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Hello to all! This is Vladimir Kotlyar from Argentina, climbing Aconcagua. We are together as a team climbed to the camp Nido de Condores. This is the second high-altitude camp at an altitude of more than five thousand .... We have now set up camp. The weather is good, no clouds in the sky. Mountains are seen ... view is stunning ... The sun is shining, no cold. All the people are peppy.

Tomorrow we go down to Plaza de Mulas, to relax. And today, we have to be here for overnight, for better acclimatization. And we will leave some things here... And go down. All the best! So long!

A new expedition on Aconcagua got an acclimatization outing to the Placa Francia. The guide of the 7 Summits Club reports just from this place under tha majestic South Face jf the highest peak of Southern America.

Antarctic Expedition of Russian entrepreneurs  "Antarctica Club leaders 2015"  reported on his trip to the sixth highest continent of the Earth in the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society.

The expedition members spoke on the studies, organized a teleconference with President Putin, snowstorms, frostbites and treacherous American weather balloon, which appeared likely not a coincidence, and left the expedition without communication.

Members of the expedition to Aconcagua (group calling itself Todos Juntos) went home. Their guide Vladimir Kotlyar awaits the arrival of a new group and continues to study the Argentine life. And he sent us some photos from the last climb ...

Deputies of the State Duma Alexander Sidyakin and Oleg Savchenko, with their friend Alex Bulavin and ANI guide Josh Hoeschen successfully climbed to the summit of Mount Vinson.

"During the descent the weather prevented us to quickly descend into Low Camp, because it was the strongest winds and very low temperatures. But all is well and now we are back down, I hope that today we will be in the "Base Camp".

Hey there! This is Vladimir Kotlyar, the 7 Summits Club expedition to Aconcagua. Our expedition was ended successfuly, as you probably you know from my previous audio messages that was made from the top. We have successfully reached the summit of Aconcagua. Today, we are quite in the tradition of our team Todos Juntas, descended all together, to the camp at Plaza de Mulas. Where now we relax and celebrate our climb. We are sending greetings to our homeland! We look forward to meeting with their native land! All the best!

Alex Abramov: Today, January 13th. On the eve of the Russian Old -New Year Celebration we started the climb from the high camp from a height of 4600m at 6 a.m.. We had before us a vertical, at first glance wall. But it was possible to find a chimney in which Luda climbed, as a young. And I admire the spectacle.

Then there was the top and adseil in 5 pitches. At the summit there is a bust of Bolivar.
And then we went back to Merida - extreme sports capital of Venezuela.

The Peak Bolivar ascent took 3 days and it was very interesting and impressive.
Tomorrow we fly to Waterfall Salto Angel ...

Good evening to all! This is Vladimir Kotlyar, I call from Argentina. And now we are in the Plaza de Nido Condores, at an altitude of 5400 meters above sea level. We just had a sunset ... that is a very beautiful, as always. We have a nice dinner, a good appetite and it is a good sign. We rest, walk around the neighborhood ... Tomorrow we will go down to Plaza de Mulas for rest. And today, we have to overnight here for altitude acclimatization. It's okay. All the best!

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov, right from the top of Ritacuba Blanca. Now this is the highest peak in Colombia, which is possible to climb. Other high mountains are closed by the local Indians and the highest peak Cristobal Colomb is banned for climbing. So I'm now with Luda on a very beautiful peak height of 5300 meters or 5340 - says Luda. And we dedicate this ascent birthday of our son Maxim, who is now 13 years old.

Good afternoon! This is Ludmila Korobeshko and Alexander Abramov from Colombia. Yesterday we arrived in Bogota, Colombia. And immediately we went to the mountains. We have overcome 400 kilometers and now we are in the mountains of El Kakuy, at an altitude of 4000 meters. And on this night, we are already planning to go on the climb to the highest point of El Kaku - Ritacuba Blanca almost 5400 meters (5330-5350m). And this ascent we want to devote birthday of our son, Maxim Abramov. In general, now everything is in order here. We hope that we will be able using our Antarctic acclimatization, in such a short time, to reach this five thousand meters peak. We have many plans, there are many interesting places here in Colombia, but part of them is difficult and almost impossible to get. But we want!

Hello! It is Vladimir Kotlyar, from Argentina. A group of "New Year's holidays and climbing Aconcagua" .. Today we reached the camp Confluencia. This camp will be our home for two nights. It is located at an altitude of 3800. We will be leaving tomorrow for radial acclimatization, the Plaza Francia. But it will be tomorrow, today we have a rest, good eat, good time, meet the sunset .. All the best!

Olesya Lelyushkina from Ecuador:

According to the schedule, we climbed on Pasachoa on Iliniza Norte. On Iliniza suddenly began thunderstorm, lightning struck the iron cross, which stands on top just when we were there, we hurried down.

We met the New Year in a beautiful hotel, and on January 1 went to a neighboring village to watch the rodeo. January 2 we climbed up Moun Cotopaxi, started the climb at midnight, at the top we were at 7am. And in 2 hours of the night suddenly started wind, with speed that guides rated as 70 km per hour, many climbers turned back. The ascent was not easy out - the wind, our team rose to the top at full strength - 3 members and 2 guides on the top of our group was one of the earliest.

In the afternoon we returned to Quito. January 3 we are going on a trip to Mindo, a walk through the rainforest, see waterfalls, butterflies and hummingbirds. We will gain strength before climbing Chimborazo.

Alex Abramov from the Vinson expedition: 
Hello! It's four o'clock in the morning. We got to the advanced assault camp. Right now we boil water and tomorrow are going to climb the summit of Mount Vinson. First sleep and then - climb. The weather is bad ....

Hello! It calls Alexander Abramov. Last night we made theclimb from the base camp to low camp. It was not easy, we walked for 10 hours. But all the members did it, well done. Late at night we set up the tents, at 3 o'clock went to bed. Today we woke up, we had a day of rest, a day of acclimatization. The approach under the fixed ropes part - the team is practicing how to climb with. It is not so simple. And tomorrow we have a plan to exit in the Upper camp, and descend. Then, all members are alive and healthy. So everything goes according to plan, everything is fine. The weather is perfect. We wish to all Happy New Year! We hope January 1th, to reach the summit of Vinson. By!

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov from Antarctica. Yesterday it was a very hard day. We spent the night in 15 kilometers from Union Glacier. We've got a separate camp in a very beautiful vast field, with views of the mountains. By morning the wind grew stronger. Just at this time we have had a contact with Moscow, a video conference with the President. Almost all the whole night we did not sleep, getting ready, excited. At 7 am already it was a live interview with Moscow and the President wished us luck. There was a small conversation, but I think that on TV it showed everything.

Then we immediately gathered the camp, returned to Union Glacier. There we had lunch, got on the plane and flew to the base camp of Vinson massif. Established camp, long enough to have established, because the tents are many, many people. Had a dinner. The mood is all excellent. We went to sleep. The weather yesterday was good. Today morning we woke up in a fog. Cold. And today we must make a walk to the camp 3200, so-called Low camp, about 6-8 hours to go. With a heavy sledge. This may be one of the most physically heavy days of our expedition. But, in General, the mood is good, we hope to be January 1th, on the summit of Vinson. By!

A group of Russian businessmen, members of the Leaders’ Club, set off for the Antarctic on December 20. One of their goals is to draw attention to Russia’s studies of the Antarctic and to test Russian-made communication equipment in extreme conditions.

Expedition participants also intend to hoist the Russian flag at the highest spot of the Antarctic and conduct a series of medical and biological studies. The expedition involves some 200 people and 34 research organisations.

* * *

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon. Can you hear me?

LEADERS’ CLUB PRESIDENT, AGENCY FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES NEW BUSINESS DIRECTOR ARTEM AVETISYAN: Yes, we can hear you. The Leaders’ Club expedition welcomes you to the vast expanses of the Antarctic.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Thank you. Hello, everyone.

I remember you were telling me about this expedition in Moscow, and bearing in mind that your expedition is of a national scope, I would like to recall that our compatriots Faddey Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev pioneered Antarctic exploration.

Besides, next year, I believe, we will be marking 60 years since the first Soviet expedition to the Antarctic. Thus, overall we have significant experience in this exploration. This is a very interesting, unique part of the planet.

Unfortunately, not everyone who wanted to take part in the expedition managed to do so. Only yesterday, I spoke to my aide Andrei Belousov. He is disappointed he could not join you because of his workload, though he had the necessary training.

I am glad that you have managed to bring this expedition to fruition. I know you have planned many events and many people are taking part in this work.

Could you please remind us of what you intend to do, including the testing of Russian-made radio and video communication equipment.

ARTEM AVETISYAN: Mr President, we are actually testing the equipment now. This is the first ever TV link-up between Moscow and the Antarctic. Nobody has ever done it before.

This was made possible thanks to Russian engineers. A large part of the equipment we are using was made in Russia.

We have set camp here, 16,000 kilometres from Moscow, and tomorrow we are setting out to the highest peak of the Antarctic to hoist the Russian flag there.

We have representatives of medium size businesses here from various sectors of the economy, and our goal is not only to hoist the Russian flag, but also to test Russian equipment at the peak.

We will also conduct a series of medical and biological experiments to study human sensitivity to hypoxia at high altitudes. We also plan to collect water samples from the highest peak of the Antarctic. They say it is the cleanest water in the world, and we believe it can extend human life.

Also, it is no secret that for a year now the Leaders’ Club has been making sample purchases. Now we have made a sample purchase here in the Antarctic and found a discrepancy: tourists here are taken around by Russian pilots on board legendary Russian Il-76 craft. However, the travel agencies are foreign, and the aircraft servicing companies are also foreign, while the number of tourists is significant – around 6,000.

We would like to create Russian tourist infrastructure to popularise Antarctic travel in our country. If you do not mind, Mr President, we would like to discuss this with you in Moscow, and if you support the idea, the Leaders’ Club is willing to take on the job.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Fine, let us do that.

Naturally, wherever you go you always find areas where you can apply your creative and business-like approach. I never had any doubt about that. See, you have found something even in the Antarctic. How are you planning to see in the New Year?

ARTEM AVETISYAN: We should be at an altitude of some 4,000 metres on New Year’s Eve, so we intend to contact Russian entrepreneurs in all the remote areas of Russia. That is actually why we brought all this equipment. We have a Russian-made radio station that we will also be testing. And we will be wishing everyone a happy New Year.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: I see.

I would like to wish you good luck and all the best in the New Year, success in your work and in reaching the peak. Please pass on my best wishes to all the expedition participants.

I know that about 200 people are involved in your work and 34 research organisations have been supporting it in one way or another.

Please convey my best wishes to the marine and aircraft crews. I wish you all the best. Happy New Year!

ARTEM AVETISYAN: Thank you, Mr President. Happy New Year to you!

VLADIMIR PUTIN: All the best! Good-bye and good luck!

December 19, 2014 the All-Russian Union of Entrepreneurs Leaders Club starts an expedition to Antarctica. On New Year's Eve the Russian entrepreneurs will effect an ascent of Mount Vinson - the highest peak in Antarctica.

14 people take part in the expedition. Four members of the ascent are women. The head of the expedition is Artyom Avetisyan, chairman of the club. Ivan Dusharin, vice president of the Russian Mountaineering Federation also participates in the expedition. It was under the leadership of Mr. Dusharin when in 1992 the team of climbers hoisted the national flag of Russia on Everest for the first time in the history.

Artur Chilingarov with the expedition members

On the eve of the departure at the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society the participants spoke about the upcoming expedition.

Alexey Martynov, radioman of the expedition

- For the first time in our history, Russian businessmen climb to the highest point of Antarctica - says Alexei Martynov, radioman of the expedition. - We do this in the first place, to show that we can do pretty much. And secondly, to test unique Russian radio equipment. We will be the first ones to do it at such altitudes and at such low temperature.

On New Year's Eve, from the top of the peak of Vinson, we plan to hold sessions of radio communication with Russian polar stations at the North Pole. This also has not been done before. We will contact Russian icebreakers plying the waters of the Arctic Ocean and off the coast of Chile, and the astronauts in orbit - we will speak with the International Space Station. We have done this during our previous expeditions - from the summit of Mont Blanc. So this time we are looking forward to the success ...

In addition to this technological mission Leaders Club together with the Innovation Centre of the Russian Olympic Committee will hold a series of special studies. So, Dr. Irina Zelenkova plans to develop a method of preparation to stay in hypoxic conditions of high mountains.

Prelaunch press conference

The expedition will leave Moscow on Friday, December 19, and will travel to the Chilean city of Punta Arenas. Then IL-76, equipped to land on the ice will go to the intermediate camp in Antarctica located on Union Glacier and then light aircrafts will deliver the participants to the camp near the Vinson Massif. They will effect an ascent of it - 4897 meters high - in three non-stop stages.

Each member will bear an expedition backpack of 70 liters, and using belt clips will carry sleds of 120 liters (weight load for each participant will be distributed individually). As in extreme cold temperature conditions batteries run down quickly, they will be placed on the body under clothing. The expedition will be ecological and the participants will not leave debris in their path - all waste will be packed and carried away with them.

Bishop of Naryan-Mar and Mezensky blesses travelers

Travelers were admonished by First Vice President of the Society Artur Chilingarov and blessed by Bishop Naryan-Mar and Mezensky Iakov.

The return of the expedition is scheduled for Jan. 8. Updates will be published on the site of IA REGNUM.

Hello! Alex Abramov from Antarctica, from the highest point of Mount Vinson. The weather is beautiful, light breeze. Our entire team is standing on the top. Of course, it's cold. We wanted to strip topless and take pictures with the flag, but the temperature is lower than minus thirty. Therefore, while we could not find volunteers. Well, in general, this is summit! Congratulate us! Today it was hard for all, but it's already over.

Next connection will be, when we reach the base camp. Goodbye!

Hello! This is Alex Abramov from Antarctica. Today we plan to start to the High camp. We turned almost all their tents, collected products and so on ... packed as horses. And now, after half an hour we will begin to climb in the upper camp, High camp. From which tomorrow, about 9:00, we should start to climb for the summit. Weather is good, favorable ... so all is well. Goodbye! Next link will be .... It is not known when. So Long!

Hi! This is Vladimir Kotlyar from Argentina, the expedition on Aconcagua. Today we had a day of rest and visiting "Noah's Ark". We have a little walk around the neighborhood. Tomorrow we leave directly in Nido de Condores. And from there we will plan our future days of ascent. We start, unfortunately, only with Igor. Natalia is ill and will be waiting for us here in the Plaza de Mulas. She has fever, runny nose, and we decided not to risk the health. Health should keep. Therefore, Igor, we have to climb in two. Weather, in advance, of course, windy, but in general it allows you to climb. You wish us luck! All the best!