7 Summits Club company news - Page 2

The 7 Summits Club super guide Olya Rumyantseva sends a message from Mexico:
Greetings from Mexico from the Superkids group! Today was our first Mexican ascent. To acclimatize, we climbed the not-so-high (relatively speaking, of course, since 4,420 meters is quite a height), but very picturesque La Malinche volcano.

The ascent took place in wonderful weather conditions. We were shown famous Mexican volcanoes in all directions, including Volcan Orizaba, our next destination.

We'll be heading there tomorrow.

Hola from Ecuador, from the slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano (5,897 m)! Cotopaxi is one of the most beautiful active volcanoes, ranked among the top 10 most popular mountains in the world for guided climbing. Just a year and a half ago, it erupted and was closed to climbers. Now, the 7 Summits Club group is there, and it is the main destination of the expedition.

Today, our group had a day of altitude acclimatization on the Cotopaxi Glacier. We reached the mountain slopes and ascended to approximately 5,000 meters. The weather was unfavorable—wind, sleet, and the possibility of a thunderstorm—so we decided to descend earlier than expected.

A little later, the weather improved, and even the summit was open, but here, things can change every 15 minutes. Generally, the weather in Ecuador is very changeable and diverse, just like the rest of the country! It's never boring!

Guides - Alexander Dorozhukov and Victor Volodin.

Greetings from Mexico, where today the adventures of another the 7 Summits Club team began. The youngest and most unusual team, the Superkids, also known as the Superfamily, began.

Three teenagers, aged 14 to 20, are climbing the highest volcanoes on the continents in the company of their father. This brave team has already climbed Kilimanjaro and Elbrus. Now it's the turn of North America and its highest volcano, Orizaba.

The boys' adventures began a few days ago, when they arrived in Mexico and began exploring it. Yesterday, we finally all got together, introduced ourselves, the boys received gifts, and early this morning, we set off.
We left very early because we decided to see the pyramids of the ancient city of Teotihuacan from above in a hot air balloon before the obligatory excursion.

This time, the weather was on our side. We had a stunning sunrise and an incredible ride above the ancient pyramids. For the kids, it was their first hot air balloon ride. It was a little scary, but the excitement was far greater.

Greetings from sunny Mexico! Today, the entire "Equipo de Orizaba" group climbed Mount Orizaba, North America's highest volcano and Mexico's highest point, at 5,636 meters. The weather was perfect: completely calm and temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius. After descending to base camp, we moved to Zoapan, where we were met by our friends and a Mexican orchestra. From there, we traveled to Puebla, where we spent the night. Our next destination is Mexico City and then home. Group guides: Andrey Berezin and Valery Myasoedov.

Greetings from Ecuador! Yesterday we checked into a luxurious hotel at the foot of the Cotopaxi volcano. We woke up this morning to a beautiful view. We went to Lake Quilotoa, located in the crater. The views there are simply magical. Some people even went for a swim in the lake. For lunch, we stopped at a very beautiful restaurant with all sorts of old gadgets. Overall, it was a great day!

Guides: Viktor Volodin and Alexander Dorozhukov.

Greetings from Ecuador! Our cheerful team had a great day today. We checked out of the hotel, visited a few local attractions, including a supermarket and restaurant. The restaurant had a beautiful view and was near the Virgin Mary monument. Today we went on an acclimatization climb to Guagua Pichincha volcano (4,784 m). We drove up to the trailhead in jeeps and walked and walked. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the crater due to the fog. But the views were still stunning. After descending, we finally saw our destination – Cotopaxi volcano.
Guides: Viktor Volodin and Alexander Dorojukov.

Greetings from sunny Mexico! Yesterday we acclimatized to the assault camp (4800m). The climb took two and a half hours, and we spent another half hour at the campsite. Tomorrow we'll ascend to the assault camp. Then, tonight, we'll begin the ascent ща Orizaba. Group guides: Andrey Berezin and Valery Myasoedov.

Greetings from sunny Mexico! The "Equipo de Orizaba" group is currently at the best base camp on Orizaba Peak, at an altitude of 4,200 meters. We are staying in large, spacious camping tents. There is a large dining room where our entire large team can eat. The food is delicious and varied. Wi-Fi is available throughout the day. The group's guides are Andrey Berezin and Valery Myasoedov.

Greetings from Quito! Our group arrived in Ecuador yesterday evening, and we're really looking forward to visiting Cotopaxi Volcano. Today, we began our gradual acclimatization, took the cable car to 4,100 meters, walked around, and enjoyed the views of the city nestled between the mountains.

Afterward, we traditionally visited the "Place of the Equator." Everyone was thrilled to watch the water swirl in different directions as it drains, on opposite sides of the equator. Today, we'll have a welcome dinner, and we'll discuss plans for tomorrow and beyond.
Guides: Viktor Volodin and Alexander Dorojukov.

We congratulate our most active summit collector in recent years! In 2023, Galymzhan Kuspanov joined the 7 Summits Club programs. His first was Elbrus. Within two years, this courageous Kazakh climber had attempted all 14 summits in the Seven Summits and Seven Volcanoes programs! This may be a record for participants.

Yesterday, Galymzhan Kuspanov completed one of his collections with his ascent of Orizaba. We wish him the same success in the Seven Summits program in the coming year! May he maintain excellent physical fitness, a desire to expand his horizons, and the ability to do so for many years to come! Kuspanov ranked 67th on the list of Seven Volcanoes climbers, becoming the second in Kazakhstan after Yuri Lukyanov and the first ethnic Kazakh. Galymzhan turned 60 this year. He's a good role model for young people and also a record-breaker.

Kilimanjaro News, Tanzania. Summit Climb Day. The day began quite early, as internet access was nonexistent due to the country's elections. Everyone went to bed early and woke up early. We had breakfast at 7 a.m., and by 8 a.m., our group had already set out for Kibo Camp.

It's truly amazing how well the national park has managed to provide all the amenities along the route, right down to comfortable restrooms and tables. You instantly lose the feeling that you're far from civilization.

 After about four hours of gradual ascent, crossing desert terrain that sometimes feels like a walk on Mars, you reach Kibo Camp at 4,700 meters. There, cozy cabins and the thoughtful faces of climbers await you, anticipating the night of the summit. And also the carefree faces of the local guys, for whom this has long been a routine and part of their lives.

We set off for lunch, dinner, and rest at 10:00 PM. Soon, it's time to get up and make final preparations. Breakfast, which often requires forcing yourself to eat. The realization that you literally have to force yourself to eat. A final check of gear and clothing, and then "off you go!" The hardest day of our tour lies ahead. Just eight hours of climbing up a switchback road in the night over dusty, loose earth. After six hours, you reach the first point, called Gilmans Point. This is the first long rest stop, and dawn is already breaking.

 Nighttime shots of Kilimanjaro's crater in the light of the full moon, tea, and your favorite songs to help you fight off the drowsiness that rolls in like waves. And then, off you go again. Two more hours of work lie ahead, now at altitude. An hour and a half later, as soon as you pass Stella Point, the magic of sunrise begins. And you see with your own eyes how the valleys of golden Africa are bathed in the rays of the sun. This is something that can't be described in words, videos, or photos; you have to see it with your own eyes!

After the shock therapy, another half-hour of walking in the sun's rays, and there in the distance is the coveted sign for Uhuru Peak 5895.

And you say, "Hakuna Matata poli poli tutafika" (No problem! Quietly, quietly, we'll get there soon).

Guides: Alexander Dorojukov, Leuan Atabiyev.

The 7 Summits Club guide Olya Rumyantseva reports from Mexico:
Greetings from Mexico from the "Axolotl and Friends" group! Today, almost the entire group climbed Volcano Orizaba. Almost the entire group because the weather gave us a surprise. The forecasts weren't particularly bad, but forecasts don't always come true. Ultimately, two members decided to abort the climb. The others decided to continue. They found themselves at the summit, covered in icy glaze and lightly dusted with snow. It's not easy to climb with a shell of ice weighing several kilograms. But now everyone has unforgettable memories, excitement, and cool windows. And Galymzhan Kuspanov completed the "Seven Volcanoes" project with this ascent. Congratulations!

Greetings from sunny Mexico! Today, the "Equipo de Orizaba" group set off for an acclimatization climb to La Malinche Peak. The route from the entrance to the National Park to the summit took us 5 hours and 42 minutes. We climbed faster than expected. The route is very picturesque: it begins in a pine forest, then passes through a small section of alpine meadows, and then reaches the rocky pre-summit area. The summit itself is compact; our entire large team (17 people) barely fit on top.
Afterward, we descended along the same route we had climbed. Tomorrow, we'll travel to the base camp at Orizaba Peak. The group guides are Andrey Berezin and Valery Myasoedov.

Days 3 and 4. Greetings from sunny Tanzania! Yes, the weather was great, and the sun shone above us, even though early November is the transitional season and the sky is usually covered by clouds at this time! We moved on to the next camp, Horombo, at 3,800 meters, gaining another kilometer of vertical climb. We left the forest and were greeted by views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mawenzi. The weather was fine. The sunsets and views of the savannah at night were stunning. This alone is worth the trip to Kilimanjaro.

The group is in good condition. We are working according to plan. After spending the night in Horombo, we hiked to the Zebra Rocks to acclimatize, and the next day we are preparing to move on to the Kibo summit camp at 4,600 meters. Guides: Alexander Dorozhukov and Leuan Atabiev.

Greetings from sunny Mexico! Yesterday, the "Equipo de Orizaba" group visited the Teotiocan pyramids, some of the oldest in the world. Afterward, we had lunch at a picturesque restaurant located in a natural grotto. After lunch, we headed to the hacienda in the town of Soltepec. Tomorrow, we'll set off on an acclimatization climb to the summit of La Malinche, at 4,200 meters. Guides Andrey Berezin and Valery Myasoedov.

The 7 Summits Club super guide Olya Rumyantseva reports from Mexico:
Greetings from Mexico from the Axolotl and Friends group! Today we had an acclimatization day on the slopes of Volcan Orizaba. After spending the night at base camp at 4,200 meters, admiring the starry sky and the huge moon, we went for a short walk after breakfast. We ascended to 4,750 meters, the location of our summit camp. Everyone is in great spirits and feeling great. The views are stunning.
After lunch, we checked our gear. We adjusted our crampons to our boots and our harnesses to our climbers. Tomorrow we will ascend to the summit camp and set out tonight for the ascent to Orizaba's summit.

Greetings from sunny Mexico! The ascent of Pico Orizaba (5,536 m) has begun. We met all the participants today. We settled into the hotel and had a gear check. In the evening, we had a welcome dinner. Tomorrow we'll travel to Soltepec, visiting the Teotiocan pyramids along the way.
Group guides: Andrey Berezin and Valery Myasoedov.

Mountaineering School in Tuyuk-Su. Yesterday, our training department successfully climbed Amangeldy Peak along a 2A-category route. The instructor chose a longer route with more technical challenges than previous routes. There were challenging walls, a traverse, a rappel in the middle, and a ridge where you had to climb simultaneously. The students completed all the tasks and were back at camp by six in the evening.

Also, Nikolai Tokurenov, a participant in our program, celebrated his birthday at the summit that day! We gave him a small souvenir from our team. Today we have a closing ceremony, where we will present "Mountaineer of Russia" badges and "Mountaineer" books.
Guide/instructor: Ratmir Mukhametzyanov.

The 7 Summits Club guide Olya Rumyantseva reports from Mexico:
Greetings from Mexico from the "Axolotl" group! Today we left civilization behind and climbed the slopes of Orizaba, where we'll spend the next three days. Today was a day of travel. First, we arrived in the village of Zoapan, where our partners' base is located. We picked up the missing gear. We loaded everything into jeeps and drove along a very winding and dusty road. But at least it offered beautiful views. We settled into base camp at 4,100 meters.

Greetings from Tanzania! We continue publishing our Kilimanjaro expedition diary.
Day 2. We arrived at the gate, completed all the paperwork, ate, and set out on a trek through the beautiful jungle. Today was one of the most beautiful treks on the entire route, although each day was unique, beautiful in its own way.
The trail ran through equatorial forest with giant trees, vines, lichens, and tree ferns for almost the entire day. Closer to camp, the forest gave way to thickets of giant heather. Along the way, we were accompanied by monkeys, bridges, and waterfalls.
We rose above the clouds. We arrived at Mandara Camp at 2800 meters, at the upper tree line. We settled in, discussed our plans for the next day, and settled in for a well-deserved rest.
7 Summits Club guides Alexander Dorojukov and Leuan Atabiyev.