All news

The southern slopes of Mount Elbrus will be open to all visitors, probably from 1th December. Counter-terrorist operation is not canceled and may be even remain. However,  no special restrictions on the visit will be exist. Cable cars, damaged by terrorists, are fully restored. Hotels are preparing to meet skiers. In the spring we are waiting for ski tourists, then the race in Elbrus. We hope that next summer will be in normal.

Elbrus area qualifies as a backup venue for ski competitions of the Olympic Games in 2014. Authority promise a beginning  large-scale construction works in nearest future.

Fresh pictures from the Elbrus Regin (from risk.ru)

Mount Cheget - an extreme skiers paradize

Majestic Donguz-Orun

Meanwhile, Olympic Organizing Committee announced plans for the torch relay....

Author: Stefan Korshak.

Relay runners will for the first time carry the Olympic flame to the North Pole, Russian organizers of the 2014 Winter Games said on Tuesday.

 Dmitry Chernyshenko. Archive picture: Yuri Kochetkov

"The most ambitous relay race" ever attempted with an Olympic flame will also take the fire into space and across a 5,000 metre mountain, Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of Russia's Olympic committee, told the news agency Itar-Tass.

A trip for the flame into space, possibly involving the International Space Station (ISS), will be a major challenge, as will be taking the fire to the summit of the 5,642-metre-high Mount Elbrus, Russia's tallest mountain and the highest peak in Europe, Chernyshenko said.

The Olympic flame is scheduled to arrive in Moscow from Athens in October 2013 and then to travel in relays just under 9,000 kilometres to the Pacific port Vladivostok.

In the remaining 123 days until the Olympic Games, running from February 7 to 23, the flame and its carriers will follow a route of more than 40,000km through all 83 major cities in Russia's regions, Chernyshenko said.

More than 30,000 volunteers will participate in the flame relay, he said.

The 22nd Winter Olympic games are scheduled to be held from February 7 to 23, 2014, in the Black Sea port city Sochi and in the adjacent Caucasian mountain resort Krasnaya Polyana.

Independent, Ski visit into Krasnaya Polana

Nid d’Aigle should re-open only in spring 2013. Following this summers closure of the last segment up to the Nid d’Aigle on the Tramway du Mont Blanc, it has now been announced that this stretch of the line will be remain closed until spring 2013.

Important safety work needs to be carried out to protect the track whilst new tracks are to be laid. With this in mind, the final leg of the tram track will not be open to the public.

Mountaineers planning to climb Mont Blanc will be able to carry on to Mont Lachat, between Bellevue and Nid d’Aigle. The Tete Rousse should still be accessible on foot via the Chemin des Rognes and Les Ruines, allowing alpinists a safer route around the danger zone.

Hi all! This is Dmitry Ermakov from Lukla. After a long delay due to weather conditions and congestion of air traffic, today we arrived in Lukla.  But, nevertheless, at 17 o'clock we were at the right place. Today we decided to stay in Lukla, as tomorrow will be a very big move and we decided to enjoy another day comfort, good coffee, delicious pastries and the internet. Today we decided to stay in Lukla, because tomorrow we have easy day. We decided to enjoy another day of comfort, good coffee, delicious pastries and the Internet. Tomorrow we're moving in the Putang  village and the day after tomorrow we leave on our first pass. All members feel very good, weather is wonderful.  Bye everyone!

The participants of the expedition:

    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader 

1.    Apal'kov Alexander
2.    Dmitry Barabanov
3.    Sergey Dmitriev
4.    Alexander Dubinkin
5.    Kirill Ants
6.    Andrey Podolyan
7.    Vitaly Simonovic   
8.    Alexander Sobolenko 
9.    Mikhail Filippov

Hi, 7 Summits! This is Dmitry Ermakov from Kathmandu. Today we have met the remaining members of our trekking, checked in to the hotel, after that everybody had a great tour around Kathmandu, and visited the main attractions. Andrey Padolyan and Dmitry Barabanov went bungee jumping, they all turned out well and got a lot of emotions.
Now we are in the famous restaurant Rum Doodle celebrating beginning of the expedition. Tomorrow, early in the morning, we all take off at Lukla and begin tracking part of the expedition. Everybody feel   very well. Buy everyone!

The participants of the expedition:

    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader

1.    Apal'kov Alexander
2.    Dmitry Barabanov
3.    Sergey Dmitriev
4.    Alexander Dubinkin
5.    Kirill Ants
6.    Andrey Podolyan
7.    Vitaly Simonovic   
8.    Alexander Sobolenko 
9.    Mikhail Filippov

Today, October 21, starts new program of the 7 Summits Club in Nepal - ascent to Mera Peak! Previously, all our groups sought closer to the Everest - at Kalapatar or Island Peak. In this program the expedition will go in the opposite direction to the summit of Makalu, climbing in quite wild places. So many nights  our group will spend in tents.

The head of the expedition Dmitry Ermakov flies in Nepal today. Dmitry will have to finish the last preparations for the arrival of the group and host a banquet in the legendary Rum Doodle  which honored our club, which included a large number of climbers to the Everest.

The participants of the expedition:

1.    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader
2.    Apal'kov Alexander
3.    Dmitry Barabanov
4.    Sergey Dmitriev
5.    Alexander Dubinkin
6.    Kirill Ants
7.    Andrey Podolyan
8.    Vitaly Simonovic   
9.    Alexander Sobolenko 
10.    Mikhail Filippov

As many people all over the world the members of 7 Summits Club were shocked at receiving the tragic news on Steve Jobs death.

To honor the memory of this outstanding person we decided to organize an expedition to Nepal in spring 2012. Our team will climb one of the nameless peaks in the Himalaya and will name it after Steve Jobs. As well known he was a buddist hence the choice of the region.

We invite everybody to take part in this expedition. You will have a chance to get to the summit where no one has been before and thus honor the memory of Steve Jobs.

The tentative dates of the expedition

Join us!

Hi everyone!
Almost all the guide and managers of 7 Summits Club comes in the Crimea, and not just relaxing, but also to gain new knowledge and skills of the profession of mountain guide. But let’s start from the very beginning!

On Saturday evening we arrived in the glorious village of Simeiz.

Of course, in the first day we did not have lessons, but staged a night swimming in the Black sea. Honesty to say, not all the guides of 7 Summits ventured on it's, but those who has found the forces in itself for this were satisfied and happy:)

In Sunday we started with lectures about medicine in the mountains, from our friend, Dr. Igor Pokhvalin. Igor gave us a short course about a typical disease in the mountains, the psychological aspect in the work of a mountain guide and about the specific of high-altitude ascents.

After this, despite the rain, we went to practice our skills on the rocks. Our team was split up into two groups, with one works instructor - Denis Saveliev, on the other Igor Pekhterev.

The first trainee on the rocks

Judging by the exhausted, but still pleased faces of our guides, all have a lot of enthusiasm for learning, and working hard receiving new knowledge.

Our instructor Igor Pekhterev and the doctor and mountaineer Igor Pokhvalin. Experience exchanging

 Instructor Dan Saveliev shows how Canadian guides makes the ancors

On Monday we continued our training, learning to properly work with the client in short rope, walking with him on the rocks, and much more. On the same day we were joined by our chef - Alexander Abramov.
These are the routes we climb.. for warm-up)))

On Tuesday, we plan improvement of skills of work on a rocky terrain, and certainly a lot of new and interesting things!

Buy everyone, the Team of the 7 Summits Club!

We just received the long-awaited message from Alexander Abramov. THE WHOLE GROUP! climbed successfully  to the top and now goes on to the Caspian sea celebrate the victory. We congratulate all the members of the expedition and looking forward to read the detailed report about the events of summit day.

Hello, Alexander Abramov speaking from the expedition to Damavand. Today, all the group in a single impulse has made an ascent on the top of the Tuchal mountain, 3990m. The peak and climb were very interesting. Now we have moved to Reineh village where we will spend the night in a stylized house. Tomorrow we leave at 8 in the morning, and at 9 we will begin the ascent to the mountain hut 4200 m, from where the day after tomorrow we will start climbing to the top of Mt. Damavand. Good-bye.

Hello! Today our team visited a very beautiful palace of Iran. Then we had dinner and drove in the direction of our mountain Tuchal 3990 m. Then began our climb to the hut. It it usually takes about 3-4 hours.But it was very hot,  so we walk longer, about 5 hours, stayed often, but, in general, all climb, everyone is happy.

We came to the mountain hut.  It is nice four floors shelter, almost the hotel. Here is the dining room, rooms, there are no beds, but on the floor are placed mattresses, blankets and pillows and all this on the Persian carpets that is all very cool.

Nearby there is a river, a waterfall. It is very beautiful place. All is very hospitable.

Tomorrow, we are planning the first in the history of our team of climbing a mountain Tuchal 3990 m. It is planned that we start about six in the morning and at 12 o'clock we have to be in the summit. Here we have such plans, everyone is happy, everything is fine. Tomorrow, hopefully from the summit, I call once again.

"We are at height of 3800 m. Early morning. We are ready to start climbing. I've just measured indicators of oxygen at all participants. It's ok! We continue the ascension. Everything is ok. Everybody feel good. We hope for good weather in day of our ascension. Bye!"

"Everything is ok. Yesterday we have risen on height 3700м, today we continue our ascension. Everybody feel good (even in spite of the fact, that people are in mountains at first time). Our company is cheerful. We hope, that further all also will be good. Good luck, Bye!"

Bobok Victor sends the message from slopes of mount Kilimanjaro: "Last night I have met the group. All guys are nice. Everything is ok. All of them have never been in mountains. Even Swisses, who live in highland, never went on ascensions. Now we go to Kilimandjaro National Park. And soon we'll leave on a route. All greetings, Bye!"

On Wednesday, on 24th of August, the next expedition of "7 Summits Club" under the guidance of Victor Bobok has begun. First two days the group has devoted to visiting the National Parks of Tanzania (accompanied by our local partners). Today our guide Victor Bobok will join the group. He will lead the team on Machame route. Wait for the news!

"Hello! This is Alex Abramov from the "World Class - 7 Summits" expedition. Today very strong blew. Therefore we started our ascension one hour later, at 4 o'clock in the morning. Everything was ok, and at 10 o'clock all participants of our team have ascended to the Mont Blanc top! After the ascension long descent has begun. And, certainly, the most dangerous was to go through the "Le Сouloir De La Mort". As a result, all remained alive. We already have gone down (in our hotel) and had a good supper. Now we prepare for a sleep. Everything is ok, the project has been done successfully! All climbers are happy and already ask about new trips. Tomorrow - day of rest. On Saturday we'll leave to Moscow".

We have just received the urgent message from Alex Abramov: "All participants of the " World Class - 7 Summits" team have ascended the highest point of the Western Europe - Mont Blanc!"

We congratulate all winners and wait for a photo, and also the detailed story about the ascension!

"Hello! This is Alex Abramov from the "World Class - 7 Summits" expedition. Уesterday we have reached Refuge de Tete Rousse. On the route we have met Victor Bobok's group, which has successfully ascended to the Mont Blanc  top and went down. Today we have reached Refuge du Gouter. It was terrible to go through the "Le Сouloir De La Mort". According to our plan, tomorrow we should have breakfast at 2 o'clock and start climbing at 3 o'clock. But now very strong wind blows. Therefore, probably, we'll start later, at 5 o'clock in the morning. Wait for the news!".

The 1st day of acclimatization...

On the top of Mont Blanc!

Last day in mountains

After the ascension: "Independence Day of Ukraine" (24th of July)

Says Victor Bobok: "The ascension program to Mont Blanc is done on 100 %. All participants, guides and managers of "7 Summits Club" reached the summit. Guys from Kiev and Odessa devote this ascension to "Independence Day of Ukraine" (we hope, independence not only from Muscovites). We go down (in a safe place). Everything is ok".