Alex Abramov from a new Base camp Vinson

Alexander Abramov, Victor Bobok, Israfil Ashurly and Vladimir Pushkarev have met in Punta Arenas for a way to the highest Peak of Antarctica. December, 5 the plane IL-76 has transported them on the Patriot Hills Base in Antarctida. Next day the further flight in base camp Vinson was postponed because of bad weather. In the next morning, December, 7 the strong wind prevented flights. However they have begun soon. Our group took off last, after dinner. Flight has passed normally and the plane has successfully landed in the new base camp Vinson.

From Alexander Abramov`s messages:

During flight everybody looked in windows. Below there was a smart picture: the sea, ice broken, then the continent of Antarctida gradually began to appear. And when we began to fly above it, here I at last have simply realized, where I am. Huge snow fields, mountains, ice deserts. The view was simply fantastic. Huge ice desert, but it seems for me as alive …
We have arrived on Patriot Hills, the plane sat on an ice field. Thus it has twirled also it has made some revolutions around of an own axis. It because it sat not on a ski, and is simple on usual chassis..

When we had a meal, have understood what to live there is no place. It is necessary to put tents. Approximately one and a half hour we have spent for digging holes. Also have put there two tents. One big tent, four-seater tent from MSR. And the second for double….

Today December, 6 in the morning we have woken up in tent on Patriot Hills. In tent there was a terrible heat. I did not know, what to do. We have opened all that only was possible..

There is no wind absolutely, the sun does not sit down, at night is a bit colder, than in the afternoon. In general in the outside temperature is a minus of nine degrees... Alexander Abramov, Victor Bobok, Israfil Ashurly and Vladimir Pushkarev have met in Punta Arenas for a way to the highest Peak of Antarctica. December, 5 the plane IL-76 has transported them on the Patriot Hills Base in Antarctida. Next day the further flight in base camp Vinson was postponed because of bad weather. In the next morning, December, 7 the strong wind prevented flights. However they have begun soon. Our group took off last, after dinner. Flight has passed normally and the plane has successfully landed in the new base camp Vinson.

Today Chinese group have taken off for area of the South Pole. It is program Ski Last Degree when the last of 111 kilometers go on by ski. With them our old friend, well-known American guide Vernon Tejas has taken off.
The first meeting with old friends from former Elbrus climb has taken place even at landing on Patriot Hills. We were greeted by guys came to us, saying «Hello Alex !». We recognize old friends, some years ago they went with us to Elbrus. They were very much upset, that Lyudmila Korobeshko is not coming this time.

We are going and eat in tent of guides. Here it is spacious enough, four tables stand, behind each of which can be placed on 8 person.

December, 7. We flied along the ridge of Ellsworth Mountains. The plane has flown over a ridge and we completely unexpectedly appeared in very silent cosy place. This place is a new base camp of Vinson. Old base camp was before in the other place. Here it is ideal weather, ideal flat slopes. We have constructed a high protective snow wall near our tents. Local base camp manager has told that is for nothing. There are no wind here! We have put three tents, two small and one big. In the big tent we cook. We have put in it a table, six armchairs with armrests, and now we live perfectly. It is tent MSR Wind 4: four-seater tent in height 1 meters 70 sm. Here 5-6 persons freely can sit and there will be free place for cooking.