Kuznetsova Anastasia

Hello to everyone, not from the slopes, but from the top of Ararat! Today, the Olympionika team stood on the top of the legendary volcano. The mountain let it in and let it out. The weather was perfect, despite several hours of snowstorms before the assault. The participants climbed to the top in different ways and almost crawled, and ran with acceleration for the last meters. Now the team is resting at the base camp. Tomorrow we will return to civilization and get acquainted with the local sights. Guides Boris Egorov and Anastasia Kuznetsova.

Nastya Kuznetsova, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Turkey:

Greetings from the slopes of Ararat!  Today there was a day of acclimatization. We climbed 4200 m to a high-altitude camp, from where tomorrow, according to the plan, we will go to the assault. The weather was favorable - the sun and a light breeze. Upon returning to the base camp at 3200, which already seems to be a resort, first there was hail (short), then rain with a rainbow and at the end of the storm with lead clouds passed by and disappeared behind Ararat.  After the descent, we prepared for tomorrow, crampons to the shoes, learned how to walk on crampons, passed a master class on tying shoelaces. At dinner, we tasted delicious dishes of Kurdish cuisine: juicy lamb, baked vegetables on coals, ayran, fresh vegetables. Your Boris Egorov and Anastasia Kuznetsova, with warm greetings from Turkey!

Nastya Kuznetsova, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Turkey:

 Today there was the first acquaintance of the team with Ararat, we hope that it is mutually pleasant! Ararat has opened and appeared in all its glory! We reached the starting point at 2200 m and then climbed in 5 hours to the base camp at 3200 m. According to the plan, we will spend 3 nights here - 2 nights before the assault and 1 after the assault. In the base camp this season, there are innovations - electrification of the camp and tents, beds in tents, a shower and the novelty of the season-a samovar (a hookah will not surprise anyone). Greetings to all from Turkey from the slopes of Ararat! Guides Boris Egorov and Anastasia Kuznetsova.

Nastya Kuznetsova, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Turkey:

Greetings to all from Turkey from the city of Van, the pearl of eastern Anatolia! From here, our team will start tomorrow on Ararat, the highest peak in Turkey (5165 m). Today was a busy day. We met the group, found the lost luggage. Then we took a walk through the ancient fortress of the Urartu times, visited the archaeological museum, checked all the equipment, met the sunset on Lake Van, celebrated the meeting and got ready to go ahead to meet adventures! Your Boris Egorov and Anastasia Kuznetsova, 200 km from Ararat!

And yes, we practically took part in a Kurdish wedding!

News from Iran. There is the first ascent on the highest volcano in Asia - Demavand (5670 m) this season! Ivan Novikov climbed on the top of Demavend as a preparation for the expedition to Lenin Peak. He added another volcano for the program "Seven Volcanoes"! Congratulations! We,  Russian climbers, are very welcome guests in Iran!

Ivan is impressed by local cordiality and hospitality!

Greetings from Turkey from the slopes of Ararat! Our second group this season climbed the legendary volcano and the highest peak of Turkey! Congratulations to Andrey Chuzhinov on the summit!

Andrey found Ararat more difficult than Elbrus: "The mountain is all covered with stones, the wind was blowing and freezing. And the sun was shining too much."

The May holidays were traditionally considered not the best time to climb Kilimanjaro. However, the last two years have proved that this is not the case, or is no longer the case. Perhaps something has changed in the weather, but the ascents of the 7 Summits Club team are just wonderful. Everything, including good weather and an equatorial rainstorm, was in abundance. And now is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro coming. Our summer is winter in Tanzania. It is dry period. Tanzania is one of the very few countries that has practically not restricted tourism due to the pandemic. There are no political or epidemiological risks, simple logistics, reliable service. A trip to Kilimanjaro is a great playground for photo artists. A variety of views, colors, moods, the contrast of tourists with the local population, and you can also add legendary animals on safari and the exoticism of Zanzibar. Get inspired by the photos of our May ascent participant Alexey Lavrinenko and join our regular groups!

News from Tanzania. The group of the 7 Summits Club climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m), all members of the team. More details will come later. Now we have to go down to 3800 in the camp Millennium.

Anastasia Kuznetsova, the 7 Summits Club guide, from Tanzania: 

News from Tanzania! Day 4 on Kilimanjaro. The 7 Summits Club  group passed the test and now we go further according to plan B. That is, we pass two transitions in a day, and spend the night in the camp of Barafu at 4600 m. Next, according to the plan, the transition to the camp of Kosovo at 4800 and the assault on the summit. We started today from Barranco Camp, one of the most beautiful in Kilimanjaro. At night at the foot the city of Moshi twinkled and the stars shone, and in the morning opened a view of the entire massive of Kilimanjaro. We were able to walk along the Barranco wall in good weather and as soon as we climbed the wall, it started to drizzle. Then we enjoyed the beauty of the Karangu Valley and in the late afternoon we went up to Barafu, which means "snow camp"in Swahili. Hello and warm hugs from sunny Tanzania!

Anastasia Kuznetsova, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Tanzania: News from Kilimanjaro. The third day on the route. Today it was one of the key days - the acclimatization ascent on the Lava Tower, 4600 m. In the morning, a rainbow appeared over the camp. As usual, we considered this a good sign. It was about 15 minutes, then the traditional rain began to fall, which accompanied the entire ascent and acclimatization on the Lava Tower. There, during lunch, we realized that we are higher than the second peak of Tanzania, Mount Meru (4550 m), higher than the highest peak in North Africa, Tubkal (4167 m) and comparable to the height of Mont Blanc. The descent also began in the rain, the road turned into a riverbed with many waterfalls and streams. But before entering the Baranko camp, fragments of the blue sky first appeared, and then the entire valley of insane beauty opened up as a reward for passing the stage. In the evening, at the Barranco camp at 3960 meters, we met the sunset, and at night at the foot of the Moshi lights shone and the stars shone. It was majestic! We've been waiting for this for so long!

Acclimatization takes place in the normal mode. In general, everything is fine.

Tomorrow we will have to overcome the 300-meter Barranco wall. We embrace everyone!

Anastasia Kuznetsova, a guide of the 7 Summits Club: News from Tanzania.  In the morning, we visited the most interesting place - the Macau Farm animal rehabilitation center. Wounded or stray animals are brought here, and they find their home and care here. We were present at the feeding of baby elephants and zebras.

And in the evening, our group gathered at the hotel. Equipment checked, backpacks stacked. Tomorrow we will start the ascent!  Kilimanjaro is waiting!

News from Mexico from the slopes of Orizaba (5700 m). The climbing season continues not only in Nepal. Mikhail Dedyukhin and Marina Vagina made a successful blitz ascent on the highest volcano on the North American continent and the highest peak in Mexico - Orizaba (5700 m). According to unverified data, the crater of the volcano of Orizaba is the most beautiful of all the “Seven volcanoes”! To check, you need to climb all seven yourself. Despite the fact that they had to freeze a little on the mountain, the climbers liked everything very much. Everything was great! The guide is great! We congratulate the heroes on their next achievement and wish them new heights!

Photos by Boris Fadeev, February 2021. Thank you for the photos! We invite all to join our groups!

Tanzania is open and wait…

News from Ecuador. Viktor Zelentsov and Alexander Nikitsky with their guide Edgar Parra climbed Chimborazo (6310 m) – the peak farthest from the center of the Earth. Congratulations!

News from Ecuador from Viktor Zelentsov, Alexander Nikitsky and their guide Edgar Parra. The team climbed the mountain of Ilinitsa Norte (5126 m)! The program continues!

News from Ecuador. Viktor Zelentsov and Alexander Nikitsky arrived in Ecuador! The equator is taken, the peaks are waiting! And, of course, everyone in Ecuador is met by our unforgettable Galina Rossova, a representative of the 7 Summits Club in this wonderful country. And her husband who is the best guide in Ecuador - Edgar Parra.

A group of the 7 Summits Club with a guide Lubov Pershina climbed the summit of  Mount Orizaba! This is the first ascent of the season by Russian climbers on the highest volcano in North America! Congratulations on victory and we are waiting for a detailed report!

Luba Ivanova, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Mexico: "Photos from the climb of  Mount Cofre de Perote. On November 9, we climbed a beautiful peak with a height of 4283 m. This mountain is called Cofre de Perote, and is located opposite Mount Orizaba, which offers a stunning view from the top.

The path goes first through a spruce forest, then through a pine forest, and then along a path among grasses and stones. The summit is located on a high rock that resembles a chest. Hence the name, translated, "Pedro's Chest". The descent to the car takes only 2 hours, and from there it is not a long way by jeep to the town of Perote.

In the evening we went to Tlachichuca and climbed to a hotel in the village Soapin.

Dmitry Kuranov, member of the 7 Summits Club group:

...it's all over now. The moment of euphoria when you stand at the top and the whole continent is at your feet has already passed. How many doubts, preparations, and anticipations there were!

And now it's all over, just memories... and choose a new height and summits!

And it was amazing, indescribable, magical, fantastic! Kilimanjaro will always remain in my heart!

Photos and emotions from Dmitry Kuranov, who successfully climbed Kilimanjaro.

Dmitry managed to make the ascent in a unique time – almost alone with the mountain! During the entire ascent and at Uhuru Peak itself, they were  only one group, which is absolutely impossible in normal times.

In addition, Dmitry managed to capture unique footage of the traces of the fire that took place in mid-October in the Kilimanjaro National Park.

On the one hand, it is very scary to see a burnt-out forest, on the other hand, these shots are unique.

After a successful ascent and descent from the highest peak of the African continent Kilimanjaro (5895 m), the whole group is in a state of mild euphoria.

According to Igor Moshchuk:

It was sometimes a little heavy, but in general it was easier than I was afraid and I sooooooooo much liked it. Directly of the cosmic sense and unreal emotions. I only had a headache, which was quite bearable, and when it got worse, I took ibuprofen. Also took diacarb. Physically, I was well prepared and had no problems in this regard. It's not my first time living in a tent, so I got used to it quickly and slept well for the second night. From the point of view of the organization, everything was at high level in terms of care, nutrition, and camp organization. The local team is just super pros. In short, only positive!

And Yes. I've mapped out the next point. Orizaba.