Kotlyar Svetlana - Page 3

Hola amigos! Hello everyone from Peru! Yesterday our large group "Februaryists" gathered in Cusco - the ancient capital of the great Inca Empire! The city is located at an altitude of 3400 m and the weather here is very comfortable and a little cool. Our hotel is located in the historical center of Cusco and after we checked in, we managed to walk a little along the stone streets of the center - it is very atmospheric and very colorful here!

Part of the group managed to see the ancient temple complex of Sacsayhuaman, and then we stopped at a llama and alpaca farm to cuddle and feed these cutest creatures.

In the evening there was a welcome dinner, where we congratulated our men on "February 23rd Day", celebrated the past birthday of one of the participants - Anatoly and raised glasses for our upcoming adventures in Peru!

Guides: Alex Abramov and Sveta Kotlyar.

12.01 Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Jambo Rafiki! Today, the 7 Summits Club group "Tribe-Ki" went through the jungle and lost 2 km vertically. On the descent, we had lunch and the long-awaited restoration of the water-alkaline balance with local beer "Kilimanjaro"!

In the evening, there was an awards ceremony, as well as "demobilization" speeches about the Mountain and future plans. Good luck to all!

Guides: Fedyunin Evgeny and Svetlana Kotlyar.

Jambo Rafiki! Hooray, there is the summit!  Yesterday, the 7 Summits Club group "Tribe-Ki" successfully climbed Uhuru Peak 5895m! The highest volcano and the highest mountain of Africa Kilimanjaro is ours!

For tactical reasons, we divided the team into two subgroups - standard and faster. We started from the assault camp Kosovo (4800) at 01:00 and at 02:00.

Yesterday, there were so many people who wanted to climb the summit that in order not to freeze in queues on the trail, we had to go around the slope. Before dawn it was quite windy and cold, but very beautiful - a simply stunning view of the Mawenzi volcano opened up.

The mountain did not seem easy to any of the participants. One subgroup reached the summit in 6 hours, the second in 8. All this time Kilimanjaro showed us its character. It was quite cold and windy at the summit - such is Africa!

All participants are great! For many, Kilimanjaro was the first mountain, but I would especially like to note the achievement of the youngest member of our group - Richard. It was not easy for him, but he reached a height of 5200! We are proud and congratulate him!

After the summit, we went down to the Kosovo camp, rested a little and began the descent 1000 m lower to the Millennium camp. Tomorrow we will already be in civilization.

We did it!!! Good luck to everyone!

Guides: Evgeniy Fedyunin and Svetlana Kotlyar.

9.01 Tanzania, Kilimanjaro. Jambo Rafiki! The 7 Summits Club group "Tribe-Ki" moved to the Kosovo assault camp 4800m; everything is fine! To storm the summit at night! Keep your fingers crossed for us! Good luck to everyone!  Guides: Evgeny Fedyunin and Svetlana Kotlyar.

8.01 Tanzania, Kilimanjaro. Jambo Rafiki! The "Tribe-Ki" group of the 7 Summits Club started the morning with traditional exercises, all the participants really enjoyed the format of such a wake-up to cheerful music. After breakfast, we had to storm the Barranco wall, which always scares you at first glance... But when you get closer, everything is not so scary and quite walkable.

Then we crossed two valleys, on the slopes of which you can see the consequences of a large fire due to careless handling of fire. Now in the National Park there is a categorical ban on tourists having any fire!

By lunchtime, the clouds descended, and then a fairly large African hail began. But as they say - there is no bad weather in the mountains, there is bad equipment, but in this regard, we are well packed.

The route does not cease to amaze us with its beauty every day, nature changes every day. By lunchtime we arrived at the Karanga camp, altitude 4030m. From here, simply stunning views of Kilimanjaro open up! From this height, it is visible in all its glory.

After lunch, we went for a walk a little up the slope, so that we could sleep better today!

Now we are resting and preparing for the final push - going to the assault camp and climbing! Good luck to everyone!

Guides: Evgeny Fedyunin and Svetlana Kotlyar.

Jambo Rafiki! Today the "Plemia-Ki"  group of the 7 Summits Club had the most difficult day of trekking: ascent to Lava Tower 4640 m and descent to the Barranco wall 3900 m. The altitude makes itself felt, there are signs of a headache, but everything is within normal limits.

A wonderful lunch, watermelons for dessert, a stunning valley of senecias (grass palms) on the descent, and a view of the Barranco wall, which we will climb tomorrow. ALL of this overwhelmed the brain ... Now dinner and a well-deserved rest! Good luck to everyone!

Guides: Evgeny Fedyunin and Svetlana Kotlyar.

6.01 Tanzania, Kilimanjaro. Jambo Rafiki! Greetings to everyone from Tanzania from the "Tribe-Ki" team! Today we had a very picturesque trek to Shira 2 Camp. The weather was great from the morning: clear skies and beautiful views! Through the moorland heather thickets we reached the Western side of Mount Kilimanjaro, on the Shira plateau 3800m, gaining almost 1000 m in altitude. The climb was easy, we reached it in 5 hours.

After tea in the camp, we walked another 100 m higher as an acclimatization. In the evening, there was a traditional introduction to the local team. We are accompanied by 68 people, including guides, cooks, porters. The guys are very friendly, hardworking and smiling. We spent an hour listening to their songs and watching their fiery dances!

We are preparing for tomorrow's crossing, one of the most difficult part on the program.

Guides Evgeny Fedyunin and Svetlana Kotlyar.

Jambo Rafiki! Friends, greetings to everyone from Tanzania!

The new group (the name is still being discussed) of the 7 Summits Club flew to the foot of Kilimanjaro today to trek and climb the Machame route!

The day flew by with organizational issues, checking equipment and a little relaxation in the park of the cozy hotel "Aishe Machame"! Here turtles crawl on the lawns, toucans fly overhead, monkeys climb trees. And early in the morning, having climbed to the roof, you can see the summit of Kilimanjaro - beauty!

 In the evening we watched the "Masai show" - a performance of the nomadic people of Tanzania and Kenya. Over dinner we got to know each other better. Each participant told about himself, and then decided on plans for tomorrow.

Tomorrow we start at the entrance to the national park and set out on the route!

Guides: Evgeniy Fedyunin and Svetlana Kotlyar.

"Team A" is at the top of the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea - Wilhelm Peak 4509 m! Yesterday we walked a very picturesque trek to the Wilhelm Peak base camp, which is located at an altitude of 3600 m. The route went through the jungle, green valleys and waterfalls - at some point it seemed to us that we were in "Jurassic Park".

Three hours later we found ourselves on the shore of a beautiful lake, where our base camp was located. In the evening we rested and at 01:00 at night we set out to climb. The route to the summit took about 6 hours. It was a little windy and quite cool, and the weather and nature are very different from the region where Giluwe is located. We saw a very beautiful sunrise, saw the Giluwe peak from afar, where we stood literally 4 days ago, and at 7 am we were already standing at the top of Wilhelm Peak!

All the participants liked both the trek and the ascent; without this mountain our adventure would definitely be incomplete!

October 6. The adventures of "Team A" continue! Today we set off towards Mount Wilhelm. The road to Kegesugl took about 5 hours, but it passed through very picturesque places! High green hills, mountain rivers and villages scattered around.

By lunchtime we arrived at Betty Lodge, which is located at an altitude of 2800 m, where we were greeted very warmly! The locals put on a real show with traditional dances. It is incredibly green and beautiful here - after the gray and rather dirty Mount Hagen, it is simply a joy to the eye. The lodge is new, everything here is homely and cozy and made with love: large rooms, a cozy dining room with a fireplace and delicious food!

There is a trout farm on the territory: more than 55 thousand trout are grown here! This fish is supplied to all of PNG.

For dinner there were a lot of vegetables and fruits grown on the farm and of course the freshest trout and very tasty local coffee.

Tomorrow we are heading to the base camp of Mount Wilhelm, we will be without communication for two days.

Guides: Alexander Dorojukov and Svetlana Kotlyar.

October 5. That day we returned to civilization to our Highlander hotel! How nice it would be to take a hot shower and find ourselves in the warmth after all our adventures and trekking through the swamps under pouring rain!

  In the afternoon we visited two local tribes. The first is the Mudmen. Their bodies were decorated with clay, and on their heads were huge clay masks, weighing at least 10 kg. According to legend, they were defeated by an enemy tribe and were forced to flee to the Asaro River. Before trying to escape, they waited until dusk. The enemies saw them rising from the dirty banks, covered in mud, thought they were spirits and fled in fear.

The second tribe is Huli Wig. They decorate their faces with traditional Papuan flowers and wear headdresses ... made from their own hair and the feathers of the bird of paradise, which is the symbol of the country.

In the evening, a festive dinner was held, at which the participants received the coveted medals and certificates for the ascent. They recalled the brightest moments and shared impressions. For some of the group, the program ends, and they return home. Well, a new adventure awaits us with the second half of the group - climbing the highest mountain in the country - Wilhelm Peak!

Guides: Alexander Dorojukov and Svetlana Kotlyar.

It rained almost the entire night before the ascent and there was a strong wind. Due to the weather, it was decided to postpone the start an hour later. At 4.30 in the morning we had breakfast, filled up the thermoses and left the camp at 5.00.

 The first part of the route also passed through swampy terrain. By dawn, we reached the ridge, from where a stunning view of the top of Giluwe opened up, painted in the warm rays of dawn.

 The ascent itself is not technically difficult. However, the last part of the route is a rocky section where belay is required. At one time, our leader Alexander Abramov equipped this section with bolts. We divided into two groups and continued the ascent.

 At 8.30 in the morning, our "Team A" in full force stood on the top of the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania! Great weather and magnificent views from the summit!

Everyone was happy! For many participants, this volcano has already become the 4th, 5th and even 6th of the "7 Volcanoes" project. 

The ascent did not seem easy to anyone. The rocky section is quite slippery, you need to be on guard all the time so as not to slip, which once again proves that there are no easy mountains!

Group guides: Alexander Dorojukov and Svetlana Kotlyar.

October 3. At 5 am we left for the gates of the national park. In the morning there was good visibility and while we were driving we were surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes. An hour and a half later we arrived at the beginning of the route. Here we changed into rubber boots, porters took our bags, and we went trekking.

 The hike to the camp is 12 km and about 6 hours in time. The first part of the route is a real jungle: tall trees, ferns and mosses. Then the path goes along the river, underfoot there is grass and marshy soil. That's why we wear rubber boots, without them there is nowhere.

At the foot of the mountain we have a real base camp: large comfortable tents, toilets, this season we brought a dining tent and tables. The 7 Summits Club created the maximum possible comfort for the participants in such conditions!

After lunch, we discussed the ascent plan, practiced walking in ropes and working with equipment.

Group guides: Alexander Dorojukov and Svetlana Kotlyar.

Today, at 8:30 am local time, the 7 Summits Club Team "Group A" in full force climbed to the top of the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania - Giluwe, 4,368 m high! The day turned out to be quite difficult and very eventful, all participants are great! Details later.

Hello to everyone from the "Group A" team! We continue our journey through the exotic country of Papua New Guinea!

This morning we checked out of the hotel and stopped at a very colorful local market for fruit. The locals greeted us very joyfully - they smiled, waved their hands and most importantly - everyone was smiling!

Then we drove towards our mountain lodge, stopping at Paya Village on the way. The villagers told us about their customs and traditions, treated us to a traditional dish "mumu" - this is meat baked in an earthen pit, lined with hot stones and coals and wrapped in banana leaves. And while we were waiting for lunch, the Papuans put on a performance with songs and dances for us.

After that, we drove to the place of overnight stay and checked into the Mountain Lodge. Now we are already at an altitude of 2400 m. In the evening at dinner we will discuss the plan for tomorrow, in the morning we move towards Giluwe! There will be no connection for the next 2 days, do not lose us and wait for greetings from the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania!

Guides: Alexander Dorojukov and Svetlana Kotlyar.

Hello from Papua New Guinea from the "Group A" team! Today we met all the participants of our program at the Port Moresby airport. Before boarding the domestic flight, some participants even managed to swim in the Coral Sea - when else would there be such an opportunity? Then we flew to Mount Hagen, where our program of climbing the Giluwe volcano and Wilhelm Peak will begin. We checked into the Highlander hotel with a beautiful green area, bought the necessary products for the mountain. And in the evening there was a welcome dinner, where all the participants (and there are 13 of us!) met and told about themselves. It is nice to watch how people who are still strangers to each other in the morning, by the evening begin to actively communicate, laugh and become a team.

Guides of the 7 Summits Club: Alexander Dorojukov and Svetlana Kotlyar.

Svetlana Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from Papua New Guinea:

The team of guides of the 7 Summits Club has reached Papua New Guinea! The Seven Volcanoes project is rapidly gaining momentum! And in just a couple of days we will meet our large group and head to Giluwe volcano and Wilhelm Peak!

Svetlana Kotlyar, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from the Elbrus region:

 Greetings to all from the Elbrus region from the ZUCCHINI team!  We accept your congratulations! After all, today our whole team ascended the highest point in Europe — Mount Elbrus 5642 m!

The weather was the most wonderful: there was not a cloud in the sky all morning and we had a stunning view of the Main Caucasian Ridge. We froze a little on the Saddle, but then the warm July sun warmed us up.

We stood at the top at 7.30 am, and already at 11 we celebrated our ascent in the refuge with champagne.

It was not an easy climb for all the participants, but all the efforts were definitely worth it. The members have realized their dream! For almost everyone, Elbrus became the first peak in their lives.

Four groups of the 7 Summits Club climbed the Pastukhov Rocks that day. Thus, the acclimatization cycle for all these groups was completed. Ahead is a day of rest and an assault on the summit of Mount Elbrus. The weather was quite gloomy today, sometimes it snowed. The  summit of Elbrus was still not visible. Group guides: Alexander Avtomonov, Alexander Dorojukov, Svetlana Kotlyar and Dmitry Semenov.

Svetlana Kotlyar, Guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from the Elbrus region:

 Greetings from the KABACHKI team from Elbrus!  We are continuing our acclimatization program. Today, after breakfast, we packed our bags, registered the group with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and took a cable car up to the Gara-Bashi station. It was a little cloudy in the morning, but still Grandpa Elbrus greeted us!

We settled into a high-altitude refuge, learned how to properly put on high-altitude boots and crampons, and moved towards Refuge of 11 for snow and ice classes.

By lunchtime, clouds covered the mountain, hail began, but still we managed to work out actively: we learned how to use an ice axe correctly, mastered the technique of self-arrst on the slope, practiced moving along the fixed ropes.

In general, the acclimatization program is going according to plan!

Downstairs, a delicious lunch was waiting for us, prepared by the caring hands of our alpine chef Olga Demina. The guys are absolutely delighted with the service!

Now we are resting and preparing for tomorrow's trip to the Pastukhov Rocks.