"7 Summits + 2 Poles" project news

Artem Rostovtsev from South America:

 Our expeditions on Vinson ended for this season.  And carrier pigeon finally delivers pictures from Antarctica.

Below are some of them

Photo gallery from Artem Rostovtsev

Full: 64 photos and one video

Photo gallery from Irina Zisman

Full: 58 photos

Viktor Ershov, guide of  the 7 Summits Club:

Hello Everyone! Ascent of Aconcagua was successful, but not to the top. We reached the height of 6456м by GPS, just above the hut of Independence. There we were at 14.30, then did not go far. Anna felt bad and impending storm, which later happened. So we turned down. Overall, I think for Anne it is a very cool achievement, to climb to the height of Mera Peak. She was pleased, now she wants to train hard and to come back to Aconcagua next year with 7 Summits! The weather was such as it should be for Christmas and New Year - fell more than a meter of snow for a few days, I was tired of trail. The local guides are in shock, for a long time such was not. And cold. But not very windy. In general,  we tired and very pleased with the result.

And now – for wine and steaks!!

We arrived in Papua for climbing the mount of Pyramid Carstensz, hiking  through the jungle.... But because of a rebellion of the Papuans (extortion on the road.... in the truest sense of the word)) we returned to Timika. The helicopter took us to the base camp and WITHOUT acclimatization for 4:10 went up/came down from the mountain! A couple of free days, we used to visit Wamena to naked tribes.

A message from Victor Ershov from Aconcagua:

Hello! We spent two not the sweetest nights in the camp Nido de Condores and rose to acclimatize to camp Berlin at almost 6000m. Cold, windy, snowy... If you add mountain sickness with headache and nausea - this is about so we did! But now we have descended to the base camp, Plaza de Mulas, it's hot here and comfortable! A couple of nights, and then - only to the top!

Alexander Abramov: Please find here photos of my last group on Vinson. And a video of the first landing of the Falcon at Union Glacier...

Alexander Abramov reports: our valiant guides Artem Rostovtsev and Vladimir Kotlyar just called me. They said they were coming down from the summit of Vinson Massif. Yesterday the whole team reached the summit. And they fold up camp and dream  to be fast in the camp Union Glacier, and there to take a breath. Well done. Antarctic epic of the 7 Summits Club 2017 - 2018 is over!!!!

This is pictures of our second group: 13 Japanese, and 3 guides on Vinson. Climbing and the awarding of medals...

 The ascent was great, we not only climbed to the highest free-standing mountain of the Earth, but also walked around the crater and touched the disappearing glaciers of Kilimanjaro. In total, in new year's eve, during the ascent, we spent more than 4 hours at a height of 5700-5895 meters. That  is undoubtedly due to our wonderful guides Urio and Wiesen.  They were able to acclimatized us to prepare us for this — we have not filled any symptoms of altitude sickness.

  We sang and danced at the top, drank champagne, and got just a wonderful experience and memories. We'll miss that mountain and our team consisting of 15 cute, fun and professional guys whom we called Kaka, that is, brothers.

Hello 7 Summits! Here is a group of Vladimir Kotlyar and Artem Rostovtsev....

 We continue our journey in Antarctica. We are now in the Low camp under the Massif of Vinson. Tonight we have an easy walking, acclimatization, training on fixed ropes. With the descent to Low camp.  And then we will continue to watch... Wait, what the weather tell  on the following days. And we catch a window of weather to try to reach the top. So that's the news,  we all feel fine. Fighting mood, ready to storm right now, right away...

Hello! Today the team of the 7 Summits Club in the amount of four participants and one guide, Alexander Abramov, climbed the summit of Vinson Massif. The weather... the morning was not very good, but on top of ... calm. In General,  Alexander Abramov finished his Antarctic project. And Vladimir Kotlyar and Artem Rostovtsev still work with another group. In General, everything is fine. Okay, bye! With a holiday!

Alexander Abramov from Antarctica:

Hello! Alexander Abramov from Antarctica, Vinson Massif. Yesterday our team "Superfalcon" moved from Base camp to Low camp. We set up the tents, I tried to go upstairs. The weather is not very good, but the guys have very little time before the New year. And they want to reach the summit before the New year. In General, such is an  information. All feel OK, well... let's see how it will develop further.

All, with Coming New Year!

Bye!

That ended the season's first "winter" ascent on Kilimanjaro. It was successful. Vladimir and Polina Liubomirov’s ascended the summit and descended at a rapid rate (day two) guided by Dmitry Ermakov. And it brought them a step towards his dream of Everest. This command was rightly awarded the honor of being the first awarded medals for Kilimanjaro.

Congratulations!

Our guide Viktor Ershov reports with Aconcagua. We arrived at the village of Penitentes at 2600 m, climbed a small mountain on the opposite side. Height of about 3000 m. We feel good. Here blows strong  wind, a lot of the hot sun and the excellent Malbec (which I took with me...

 Happy New year!

Dmitry Ermakov, a guide of the 7 Summits Club in Tanzania: Today at 7.20 a.m. the team as a whole stood on the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Today at 21.45 our members have to leave home...

Alexander Abramov from Antarctica:

Hello! This is Alex Abramov from Antarctica, Vinson Massif. Artem Rostovtsev is waving his hand.  There was an unique event – for the first time today Airjet Falcon landed on the Union Glacier. Moreover, the plane landed in bad weather. The pilots gave 25% of a successful landing. Around there were clouds, fog... well, somehow they landed...

 And the same day we moved to base camp. Also the weather was unfavorable. We were the only one who arrived under Mount Vinson.

Elena Abramova from Punta Arenas (Chile): Good afternoon!

Third Expedition to Vinson yesterday visited  penguins. The team seriously prepared for this meeting...

Today Olga Samotoina and Roman Venediktov flew to Tanzania to join the team group and go on the Kilimanjaro by the route Lemosho.

Same day here,  Anna and Alexey Shpak came to Moshi. They will climb the top together and on the Machame route.

Team Tim Trip already visited coveted and secluded corners of the world and now they finally got to Kilimanjaro. Their ascent will pass through the Machame route.

Alexander Abramov from Antarctica:

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov from Antarctica. Perfect, clear weather, but only is a strong wind. Today, however, our team started the climb. As a result, 14 people out of 16 climbed to the top of Vinson Massif. I was forced to turn down with a friend, actually from under the top. But I'm not upset because for me it would be the sixteenth summit.

Second, I want to congratulate Artem Rostovtsev, for him it was the first ascent of the Vinson Massif.

 Now I flush the water, waiting for the command in the High camp ...

 And so, all is OK. Tomorrow we will descend to base camp. And then we get on the Union and will wait for the next group to arrive 29^th December. This will again be a large group - 11 members and three guides.

That is all. Thank you, goodbye!

Hello! Alexander Abramov from the High camp of Mount Vinson. An altitude of 3800 meters. In general, over the last two days the real storm raged, bent almost all our tents. And now there established a perfect weather. Now we climbed up the ridge to the High camp. It was very hot and absolutely no wind.

  Now we set up six tents. Then we'll eat and tomorrow we have a big chance to reach the top of the Vinson Massif. We hope so, for all 16 members of our expedition. We now have probably the biggest expedition in the history of the conquest of the Massif Vinson – 16 people.

 All, all, goodbye! We go up with  good jokes and mood. For a While!

The group finally assembled. Congratulations to all, Merry Christmas, Catholic one! Group is ready.

Tomorrow we will start...

So the group of Lubomirov’s starts on the route Umbwe. The weather is beautiful, the mood is even better!