over yet. Time to stay focused and make every clip on the fixed lines!
Also today, the last of the Hybrid Team descended to Base Camp and the Sherpas started work on bringing down the South Col camp and Camp 3. Then, over the next couple days, the sherpa team will start hauling Camp 2 down to Camp 1. We had a little snow at Base Camp this afternoon but that won't stop anything now.
—Greg Vernovage, Expedition Leader
Another Round of IMG Everest Summits!
May 22, 2016
Pasang Kami called from the summit to report a perfect morning: sunny, no wind, and no other teams! We are proud to report that our second IMG summit team members have now stood on the summit and have begun their descent. Congratulations team and keep climbing strong!
The following summit list has been sent to the Ministry of Tourism:
2016 IMG Everest Summit Team 2
| 1 | Christian Geb Muller Zou | GERMANY |
| 2 | Darren Vincent Rogers | USA |
| 3 | Alan Jacob Keller | CANADA |
| 4 | Craig Alan Barlow | USA |
| 5 | Barton Lynn Williams | USA |
| 6 | Marin Minamiya | JAPAN |
| 7 | Enrico Cambini | ITALY |
| 8 | Kanchha Nuru Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 9 | Mingma Sona Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 10 | Pasang Nima Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 11 | Chhewang Lendu Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 12 | Pasang Kami Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 13 | Phu Tasi Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 14 | Ang Pemba Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 15 | Ila Nuru Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 16 | Namgel Dorjee Tamang | NEPAL |
| 17 | Pemba Tshering Sherpa | NEPAL |
| 18 | Karma Gyalzen Sherpa | NEPAL |
—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner
IMG Climbers Above the South Summit
May 22, 2016
IMG climbers are past the South Summit (28,700') and will now be working their way across the traverse to the Hillary Step. Once over that last, steep hurdle, they will be on the summit ridge. The weather continues to remain stable, and we will keep you posted!
—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner
IMG Climbers Above the Balcony
May 22, 2016
We just got a call from expedition leaders Ang Jangbu and Greg Vernovage reporting that the second IMG summit team is now well into their summit bid and climbing above the Balcony (27,500'). The weather is holding, and everyone is doing well. We'll keep you posted!
—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner
Classic Team Reaches South Col
May 22, 2016
Our Classic climbers and their sherpas had a great climb to the South Col today, arriving with plenty of time to rest for their climb tonight. Everyone is feeling good and the weather forecast for tomorrow is also looking good. Their plan is to start climbing about 9pm Nepal time, plus or minus.
All of yesterday's climbers are now back to Camp 2, and some of them who came down to Camp 2 yesterday made it down to Base Camp today. They are in great spirits and happy to be back.
Of course, along with the climbers were a number of our sherpa team, and I am proud and honored to work next to them. We were touched by their amazing gesture yesterday, when they unfurled a banner on the summit on behalf of the IMG Sherpa families which were helped by the over $100K raised from our IMG community after the earthquake last year. This banner says it all from the Summit of Mount Everest. I will be bringing this banner back to IMG Headquarters signed by the entire Sherpa Team!
—Greg Vernovage, Expedition Leader
First Team Descending; Classic Team Moving Into Position
May 21, 2016
The members of our first team have now descended either back to the South Col or Camp 2 and are settling in for some very well deserved rest.
Now we have our Classic Team on deck at Camp 3. I am just off the radio with guide Jonathan Schrock who reports no wind and light clouds. The weather forecast remains good for the next couple days, with wind speeds staying low. Every climber earns the summit of Mount Everest, and this Classic team has done more than their share of work and acclimatization. This was apparent today when they left Camp 2 and were able to reach Camp 3 in excellent time and in great shape. They spent the afternoon resting and getting prepared to head up early tomorrow morning for the Col.
This evening we had our Guide Meeting over the radio, and I was reminded of the great communication we have between our guides and sherpas spread out over Camp 2, Camp 3, and the South Col. Well done, team!
—Greg Vernovage, Expedition Leader
IMG Everest Summits!
May 20, 2016
We are very pleased to announce that guides Merle, Johnston, McDowell, and Hamill, along with 9 climbers, and 15 Sherpas have reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Congratulations climbers!
All of them are now descending. The winds remain light. Some of the team members will descend to Camp 2 today and some will stop at Camp 4. Lower down, the Classic team is ascending now to Camp 3 and are doing well.
The following official summit name list has been released to the Liaison Officer and Ministry of Tourism:
2016 IMG Everest Summit Team 1
| 1 | Ramin A. Behmand | USA |
| 2 | Kimberly Caryn Hess | USA |
| 3 | Weerahennedige Jayanthi Kuru Utumpala | SRI LANKA |
| 4 | Fraser Leith McKenzie | AUSTRALIA |
| 5 | Justin Reese Merle | USA |
| 6 | Steven Michael Hess | USA |
| 7 | Cristiano Pinheiro Muller | BRAZIL |
| 8 | Paul Stuart Pottinger | USA |
| 9 | Joshua Tyler McDowell | USA |
| 10 | Michael Aaron Hamill | USA |
| 11 | Leslie Gullahorn Olson | USA |
| 12 | Emily Evelyn Johnston | USA |
| 13 | Siva Ram Venkata Hota | USA |
| 14 | Fura Gyalzen Sherpa | Nepal |
| 15 | Dawa Tenzing Sherpa | Nepal |
| 16 | Mingma Sherpa | Nepal |
| 17 | Ang Karma Sherpa | Nepal |
| 18 | Phinjo Dorjee Sherpa | Nepal |
| 19 | Lakpa Sherpa | Nepal |
| 20 | Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa | Nepal |
| 21 | Ngima Dorjee Sherpa | Nepal |
| 22 | Pasang Kami Sherpa | Nepal |
| 23 | Phura Temba Sherpa | Nepal |
| 24 | Rita Geljen Sherpa | Nepal |
| 25 | Pemba Gyaltsen Sherpa | Nepal |
| 26 | Palden Sherpa | Nepal |
| 27 | Fura Jangbu Sherpa | Nepal |
| 28 | Pemba Gyalzen Sherpa | Nepal |
—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner
Climbers Above the South Summit
May 20, 2016
Greg and Jangbu report that the weather is holding, and the climbers are now above the South Summit. Back down at Camp 2, the second Classic team have departed and are heading up to Camp 3.
—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner
Past the Balcony
May 20, 2016
Greg called to say that the climbers have passed the Balcony. The weather is holding, and the winds are light. Next stop the South Summit!
—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner
Climbers Departing South Col
May 20, 2016
Our first group of climbers made it to the South Col in good time, before 1pm. They had all afternoon to eat, drink, and rest up and now they are leaving for the summit (about 9pm Nepal time, plus or minus).
The weather is holding, and they will have a full moon climbing with them tonight. We do not expect to hear from them until they reach the Balcony, in about 5 hours.
—Greg Vernovage, Expedition Leader