South Pole

The plane took off from the Union Glacier base at 16:00 local time and landed in Punta Arenas at 20:00. At the airport, the Transglobal Car expedition participants were already waiting for their cars. After checking into the hotel, all the participants of the round-the-world team and the 7 Summits Club group gathered at the festive table to celebrate Alexander Abramov's recent birthday.

Another stage of the record-breaking automobile traverse of Antarctica has been completed. The Transglobal Car expedition team visited the South Pole. They took traditional photos at special signs marking this event. With the kind permission of the authorities (this was agreed upon in advance), the participants visited the unique Amundsen-Scott station, located at this extremely southern point of our planet.

"In general, everything has been done here so that people who stay for the winter feel as comfortable as possible."

The first stage of the record-breaking Transglobal Car expedition across Antarctica was unusually successful. Without major delays and with a minimum of breakdowns, the team covered a distance of 1,443 km in five days. The Vostok station is located on the top of the so-called Antarctic dome at an altitude of 3,488 meters. Absolute minimum air temperatures for the earth's surface are recorded here. The expedition was not going to relax for long at the station. We had lunch in the historic canteen and hit the road. Now the team has to cover about 1,300 km to the South Pole. Difficulties began from the first kilometers. There was a section of deep snow on the way. They had to change the tactics of movement, the speed of which dropped. But so far everything is going ahead of schedule.

After unloading from the ship "Akademik Fedorov" in Talaya Bay near the Russian station Progress, and a day of difficult preparation, the expedition set off on December 23 at 13-32 local time. Results of the day: 154 km in one day. Location 70.36.78. N 78.32.40. E

More information about the expedition:

Transglobal Car Expedition Website

Expedition route

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Lyudmila Korobeshko, a guide and director of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Antarctica:

January 8th. Greetings from Antarctica, the Union Glacier Camp from the Empanadas group, the Sidley expedition! As you already know, we have successfully climbed the summit of our dreams - Sidley. And, since we were in Antarctica, we decided to fly to the South Pole. The guys spent the night right at the Pole and happily returned to Union today. Now we are here waiting for our departure to the Mainland.

 And now another group of our club has just returned from Vinson. A couple of days ago, they successfully climbed the summit under the guidance of our Antarctic super-guide Artem Rostovtsev.

So now we are having a joint gala dinner and celebrating our victories.

Lyudmila Korobeshko, guide and director of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Antarctica:

Hello everyone! This is Lyudmila Korobeshko, the expedition to Sidley. Now we are already at the Sidley base camp. The day before yesterday we successfully went to the top and yesterday we went down from the High Camp to the base camp. We're going to fly to Union today. And then the guys had a new idea.  Our program ends on January 10th, when we are scheduled to fly to Punta Arenas. So, we have 4 free days. We decided to fly to the South Pole to celebrate Christmas there.

Photos from previous expeditions

Artem Rostovtsev, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Antarctica:
Hello everyone This is Antarctica. Yesterday we finished our ski run to the South Pole. As a result, there are only 1.5 days of bad weather and 4 days of average weather for 8 running days. We went around the Earth's axis at the pole several times along all the meridians. Now we warm up and eat off. And of course I'm waiting for the next group on Vinson Massive.

Artem Rostovtsev, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Antarctica:
Hello, Seven Summits! This is Artem Rostovtsev. We have reached the South Pole. Our expedition ended at the South Pole, everything is fine. As planned, we came to lunch time. And we visited the "ceremonial" South Pole. Then we went to the true South Pole. Although it was cool, the sun was shining. In general, we are not frozen. The day went great. I believe that our expedition has achieved its goal and was successful. Big greetings from the South Pole from Artem Rostovtsev.

Photos from previous expeditions

Artem Rostovtsev, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Antarctica, from the vicinity of the South Pole:

Hello, Seven Summits! This is Artem Rostovtsev. We are currently in Antarctica, the expedition "The last degree to the South Pole". We are already less than a degree from the pole. Four days have passed. We are very lucky with the weather. Well, everything, of course, is monotonous around — a white desert. But so far we haven't tired to death. We are moving towards our goal, the South Pole, where we hope to be soon. We will definitely please you with news from there, with a call. Another hello to everyone from far, far away. We are 40 kilometers away from the lower exit of the axis from the globe — to the South Pole.

Photos from previous expeditions

Artyom Rostovtsev, the guide of the 7 Summits Club reports from Antarctica, from the Union Glacier base:

 Hello everyone! The weather postponed the flight by only one day. Now we are already in Antarctica, and now the Antarctic season has really begun. So far, according to the forecast, the vicinity of the pole is not very suitable for flights, we will spend at least one day on the Union Glacier. There will be something to do, we will practice with the equipment before going on the route already in the environment for which it was created. Skis, sleds, stretches, systems.

And yes, there is Wi-Fi!

 For the first time in history, an Internet connection has been established with Antarctica this year. We are waiting for new reports and operational information from Artyom!

Artem Rostovtsev, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Punta Arenas (Chile):

Punta Arenas, the southernmost mainland town in the world, broadcasts. From here, all expeditions to the Vinson Massif, to the Sidley volcano and the "Last Degree" to the South Pole on skis will start. First, a flight to Union Glacier, which is only 3,000 km away. This season the 7 Summits Club has 4 expeditions: The "Last degree" once, twice the highest point of Antarctica the Vinson Massif, and once the highest volcano in Antarctica Mount Sidley.

According to the plan, the first group for the "Last degree" was already supposed to take off today, but the weather is making adjustments. We've packed and prepared, but we're still waiting. Today, the expectation was diluted with a visit to the museum with 1:1 replicas of famous ships on which Magellan made his exploratory voyages at the beginning of the XVI century and almost 300 years later Fitzroy. Charles Darwin was on the latter's team. Desperate and brave people were, to go into the unknown on such ships.

The Antarctic season of the 7 Summits Club has begun!!! Yesterday, our guide and the most experienced polar explorer Artem Rostovtsev arrived at the edge of the world and the starting point of expeditions to Antarctica, in the southernmost (mainland) city of the world - Punta Arenas.

In a few days, the participants of the first expedition will arrive - a ski trip to the South Pole. Then, according to the plan, we will have two more large groups of climbers to the highest point of Antarctica - the Vinson Massif. And also after Christmas, the highlight of our season in Antarctica starts - the largest Russian expedition to the highest volcano in Antarctica, Sidley. Several members of this team are planning to complete the 7 Volcanoes project!!! At the moment only 8 people in Russia have been able to complete this project. Now there are only 42 such lucky people in the world.

P.S. - Meetings with interesting people often happen in Antarctica. We wish Artyom and our teams the most unexpected and pleasant Antarctic meetings!

Greetings from Alex Abramov and Luda Korobeshko from the USA!

Simultaneously with active preparations for Everest, Makalu and K2, we are also preparing for a large-scale season in Antarctica 2023-2024. This week we met with our partners for Antarctica (ALE). We specially flew to this meeting in Salt Lake City. And we have just incredible news!

 A very large and unusual season in Antarctica is planned. In addition to our standard programs "Ascent to the highest peak of Antarctica Vinson" and expeditions to the South Pole "Last Degree", this time we will have two large groups to the highest volcano in Antarctica — Sidley.

The 7 Summits Club is the first and only company in Russia that started 20 years ago and annually organizes ascents in Antarctica on the Vinson Massif as part of the Seven Summits project and to Sidley as part of the Seven Volcanoes project.

Usually, only 8 people per year are allowed to climb Mount Sidley from all over the world.  But thanks to successful negotiations, we will have two big groups in the 2024 season!

Join us!

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club:

The season in Antarctica has ended. It was not the longest for the 7 Summits Club, but as always productive. All the participants and guides managed to stand on the top of the Vinson massif. And the final group was lucky to be on the summit in quiet sunny windless weather, so the predicted -32 felt like -10. Now everyone has already gone home, the expedition equipment has been checked, repaired, preserved and is waiting for the next season. We invite everyone! Everyone who is ready.

Successful travel always ends with new plans, which are born at the end of the trip and then issued at home. Alexander Abramov and Fyodor Konyukhov had barely returned from Iran, after a wonderful ascent to the highest peak of the country, the volcano Damavand, when they met again. 

Alexander Abramov: "In The Workshop of Fyodor Konyukhov. We were planning new trips. And new climbing in Antarctica."

 The formation of groups to Antarctica is coming to an end, but you can still have time to join our groups of the 2022/2023 season. Programs and details on the website. The ice continent is real space!

Vladimir Kotlyar, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Punta Arenas (Chile):  Aloha, everyone! The war ends by mutual consent, and the expedition ends when the guides board the last plane. That's why we're not done with Antarctic history yet. Sanya, Lena and I sort out the equipment, repair, dry the tents and, of course, drink a little wine at the same time.

All the participants of the expeditions went home safely.  They received diplomas and medals for their Antarctic achievements. 

In general, greetings to everyone from our already thinned, but still cool Antarctic expedition of the 7 Summits Club!

A team of six people, two of whom, Tashi and Nims, were in the role of guides, reached the South Pole on January 1. They successfully coped with the "Last Degree" program, having skied about 110 kilometers. Now all the participants and guides are already resting at the Union Glacier base. Part of the group is waiting for departure to Punta Arenas, and some (those who have not been there) are planning to climb on the summit of the Vinson Massif.

Vladimir Kotlyar, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Antarctica (audio message): Aloha, to the Seven Summits Club! Vladimir Kotlyar and brothers Valery and Yuri Shamrilo are in touch. AND... WE ARE AT THE SOUTH POLE, FRIENDS! Yes, it was worth it, it's unforgettable! Unique emotions! And, of course, thank you all very much for following us, for worrying about us and wishing us good luck! Tomorrow, if the weather remains as fine as it was today, we will fly to the Union Glacier. Well, friends, once again, thank you all very much! I hug everyone tightly!

Vladimir Kotlyar, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Antarctica: Aloha to the Seven Summits Club! The group going to the South Pole, guide Vladimir Kotlyar, participants Valery and Yuri Shamrilo from Belarus are in touch. We long time waited for the weather and  at last flew to the starting point. Unfortunately, due to the fact that we spent many days on the Union Glacier, we had only four days left, at most, anв we shortened the program. We are not going to "the last degree", but "the last half degree". Which is also, in principle, not bad, not bad – we have already walked three kilometers and we will probably walk three or five kilometers more today. That's enough for the first day. We will set up a camp, rest, and tomorrow we will go as much as possible! We are looking for the South Pole…

The group with guides Nirmal Purja and Tashi Lakpa went on the classic route "The Last degree".

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Antarctica: Aloha to the 7 Summits Club! The expedition to the Vinson Massif is in touch. Guides Artem Rostovtsev, Vladimir Kotlyar and Nirmal Purja. We're finally back on Union Glacier. We sat in the base camp for four days, waiting for the weather. And today we were lucky. I can't say that the flight was absolutely uneventful, we were a little shocked.  But our pilots are real professionals and that's why everything ended fine. Despite the severe turbulence. Artem and Mikhail stayed at the Vinson Massif base camp to continue climbing program. Other participants came to the Union Glacier base. And now the main part of the group is waiting for a flight to Punta Arenas. Well, the part of the group that goes with me to the South Pole, we are waiting for departure to the starting point.  So wish us good luck! I hope we will complete one more of our tasks and reach the South Pole. Everyone, adios!