"7 Summits + 2 Poles" project news

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Antarctica:

The weather is fine, visibility for a thousand kilometers, a light breeze. The whole team of the 7 Summits Club (at midnight Moscow time) it stands at the top of the Vinson Massif: 2 guides and 8 participants.

Now the team has gone down to the High Camp. And we continue the descent to the base camp. The weather is deteriorating.

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

Buenos  Dias! The Coca-Cola 2 ×5 group, after the first night at 3500, in Confluencia camp, to consolidate acclimatization, made rotation towards Plaza France, climbing to a height of 4000 meters. We did not reach the Place France itself, as it takes 6 hours to go there in one direction.  We decided to save energy, because tomorrow we have to climb to the Plaza de Mulas, and this is already 4,300 meters and 18 kilometers over rough terrain, sometimes meeting with herds of mules, and in the heat above 30 degrees.  After returning from a walk, there was a daytime siesta, after which there was a mandatory medical check giving permission to move to the next camp.  The guides of the group are Andrey Berezin and Viktor Volodin.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Antarctica:

Hello everybody! Our team is at the High camp. We climbed here in 6 hours, having overcome 700 meters of fixed ropes. There is almost no wind here now. Beautiful weather. We set up tents and found all the equipment that we left last year. Now we have had dinner and are getting ready for bed. Tomorrow at 11 am we plan to start for the summit. For me, this should be the 19th summit of the Vinson Massif in my life. And for our main guide in Antarctica Artem Rostovtsev – the 11th. On December 17th we plan to return to the Base Camp.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Antarctica:

Yesterday our group had a rest day on Vinson Massif. The wind was blowing hard. Now we are going to the Assault camp (High Camp) with all the things. Tomorrow, according to the plan,  we will go to the summit of the Vinson Massif. Wish us good luck!

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

Bon Dias!  Our Coca Cola 2×5 group started the walking part of the way to the Aconcagua base camp, Plaza de Mulas. After we registered at the entrance to the Aconcagua National Park, we had to come to our place of residence for the next three days – the Confluencia camp. We covered a distance of 7.5 km in 3 hours with halts and photo sessions of the surroundings and local birds. The guides of the group are Andrey Berezin and Viktor Volodin.

 President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Antarctica:

News from Antarctica from the Vinson-2 group. Today we made an acclimatization rotation  to an altitude of 3500 m.  The shadow comes to the Lower Camp (Low Camp) only at 3 a.m. and the cold period lasts until 10:30, so we had breakfast at 12:00. Then Artem Rostovtsev and Kadyr Nurmamatov started a high-speed ascent to the High Camp at 3800 m to check everything we have there. All the other seven participants and Alex Abramov climbed at their own pace a thousand meters along the railing rope. We took with us to the end of the ropes some equipment and food for the High Camp. Tomorrow we have a day of rest and preparation for the decisive days.

And on December 15th, our plan is to climb to the High Camp already to storm the summit. On the 16th - the summit, the 17th descent and, ideally, a flight to the Union Glacier base. On December 18, we have scheduled a flight to the Mainland.

 President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Antarctica:

Today our team moved from the Base Camp to the Low Camp in seven hours. The weather has finally improved. We set up tents, had lunch and are now getting ready for bed. Tomorrow, according to the plan, we climb to the end of the fixed ropes for acclimatization. And after that we will be ready to storm the summit.

 Photos from previous expeditions

A message from Antarctica dated December 10. Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, reports:

Today our team observed bad weather at the Vinson Massif base camp. Some of the groups went to the upper camps. But we stayed because the forecast is bad. In the afternoon, Artem and Kadyr ran to the Low Camp camp, checked the depot. The rest of the participants were resting from yesterday's hike. We were playing chess when we suddenly heard a cry that the tent was flying away, one tent was blown away by the wind. We started fighting the squall. Hell. We rushed to sprinkle all the tents with snow for 50-60 cm around with a snow shaft. The wind was getting stronger.  An hour later, all the tents, including the dining room, presented the appearance of snow caves. The strongest hurricane is expected tonight. Then the wind will weaken. And we're going to Low Camp.

The guides of the 7 Summits Club are Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev.

Friends, love the mountains, love nature, go to the mountains!  Congratulations on the International Mountain Day! The 7 Summits Club is always ready to help you with travel arrangements. Follow the updates of our programs.  Mountains should give us the happiest moments of our lives, and giving people happiness is our mission.

  If possible, leave the mountains clean after you!  And in general, do everything possible so that the mountains remain (become) a territory of freedom, a territory where you can meet with pristine nature, a place of joyful meeting with friends, a place you want to return to, where you want to bring children, where everyone will be happy!

UNO Official information

Women move mountains

The theme of this year's International Mountain Day (IMD) on 11 December will be Women move mountains.

Women play a key role in mountains' environmental protection and social and economic development. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture, and experts in traditional medicine.

Increasing climate variability, coupled with a lack of investment in mountain agriculture and rural development, has often pushed men to migrate elsewhere in search of alternative livelihoods. Women have therefore taken on many tasks formerly done by men, yet mountain women are often invisible due to a lack of decision-making power and unequal access to resources.

As farmers, market sellers, businesswomen, artisans, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, mountain women and girls, in particular in rural areas, have the potential to be major agents of change. When rural women have access to resources, services, and opportunities, they become a driving force against hunger, malnutrition, and rural poverty and are active in the development of mountain economies.

International Mountain Day 2022 is an opportunity to promote gender equality and therefore contribute to improving social justice, livelihoods and resilience. 

Get to know more about women in mountains and use FAO's, communication materials in all six UN languages, which are available on their website.

While Women move mountains is the suggested theme for 2022, countries, communities, and organizations are welcome to celebrate IMD through a theme that is more relevant to them.

Celebrate this International Day 2022 with your community and friends preparing an event or joining the conversation on social media using the hashtag #MountainsMatter. Pass on some of the key messages, or share about the important role of women in mountains, or post, or a photo of your favorite mountain.

Natural jewels we should treasure

Mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity. Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs.

Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation. As the global climate continues to warm, mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for millions of people.

This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures.

The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare to 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains. The first international day was celebrated for the first time the following year, 2003.

Its roots date back to 1992, when the document “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” (called Chapter 13), was adopted as part of the action plan Agenda 21 of the Conference on Environment and Development.

Most recently, the UN proclaimed 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. 

And here we are again gathering here, on the other side of the world in the Southern Hemisphere, when we have a cold winter in Russia, there is always sunshine, lots of light and warmth, delicious tart wine and the best steaks, endless pampas and numerous mountain peaks, amazingly beautiful snow-capped summits and fantastic glaciers, unique Patagonia and Iguazu waterfalls... It's all about Argentina, of course! The team of guides of the 7 Summits Club gathered in Mendoza yesterday on the eve of the upcoming season in Aconcagua, and it promises to be long and eventful.  By the end of February, dozens of lucky people will try to realize their dreams with us. Aconcagua, 6962 m, always attracts climbers with its exclusivity - the highest point of America, the second highest peak of the Seven Summits program, a unique corner of the world in the Andes mountain system. And we have a lot to do to ensure that our groups receive everything necessary for the successful completion of the program. In the next few days we will reactivate our casts, check all the equipment, buy the necessary equipment and food for high-quality operation of the Base and high-altitude camps.  There is a lot of work to be done, and we will do everything possible, put our whole soul into providing our groups with the highest level of service. If you still have doubts about participating in the ascent program on Aconcagua, discard them! We are waiting for you!

From Mendoza, the guides of the 7 Summits Club are Viktor Volodin, Andrey Berezin, Dmitry Semenov and Valery Myasoyedov.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from the Union Glacier camp in Antarctica:

A message from Antarctica, from the Union Glacier camp. The Vinson-22 team.  Today we got up at 6 am.  At 7 o'clock the team went to the airport, where we were met by a comfortable Boeing. Each passenger here is entitled to 3 seats, a whole row. Therefore, our flight to Antarctica was successful, without any adventures. We flew over the Drake Strait for a long time and then saw through the portholes a snow-white continent surrounded by ice shelves and icebergs. On the edge were the mountains of Alexander Island.

The weather is really clear. Only a strong wind at high altitude. We landed gently, if you can say that about landing on bare ice. The Union Glacier camp was met with comfort and delicious food. Everyone happily began photographing Antarctica. Today they started sending groups to the Vinson Base Camp. We were supposed to take the second flight. We had lunch. The first two groups flew away.  And then they announce to us that today there is a strong wind at Vinson Base Camp and our flight is canceled. So we also had a delicious dinner. We put up our tents. And now we are getting ready for bed. We hope to fly to the mountains tomorrow morning. Guides Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from the plane:

A new style. Now we fly on a Boeing. That it is comfortable to sit. And even sleep. There were also no windows in Ilyushin. And now we will be able to photograph Antarctica and the Vinson Massif from an altitude of 10,000 m.

There are even flight attendants on the plane. They give nuts and show a movie. Amundsen and Scott's time is going away forever.

There will be no Internet for the next 2 weeks. And thank God! But we will send the news. Since the guides have 2 satellite communicators.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Chile:

So three days of the restaurant-excursion and packaging-gathering life of our team in the glorious and beloved city of Punta Arenas are coming to an end.  It is the southernmost city in South America. Everything is collected, PCR tests are passed, boarding passes are received.

Our team of 8 participants from 5 countries (India, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Russia) is ready to fly to Antarctica on the Vinson Massif. Also, two participants are flying with us, whose goal is the South Pole. Tomorrow the flight is scheduled for 8 am. According to the forecast, the weather is windy. The guides of the 7 Summits Club are Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev.

On November 26, the regular, annual Gala Evening of summing up the results of the year of the Russian Mountaineering Federation took place. In its preparation and conduct, the 7 Summits Club was a key organization. For many years of holding such events, the Illusion cinema seemed to be the most suitable, the most cozy and hospitable place. The only, but important minus – there were not enough seats. And for the rest, it turned out to be a very sincere and festive meeting of friends, veterans and youth, masters and beginners, athletes and amateurs. I think all the participants received a good charge of energy, and returned home with renewed vigor, with new plans and hopes. But with more optimism. Thanks to the federation, thank you to us, the 7 Summits Club.

An important part of the program was honoring climbers of Mount Everest in 2022. The 7 Summits Club has established a special award - the order, which is awarded to climbers who have climbed the highest peak in the World for the first time. At this evening, 12 people received it. The President of the 7 Summits Club, Alexander Abramov, also presented several climbers with another award, which he also invented himself. This is the order of the "Climber to the Seven Summits". At this gala evening, it was received by several climbers who could not attend the first presentation of this award in June this year.

New Everest summiters

They completed "The Seven Summits" programme 

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorojukov reports from Tanzania:

The group of the 7 Summits Club Bitcoin accepts congratulations. Today our small but cheerful group was on the roof of Africa. We were lucky with the weather, it was very beautiful at dawn, and the mountain was all white. On the descent, of course, everything has already melted, but everyone is happy.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club, Alexander Dorojukov, reports from Tanzania:

Africa is in touch. Our “Bitcoin” group moved to the Barafu assault camp. We had a little lunch, dried things. We have an ascent at night. Now everyone has a sleep-drainage briefing. And at 12 a.m. we start. Wish us success!

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorojukov reports from Tanzania:

 Greetings from Africa from the Bitcoin group! Today we moved to the Shire camp. We woke up early, had breakfast and, with a 900-meter climb, we reached our destination in the rain. The weather was not pleasant, there are few views, everything is overcast. But we are moving towards our goal. Now the weather has cleared up a little and we can get out of the tent. And so, everything is fine with us.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorojukov reports from Tanzania:

Jumbo from Tanzania!  The new group named “Bitcoin” has started its program on Mount Kilimanjaro. We checked the equipment, packed everything in bags and went. The first day of our acclimatization was with rain and thunderstorms. At this time, the rainy season begins on the mountain, but we are not being watered much yet. We went up to the Machame camp, through a beautiful forest, now we are eating and going to rest.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorojukov reports from Tanzania: 

The group "Let's Give Heat" climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro today. We went in three small groups.  The weather was good, the views were beautiful, the dawn was a bomb! We got "the window", as soon as we descended, the mountain was covered with a cloud.  We went down to the Horombo camp through the fog. In general, I congratulate our cheerful team on the summit! Everyone's condition is good.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorojukov reports from Tanzania: 

The group "Let's Give the Heat" reached the camp of Mavenzi. Our morning started with beautiful views and energizing dances. After that, we continued our climb in fog and rain. The route today was not very long, we were unlucky with the views.  But still, everything is fine with us! We have already had lunch and are resting.