All news - Page 7

The ascent through the eyes of Alexander Spirin:

January 9. Chile, expedition to Ojos Del Salado. The "Zorros Rojos y otros" team. Today our team climbed the San Francisco volcano, and it was a moment we will never forget. We stood at the summit, where the sky seemed closer, and the ground below disappeared into a dusty haze, leaving us alone with the grandeur of nature. The altitude of just over 6,000 meters was a test for each of us, especially for the four participants, for whom this was an altitude record.

The wind beat in our faces, as if testing our determination, and the dust swirled around in whirlwinds, forcing each breath to be suffered. We walked forward through the cold, fatigue and doubt. Each step was given with effort, but no one gave up. It was a fight with ourselves that we had to win.

When we finally reached the top, I looked at the faces of my comrades in the personal altitude record. They were beaming. It was not just joy - it was the realization that we had conquered not only the volcano, but also our fears, weaknesses and limitations. We hugged, feeling the strength of the team that is always ready to support, even at an altitude of six thousand meters.

The view from the summit was harsh and beautiful at the same time: endless plains, distant mountains, clouds that now seemed so small. This feeling of freedom, pride and unity cannot be expressed in words. It will stay with us forever.

This ascent changed us. Now San Francisco is not just a volcano for us, it is a symbol of strength, faith and perseverance. Tomorrow we are going on vacation. To the town of Copiapo. We deserve it! Leader Lyudmila Korobeshko, assistant leader Alexander Spirin.

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.

Hola! The "Chiki and Piki" group today made a difficult trek from the Confluencia camp to the Plaza de Mulas camp. The path is very long: 7.5 hours and 18.5 km, with an altitude gain of 1000 m. Now we are already at the base camp of our expedition, from where we will continue preparing for the ascent. The group's guides are Andrey Berezin and Viktor Volodin.

January 8. Chile, expedition to Ojos del Salado. Team "Zorros Rojos y otros". Today we devoted the day to rest before climbing to the summit of San Francisco (6018 m). After breakfast we went to the Atacama Desert, which has already become our home. 4 hours of travel (with mandatory stops for photos) and we arrived at the hot spring. It is really hot and, as the locals say, has healing properties. The bravest of the Red Foxes even washed their hair. The whole team enjoyed the already traditional barbecue masterpieces from our chefs. Tomorrow we have an acclimatization trip to San Francisco - wish us luck!

From Chile, expedition leader Lyudmila Korobeshko and assistant leader Alexander Spirin.

The President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov from the Sidley base camp:

Greetings from Antarctica! Having completed the 7 volcanoes project in 66 days, I encountered a surprise. It turned out that there were only 18 seats on the plane, and there were 19 of us,

Everyone flew away, and I was left alone at Sidley Base Camp. It is about 1,100 km from the nearest station where people live. They said they would arrive tomorrow, but I immediately realized that they would not. They would not scuttle the plane because of one person.

However, I have another partner in misfortune, Bob. A guide from New Zealand. He was also left behind. He must have behaved badly. We are settling in. We sorted out all our things. Two petrels flew in yesterday. They circled over the camp for a long time. They refused to eat bread and sausage. They realized that we had no fish, and flew away. It is 300 km from the shore. Imagine how disappointed these birds were.

That's all the news for now. We have been sitting here for three days already. They said that they will not pick us up until the next group. And that is in about five days. No big deal. It's cool to live in the desert. True, there is Internet and a generator. But we have little gas. We are saving. There is food too, don't worry. And whiskey too.  Anyone who has read Jack London is incredibly jealous of me right now.

Photos of our guide Artem Rostovtsev

The 7 Summits Club guide Alexander Dorojukov reports from Chile:

Chile is in touch. Today, our Pipi de Chat group set off in the morning for an acclimatization hike from the Atacama camp towards the Tejos refuge. We safely reached the planned altitude of 5,700 meters. The breeze was brisk, but we had a good walk. New views, new colors and an interesting road. Tomorrow we will rest before a new acclimatization ascent.

The Vinson-5 and Sidley-3 groups in full force gathered in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas. The flight is scheduled for January 10. We are getting ready, waiting for the flight and enjoying Punta Arenas!

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.

Another stage of the record-breaking automobile traverse of Antarctica has been completed. The Transglobal Car expedition team visited the South Pole. They took traditional photos at special signs marking this event. With the kind permission of the authorities (this was agreed upon in advance), the participants visited the unique Amundsen-Scott station, located at this extremely southern point of our planet.

"In general, everything has been done here so that people who stay for the winter feel as comfortable as possible."

The climbing conditions were quite difficult. Strong wind and frost. The group was divided into teams, but everyone moved together, both on the ascent and on the descent. Physically, it turned out to be quite a difficult test. But everything happened on a strong emotional upsurge, and all participants felt like a single team. This certainly helped to cope with all the difficulties.

The first team.

1. Boris Egorov - Seven volcanoes!
2. Mikhail Melekhin - Seven volcanoes! 
3. Marat Vladimirov
4. Farid Sagutdinov - Seven volcanoes!
5. Alexander Khlebnov - Seven volcanoes!

The second team
6. Andrey Polyakov
7. Boris Pustovoitov - Seven volcanoes!
8. Alexander Bachmann - Seven volcanoes!
9. Artem Gurshteyn - Seven volcanoes! Speed record!
10. Boris Fadeev - Seven volcanoes!

Third team
11. Artem Rostovtsev
12. Karolina Lukyanova (Kazakhstan) - Seven volcanoes!
13. Yuri Lukyanov (Kazakhstan) - Seven volcanoes!
14. Galymzhan Kuspanov (Kazakhstan)

Fourth team
15. Alexander Abramov - Seven volcanoes! Second time! Speed record!
16. Dmitry Tertychny - Seven volcanoes!
17. Alexander Tertychny - Seven volcanoes!
18. Konstantin Lashas
19. Viktor Alexandrov - Seven volcanoes!

19 climbers in one expedition - a record.
16 climbers from one country - a record.
14 climbers who comleted the "Seven Volcanoes" program in one day.
Speed record – 2 people: Alexander Abramov and Artem Gurshteyn (66 days).
Alexander Abramov – the first to complete the “Seven Volcanoes” program twice.
Alexander Abramov – the first to complete two programs, “Seven Summits” and “Seven Volcanoes”, twice.
Yuri and Karolina Lukyanov – the first father and daughter to complete the “Seven Volcanoes” program.
Aleksandr and Dmitry Tertychny – the first father and son to complete the “Seven Volcanoes” program.
And a number of ethnic and national championships that need to be clarified.

Mount Sidley from the plain

Alexander Abramov and Artem Gurshteyn

Yuri and Karolina Lukyanov 

Aleksandr and Dmitry Tertychny 

Hola! The 7 Summits Club group "Chiki i Piki" today climbed to an altitude of 4000 meters for better acclimatization, towards Plaza France, this is under the South Face of Aconcagua. In the afternoon there was a medical examination. Tomorrow we go to the Plaza de Mulas base camp, at 4300m. From where we will begin to actively prepare for the ascent of Aconcagua. The group's guides are Andrey Berezin and Viktor Volodin.

The 7 Summits Club guide Alexander Dorojukov reports from Chile:

 Chile is in touch. Our Pipi de Chat group sends greetings from the base camp! Today we moved to this cozy, beautiful place. On the way we drove through the desert, stopped to see a waterfall and had our first meeting with our goal, Mount Ojos del Salado. We had lunch and are resting. Tomorrow is a new day and new views.

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.

January 6. Greetings from the Atacama Desert, Chile, from the group “Zorros Rojos y otros”! Our morning at Laguna Rosa began with a run along the lake. And then Olya Moroz held a yoga class right in front of a flock of flamingos. Even the guanacas were curious about what we were doing, and they came closer.

After breakfast, we got ready and went to Laguna Verde. On the way, we stopped at a warm river called Lama. And a little later we saw Ojos in all its glory.

The camp at Laguna Verde amazed us with its beauty and comfort. A huge dining tent with electricity and internet, separate sleeping tents, super-stable toilets (which is extremely important in the strong Atacama winds).

Before dinner, we bathed in the hot springs. And celebrated Christmas.

Tomorrow we have acclimatization on the slopes of Ojos - we plan to walk at altitudes of 5500-5900.

Expedition leader Lyudmila Korobeshko and assistant leader Alexander Spirin. Hasta la vista!

Hola! The 7 Summits Club "Chiki Piki" group visited Puente del Inca in the morning. After that, we went to the Aconcagua National Park. We registered with the rangers. And then on foot to the Confluencia camp (altitude 3400). Tomorrow we are heading towards Plaza Francia. Group guides Andrey Berezin and Viktor Volodin.

The 7 Summits Club guide Alexander Dorojukov reports from Chile:

 Chile is in touch. Our Pipi de Chat group climbed the summit of the Mount of Seven Brothers today. Well, two of the “seven brothers”. The weather is magical, the views are awesome! All participants are in formation, enjoying the views. Tomorrow we are moving on.

The 7 Summits Club guide Dmitry Semenov reports from Argentina:

Greetings from the slopes of Aconcagua! Yesterday our super team "Dohodyagi" climbed Mount Aconcagua (6962m). The ascent took place in difficult weather conditions, namely wind, snow, poor visibility. But we held out and were able to reach the summit.

Super records from the 7 Summits Club. 19 (!) climbers at once on the summit of Sidley. 14 Russians completed the "Seven Volcanoes" project at the same time. And Alexander Abramov was the first in the world to complete the "Seven Volcanoes" program twice. Moreover, the second time in record time - in 66 days. Artem Gurshteyn also completed the "Seven Volcanoes" in 66 days. For the first time, the "Seven Volcanoes" program was completed by father and son - Alexander and Dmitry Tertychny. Plus, they are the first father and son to complete the "Seven Summits" and "Seven Volcanoes" programs.

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.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorojukov reports from Chile:

Chile is in touch. This is our new group named Pipi de Chat. We have started the expedition to the highest volcano in the world, Ojos del Salado. Yesterday was the day of the group's arrivals, and today we have already moved to the beautiful place of Santa Rosa. On the way we stopped at an abandoned mine and by lunchtime we arrived at our beautiful camp.