"7 Summits + 2 Poles" project news

On July 29, the acclimatization of two parallel groups aiming for the Summits of Elbrus from the north began.  The first group (4 participants) chose an ambitious and difficult route "The Cross of Elbrus": a traverse from north to south with ascent to the Eastern and Western Summits. The working name of the team is "Deflated Cheeks", the main guide of the team is Alexander Avtomonov.

The second group (4 participants) chose the name "Four Comrades". The goal of the team is to climb the Eastern Peak from the north and descend to the north. The main guide of the group is Karina Mezova.

Yesterday, both teams walked to the glade of "Stone Mushrooms". A transfer to the base camp on the moraine (3800 m) is planned for today. Good luck and good weather to both teams!

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

Today our group "In content" climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. It wasn't easy, but we managed. And even on the descent from the summit, the most cheerful of us ran to the glacier to touch, so to speak, the disappearing legend.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

News of the Elbrus region. The group "With Valerian on a ratrak" in full force today climbed the Rapadny peak of Elbrus.  We were very lucky with the weather. It was almost calm, from the top there were stunning views of the Main Caucasian Ridge and the surroundings of Elbrus.

Super-guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

News of the Elbrus region.  The group "With Valerian on a snowmobile" continued preparations for climbing Elbrus and climbed to the Pastukhov Rocks.  On the way, we enjoyed the beautiful views of the surrounding area and, of course, Elbrus. Tomorrow we are thinking of climbing the summit of Elbrus, as the weather deteriorates for the next few days.

 The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

Greetings from Tanzania from the slopes of Kilimanjaro from the group "In content"! In the morning, we finally got acquainted with the team, which was postponed for reasons beyond our control. And getting to know the team is again songs and dances.

Today we had a long running day. In the morning we climbed from the Shira camp to the Lava Tower at an altitude of 4600. There we had lunch and went down to the Baranco camp.

Despite the high altitude, everyone feels good.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

 News of the Elbrus region.  Our group went up to the refuge National Park. Here we will be preparing for the ascent for several days. Today we have mastered the skills of climbing in crampons on snowy slopes and learned how to use ice axes in case of a breakdown on the slope. Tomorrow we go to the Pastukhov Rocks. 

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

All jambos from Tanzania! We continue our journey to Kilimanjaro.

In the morning, the camp was shrouded in fog. But with hot dances, which were instead of charging, we dispersed the clouds. So our entire journey from Machame Camp to Shira Cave camp took place in wonderful sunny weather with incredible views in all directions.

By lunchtime we came to the camp, but we did not stop there, but went for a walk further.

Everyone feels good. The mood is great. By the evening, with joint efforts, we were able to choose the name of the group – "In content".

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

And again, news from Tanzania. Today, a new group, which still can't come up with a name, began its ascent to Kilimanjaro along the Machame route. It was raining in the morning. We arrived at the national park in full rainproof ammunition. But while the necessary documents were being processed before going on the route, the rain passed.

And there the sun appeared. So we saw the jungle in all its glory, which could not fail to impress. And everyone really liked our camp and a delicious dinner.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

 News of the Elbrus region. A new group began preparations for climbing Elbrus. Today we went to the Ai cafe, on the slope of Cheget Mountain. The morning turned out to be rainy, so we shifted the exit time so as not to get wet through before reaching Cheget. We climbed along a picturesque forest path that smoothly crossed the Alpine meadows. When we passed under the cable car, we heard encouraging wishes from tourists climbing up. After spending some time in the Ai cafe, we went back to the hotel, from where we went to rent the necessary equipment after lunch. Tomorrow we will go up to the refuge, where we will continue to prepare for the ascent.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

 The Kilimanjaro climbing program of the “Kiliman 23” team has ended. Yesterday morning we woke up to the sound of rain - the first rain in all seven days of travel. Before that, the weather was perfect. And on the last day, the rain only wetted the road so that it was not very dusty. After breakfast, the traditional farewell ceremony with the team took place. Everyone sang and danced heartily. Many kind words were said. Saying goodbye to those who helped us these seven days, the guys left a lot of clothes, shoes and other things useful in the mountains as a gift.

After twelve kilometers of descent through a beautiful and slightly foggy forest, we came to the gates of the national park, where there was a farewell festive lunch.  At the hotel we continued to celebrate the end of the expedition. All climbers on Kilimanjaro received diplomas and commemorative medals for climbing.

And yesterday I met a new band on Kilimanjaro. Today the Kilimans flew home, a new group, which has no name yet, went on an excursion to the waterfall.

And tomorrow morning we will go on the route.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

News of the Elbrus region. The group "We don't change habits" is on the top of Elbrus! We did it, no matter what! More precisely, we did it to spite the weather. The forecast promised sunshine and a light breeze, but we got a fog cap and wind gusts of 40 km/h. The result:  only 10 minutes of a photo shoot at the top.

Dmitry Semenov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from the Elbrus region:

Greetings from the Elbrus region! Today our group in difficult weather conditions made an ascent on Elbrus. We climbed to its Western peak (5642m.).

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

Hello everyone from Tanzania! Today our team ascended Mount Kilimanjaro. It was not easy, but it left many indelible impressions.

And today we celebrated Andrey's birthday.  It was he who gathered a company of his friends to climb to the top of Africa with them that day.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

Day 5. Karanga Camp 3900 - Kosovo Camp 4900.  So the day has come, to which we have been walking for almost a week.  Today we came to the assault camp, from where we plan to climb at night.  The first part of the march from Karanga to the Barafo camp was quite easy.

Here we drank tea and went on.

However, our people, I don't know who, got everything mixed up and first put our tents in the Barafo camp, from where they mostly start to the top. Of course, we were a little surprised, passing by a familiar camp. While we were drinking tea, our home front workers managed to remove the tents set up, take them to the Kosovo camp and set them up for our arrival. And they also met us at the camp again with songs and dances.

After lunch, we sat in the sun, warmed up (and in February it snowed here every time) and had leisurely conversations before going to rest before climbing, the exit for which was scheduled at midnight.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

News of the Elbrus region. The group "We do not change habits" in preparation for the ascent made an acclimatization rotation to the Pastukhov rocks. The weather in the first half of the day was clear, in places it was even hot on the rise (it was summer after all), after lunch the weather deteriorated, a light snowfall and wind. Today we are resting, preparing for the ascent tomorrow. 

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

News of the Elbrus region. The group "We do not change habits" climbed to the National Park shelter, where it will stay for several days. We went to snow and ice classes, where we mastered the skills of movement in crampons, self-arrest with an ice pick and moving the slope in ropes. Tomorrow we go to the Pastukhov Rocks, we will try a new height.

 The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

Greetings to all from the slopes of Kilimanjaro from the Kiliman 23 group! Today we had a very long day, and a rather difficult march. From the Shira camp, we climbed the Lava Tower, which is located at an altitude of 4600 meters, had lunch, felt the altitude a little and went down to the Baranko camp at an altitude of 3900 meters.

On the way, we admired armfuls of flowers, a carpet of clouds under us and a view of the summit of Kilimanjaro. Fortunately, the weather welcome us with beautiful views, without dragging them into clouds.

And after lunch we went down to the forest of wonderful senecia plants, which impressed everyone. And there was also a view of the Kilimanjaro wall, which impressed no less.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from the Elbrus region:

 News of the Elbrus region. The group "We do not change habits" began acclimatization on the slopes of Cheget.  We went to the Ai cafe.  We drank mountain tea, ate local hychins and chebureks. We took lots and lots of photos and went down to the hotel. In the afternoon we took the necessary equipment.  Tomorrow we will go to the National Park Refuge, where we will spend three days and continue to acclimatize. 

 The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

 Greetings from Tanzania from the slopes of Kilimanjaro from the Kiliman 23 group!  Today we went up to the Shira Cave camp.  The first night in the tents passed perfect, and at six in the morning everyone woke up and began to get ready to go. The way to the Shira camp is not long, but very steeply climbing up. However, we walked it at a good pace.

On the way, we admired the amazing nature and plants, fried in the sun, took thousands of beautiful photos, drank tea and sang songs. After lunch we went for a walk. See the very cave after which the camp is named. As well as other beautiful landscapes.

When we returned to the camp, we had an introduction ceremony with the team, which everyone remembered. Everyone sang and danced. And this is almost at 4000 meters. So acclimatization is going well.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva reports from Tanzania:

Greetings to all from Tanzania from the Kiliman 23 team! Today we left the hotel, having previously sorted things into those that we will take with us on a hike and those that will not be useful to us yet. After a short drive with the songs of our guides, we arrived at the beginning of the route.

The documents were issued, things were checked - at the entrance to the national park, the trunks and backpacks of the participants are checked so that nothing forbidden is brought. After that, we hit the road.

We walked 11 kilometers with a climb of 1100 meters and came to the Machame camp, where we had a view of the summit of Kilimanjaro. The road was very beautiful. We passed through the jungle, where the trees, shrouded in moss, were carried up, and tree ferns covered the sky.