Group led by Sergey Kofanov and Ludmila Korobeshko has climbed Mount Vinson (Antarctica)! How it was ...

On Jan 2, 2009 at 17.00 (Chilean time), the third team 7 Summit Club stood on the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica. Despite a sharp frost and wind All 10 people were able to reach that summit. As a result, they made several records: first Mogul has climbed the highest point of Antarctica, Lyudmila Korobeshko became the first Russian woman to complete the 7 Summits project and Italian Lorenzo Goriano also finished 7 Summits project.

And now a little more about this expedition:

On December 26, late in the evening we flew to Antarctica after more than ten days expectation of flying weather in Punta Arenas. And next day early in the morning we landed at Patriot Hills. We met Sergei Kofanov there, who had spent in Antarctica about three weeks. He had prepared to us hearty welcome and ready tents. So we didn’t lose time and went to bed.

December 29, Only after two days early in the morning we were able to fly at Vinson BC . Than we burdened sled and went to Low Camp (2800). We spent about six (for some people eight) hours for this trip.

Next day, December 30, we had a heroic march to the High Camp (3800m). On this way we used fixed ropes and crampons. It was the first experience with fixed ropes and crampons for representative of Mongolia - Ganhu, but he licked this problem.

December 31, according to plan, we had a day of rest and celebration New Years - first in Mongolia (Santa Claus was Ganhu Gendendaram), then to Ekaterinburg (Santas - Gregory Korisch, Andrew Suetin, Sergei Kofanov and the snow maiden Snegurochka - Olga Boreykina), followed by Moscow (Santa Claus again Sergei Kofanov, the snow maiden Snegurochka - Lyudmila Korobeshko), and then on Kiev (Jack Frost - Vladimir Stepashko), followed by Italy (Santa Claus - Lorenzo Goriano), and two American new years (Santa Claus - Bill Tyler and James Uald -Wild). Chilean new year we celebrated by the explosion of a champagne bottle, playing volleyball and chess, and small gifts, surprises for every participant.

January 1, the group moved to High Camp. In the evening we received weather forecast, the weather was going bed, wind intensification (up to 40 kilometers per hour) was expected. Some groups had decided to abandon the climb. But Sergey had decided to go in any case and it was justified decision. We started about 9 am and we were on top at 5 pm. Some participants even shed tears - because it was their dream, dream which had seemed unrealizable for a long time.

A few hours later, we went down to High Camp. Sergey heard about expected wind intensification and decided to descend to Camp Lowe. It also was right decision, because all other groups spent the night in High Camp, and after that they could not go because of the strong wind during about two days.

Leaving out not important details, I can say that on Jan. 9 after a long waiting of airplanes our team arrived in Punta Arenas.