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 President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Antarctica:

Today our team moved from the Base Camp to the Low Camp in seven hours. The weather has finally improved. We set up tents, had lunch and are now getting ready for bed. Tomorrow, according to the plan, we climb to the end of the fixed ropes for acclimatization. And after that we will be ready to storm the summit.

 Photos from previous expeditions

A message from Antarctica dated December 10. Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, reports:

Today our team observed bad weather at the Vinson Massif base camp. Some of the groups went to the upper camps. But we stayed because the forecast is bad. In the afternoon, Artem and Kadyr ran to the Low Camp camp, checked the depot. The rest of the participants were resting from yesterday's hike. We were playing chess when we suddenly heard a cry that the tent was flying away, one tent was blown away by the wind. We started fighting the squall. Hell. We rushed to sprinkle all the tents with snow for 50-60 cm around with a snow shaft. The wind was getting stronger.  An hour later, all the tents, including the dining room, presented the appearance of snow caves. The strongest hurricane is expected tonight. Then the wind will weaken. And we're going to Low Camp.

The guides of the 7 Summits Club are Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev.

Friends, love the mountains, love nature, go to the mountains!  Congratulations on the International Mountain Day! The 7 Summits Club is always ready to help you with travel arrangements. Follow the updates of our programs.  Mountains should give us the happiest moments of our lives, and giving people happiness is our mission.

  If possible, leave the mountains clean after you!  And in general, do everything possible so that the mountains remain (become) a territory of freedom, a territory where you can meet with pristine nature, a place of joyful meeting with friends, a place you want to return to, where you want to bring children, where everyone will be happy!

UNO Official information

Women move mountains

The theme of this year's International Mountain Day (IMD) on 11 December will be Women move mountains.

Women play a key role in mountains' environmental protection and social and economic development. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture, and experts in traditional medicine.

Increasing climate variability, coupled with a lack of investment in mountain agriculture and rural development, has often pushed men to migrate elsewhere in search of alternative livelihoods. Women have therefore taken on many tasks formerly done by men, yet mountain women are often invisible due to a lack of decision-making power and unequal access to resources.

As farmers, market sellers, businesswomen, artisans, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, mountain women and girls, in particular in rural areas, have the potential to be major agents of change. When rural women have access to resources, services, and opportunities, they become a driving force against hunger, malnutrition, and rural poverty and are active in the development of mountain economies.

International Mountain Day 2022 is an opportunity to promote gender equality and therefore contribute to improving social justice, livelihoods and resilience. 

Get to know more about women in mountains and use FAO's, communication materials in all six UN languages, which are available on their website.

While Women move mountains is the suggested theme for 2022, countries, communities, and organizations are welcome to celebrate IMD through a theme that is more relevant to them.

Celebrate this International Day 2022 with your community and friends preparing an event or joining the conversation on social media using the hashtag #MountainsMatter. Pass on some of the key messages, or share about the important role of women in mountains, or post, or a photo of your favorite mountain.

Natural jewels we should treasure

Mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity. Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs.

Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation. As the global climate continues to warm, mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for millions of people.

This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures.

The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare to 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains. The first international day was celebrated for the first time the following year, 2003.

Its roots date back to 1992, when the document “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” (called Chapter 13), was adopted as part of the action plan Agenda 21 of the Conference on Environment and Development.

Most recently, the UN proclaimed 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. 

And here we are again gathering here, on the other side of the world in the Southern Hemisphere, when we have a cold winter in Russia, there is always sunshine, lots of light and warmth, delicious tart wine and the best steaks, endless pampas and numerous mountain peaks, amazingly beautiful snow-capped summits and fantastic glaciers, unique Patagonia and Iguazu waterfalls... It's all about Argentina, of course! The team of guides of the 7 Summits Club gathered in Mendoza yesterday on the eve of the upcoming season in Aconcagua, and it promises to be long and eventful.  By the end of February, dozens of lucky people will try to realize their dreams with us. Aconcagua, 6962 m, always attracts climbers with its exclusivity - the highest point of America, the second highest peak of the Seven Summits program, a unique corner of the world in the Andes mountain system. And we have a lot to do to ensure that our groups receive everything necessary for the successful completion of the program. In the next few days we will reactivate our casts, check all the equipment, buy the necessary equipment and food for high-quality operation of the Base and high-altitude camps.  There is a lot of work to be done, and we will do everything possible, put our whole soul into providing our groups with the highest level of service. If you still have doubts about participating in the ascent program on Aconcagua, discard them! We are waiting for you!

From Mendoza, the guides of the 7 Summits Club are Viktor Volodin, Andrey Berezin, Dmitry Semenov and Valery Myasoyedov.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from the Union Glacier camp in Antarctica:

A message from Antarctica, from the Union Glacier camp. The Vinson-22 team.  Today we got up at 6 am.  At 7 o'clock the team went to the airport, where we were met by a comfortable Boeing. Each passenger here is entitled to 3 seats, a whole row. Therefore, our flight to Antarctica was successful, without any adventures. We flew over the Drake Strait for a long time and then saw through the portholes a snow-white continent surrounded by ice shelves and icebergs. On the edge were the mountains of Alexander Island.

The weather is really clear. Only a strong wind at high altitude. We landed gently, if you can say that about landing on bare ice. The Union Glacier camp was met with comfort and delicious food. Everyone happily began photographing Antarctica. Today they started sending groups to the Vinson Base Camp. We were supposed to take the second flight. We had lunch. The first two groups flew away.  And then they announce to us that today there is a strong wind at Vinson Base Camp and our flight is canceled. So we also had a delicious dinner. We put up our tents. And now we are getting ready for bed. We hope to fly to the mountains tomorrow morning. Guides Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from the plane:

A new style. Now we fly on a Boeing. That it is comfortable to sit. And even sleep. There were also no windows in Ilyushin. And now we will be able to photograph Antarctica and the Vinson Massif from an altitude of 10,000 m.

There are even flight attendants on the plane. They give nuts and show a movie. Amundsen and Scott's time is going away forever.

There will be no Internet for the next 2 weeks. And thank God! But we will send the news. Since the guides have 2 satellite communicators.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Chile:

So three days of the restaurant-excursion and packaging-gathering life of our team in the glorious and beloved city of Punta Arenas are coming to an end.  It is the southernmost city in South America. Everything is collected, PCR tests are passed, boarding passes are received.

Our team of 8 participants from 5 countries (India, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Russia) is ready to fly to Antarctica on the Vinson Massif. Also, two participants are flying with us, whose goal is the South Pole. Tomorrow the flight is scheduled for 8 am. According to the forecast, the weather is windy. The guides of the 7 Summits Club are Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev.

President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov reports from Chile:

The season of expeditions of the 7 Summits Club in Antarctica begins. Guides Alexander Abramov and Artem Rostovtsev flew to the best city in South America, Punta Arenas. Lena Abramova was already waiting for us here. On the plane, quite by chance, we were sitting next to the owner of Adventure Consultants Guy Cotter. We have already met him many times in Antarctica and on Everest.

Now work is underway: to check and pack equipment, purchase products. Everything needs to be scrupulously checked and packed. After all, there are no shops in Antarctica, and if we forget something, no one will help us.

The day after tomorrow, December 4th, the first our team flies in. In it we have 8 participants on the Mount Vinson and 2 participants for ski trip to the South Pole. The season of Antarctica begins!  In the season there will be a second group to the highest peak of Antarctica - Vinson Massif, also 8 people, and two more participants will go to the highest volcano of Antarctica – Mount Sidley.

Guides Abramov Alexander and Artem Rostovtsev. And our permanent manager of Antarctica Lena Abramova.

On November 26, the regular, annual Gala Evening of summing up the results of the year of the Russian Mountaineering Federation took place. In its preparation and conduct, the 7 Summits Club was a key organization. For many years of holding such events, the Illusion cinema seemed to be the most suitable, the most cozy and hospitable place. The only, but important minus – there were not enough seats. And for the rest, it turned out to be a very sincere and festive meeting of friends, veterans and youth, masters and beginners, athletes and amateurs. I think all the participants received a good charge of energy, and returned home with renewed vigor, with new plans and hopes. But with more optimism. Thanks to the federation, thank you to us, the 7 Summits Club.

An important part of the program was honoring climbers of Mount Everest in 2022. The 7 Summits Club has established a special award - the order, which is awarded to climbers who have climbed the highest peak in the World for the first time. At this evening, 12 people received it. The President of the 7 Summits Club, Alexander Abramov, also presented several climbers with another award, which he also invented himself. This is the order of the "Climber to the Seven Summits". At this gala evening, it was received by several climbers who could not attend the first presentation of this award in June this year.

New Everest summiters

They completed "The Seven Summits" programme 

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from Nepal:

Namaste frome Nepal! The trekking program to the Everest Base Camp through the Gokyo Lakes has ended. All members of the group were awarded commemorative medals and certificates. We wish them all new peaks and visit new mountain regions and countries! The autumn season in Nepal is over, see you in Nepal in the spring!

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

The group of the 7 Summits Club Bitcoin accepts congratulations. Today our small but cheerful group was on the roof of Africa. We were lucky with the weather, it was very beautiful at dawn, and the mountain was all white. On the descent, of course, everything has already melted, but everyone is happy.

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

Africa is in touch. Our “Bitcoin” group moved to the Barafu assault camp. We had a little lunch, dried things. We have an ascent at night. Now everyone has a sleep-drainage briefing. And at 12 a.m. we start. Wish us success!

On November 20, our Belarusian friends Anastasia and Konstantin Lapko made a successful ascent on the top of the Giluve volcano. In Papua New Guinea, they traveled according to the 7 Summits Club tour program with local guides. For the first time, representatives of the Republic of Belarus climbed the highest volcano on the Australian continent. Congratulations to our friends and we wish them a successful completion of the Seven Volcanoes program!

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

 Greetings from Africa from the Bitcoin group! Today we moved to the Shire camp. We woke up early, had breakfast and, with a 900-meter climb, we reached our destination in the rain. The weather was not pleasant, there are few views, everything is overcast. But we are moving towards our goal. Now the weather has cleared up a little and we can get out of the tent. And so, everything is fine with us.

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

Jumbo from Tanzania!  The new group named “Bitcoin” has started its program on Mount Kilimanjaro. We checked the equipment, packed everything in bags and went. The first day of our acclimatization was with rain and thunderstorms. At this time, the rainy season begins on the mountain, but we are not being watered much yet. We went up to the Machame camp, through a beautiful forest, now we are eating and going to rest.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from Nepal:

Namaste frome Nepal!  The group "Let's Gokio" came to Gorakshep, the highest loggia of 5200 meters, in front of the Everest base camp.  Where we went the next morning. The goal of the trek has been achieved, memorable photos and videos have been made.  Then our way goes to Lukla, where we will arrive in three days.

The 7 Summits Club Guide Svetlana Kotlyar from Papua New Guinea:

Greetings to all from Papua New Guinea from the group "SPAPUANATY"!  Yesterday we continued the excursion program and together with our local partner Mr. Pym visited his native village — Paiya Village. Here we spent almost the whole day watching the life of the locals.

A traditional dish "mumu" was prepared especially for us — a pig cooked underground, lined with hot stones and banana leaves, as well as potatoes and sweet potatoes.  It turned out delicious!  There is a large pigsty on the territory of the village. Pigs are literally worth their weight in gold here. Pork is cooked extremely rarely - on big holidays, weddings, Christmas, it is very expensive. But pork can be exchanged for something more useful and necessary for the villagers.

There are also two huge flightless cassowary birds and a marsupial animal couscous. Mr. Pym showed us a small collection of artifacts: carvings, stone gods, shields.  While waiting for the preparation of mumu, the locals showed us a little performance, dressing up in bright costumes, decorating their faces and decorating themselves with colored feathers and shell necklaces. And after that, we joined their dances, which amused the local kids a lot!

Our program has come to an end, and today it's time to say goodbye to the mysterious and exotic Papua New Guinea! See you in March!

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Andrey Berezin reports from Nepal:

Namaste from Nepal!  News of the group "Let's Gokio". On November 16, we had a busy day, in the early morning we went out to climb the summit of Gokio Ri.  After 3 hours climb, all participants and guides stood on the top and enjoyed the panorama of the eight-thousand-meter Summits: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu. Then we went back down to the loggia, had breakfast and went through the Ngozumpa glacier to the village of Tagnak, which is located under the Chola Pass.

November 17th.  The group "Let's Gokio" successfully passed the Chola Pass. Now we are in the Dzongla loggia, drinking tea. The weather was wonderful. Crossing the 5,300-meter-high pass showed our excellent physical shape and morally strong-willed spirit.  Tomorrow we go to Gorakshep, from where we are already close to the Everest Base Camp.

The 7 Summits Club Guide Svetlana Kotlyar from Papua New Guinea:

Greetings to all from Papua New Guinea from the SPAPUANATY team!  Yesterday (November 16) our excursion program started!  After breakfast we drove to the town of Mount Hagen. First we visited the local market where vegetables and fruits are sold — a very colorful place! We bought watermelon and the ripest mangoes.

Today we got acquainted with three local tribes. They moved from one village to another through gardens and coffee plantations.

The first tribe we visited is called the Mud People. Their bodies were decorated with clay, and on their heads were huge clay masks weighing at least 10 kg. They showed a small performance, after which our local guide Raphael told about their culture and lifestyle. According to legend, they were defeated by an enemy tribe and had to flee to the Asaro River. They waited until dusk before trying to escape. The enemies saw them rising from the muddy banks, covered with mud, thought they were spirits and fled in fear.

 The next village is a 30-minute drive away. Here, to the beat of the drums, we were given a performance by the famous Huli Wig tribe. They decorate their faces with traditional Papua flowers and wear headdresses made from their own hair and feathers of the bird of paradise.

The last tribe that we managed to get acquainted with is a Man from Cimbu. Here the aborigines decorated their bodies with charcoal and clay, copying spirits with skeletal bodies.  It is believed that these spirits are deceased people from their tribe who have returned to help and heal them from diseases.  

And in the evening we had a festive dinner, presentation of certificates and medals for climbing.

The 7 Summits Club Guide Svetlana Kotlyar from Papua New Guinea:

 Day one: transfer to the Base camp at an altitude of 3700. After an early breakfast, we got into the car and went to meet our volcano Giluwe. We drove from the lodge for about an hour. Here we met with a team of our porters and guides. The main guide of them Stanley is a man of 40 years old with a fairly good English, which he learned while communicating with tourists.

 The first part of the route passed through a dense rainforest. It is almost always wet and rainy in Papua, the day before the downpour went until 2 a.m., so rubber boots, capes on backpacks and raincoats are a very important element of the outfit. Stanley deftly cut a path for us with a machete, freeing the path from unnecessary overhanging branches, at the same time telling about the culture of the locals.

 — Wet leaves of this plant can be washed, they are very refreshing. There are a lot of useful plants growing in our forests and we know how and for what they can be used.

 He showed trees whose leaves are used to build roofs of houses. We saw a beautiful Bird of paradise, which is a symbol of the country. We are as much a curiosity to Papuans as they are to us. The locals are watching us with great interest, looking at clothes and various little things that are familiar to us, but unfamiliar to them.

 After a couple of hours of trekking, we left the forest and got into a meadow area, walking parallel to the river. The ground under our feet is quite swampy, but on the first day we did not use rubber boots, we managed with trekking shoes. The entire track took about 6 hours, about 13 km long with a climb drop of 1000 m. Closer to three o'clock in the afternoon, the rain began and continued until 2 a.m., forcing us to worry about tomorrow's exit to the mountain.