All news: 19 April 2010

Today we farewell to a long trip leaders of the expedition to Island Peak Olga Rumyantseva and Sergei Timofeev. They will ensure climb of this trekking peak for 13 climbers of different qualifications, combined with a dream to enjoy a view on beautiful Himalayan peaks of the world headed by Everest. And also they pass on the legendary trail from Lukla airport to the upper Khumbu valley and climb the mountain of Kala Patar. Few people can tell about Nepal as much as Sergei Timofeev, a master of sports from Yekaterinburg. For example he climbed all three summits of Lhotse in the three different expeditions by three different ways.

Team members:

Adinyaeva Aelita

Akhmetshin Rustem

Barsukov Stanislav

Belousov Gleb

Bermisheva Pauline

Ganzha Alexei

Kiselev Sergey,

Nebuchinov Roman

Nosov Mikhail

Oleg Pak,

Salnikov Marina

Dmitri Seliverstov,

Andrey Shlyapnikov.

Sergey Timofeev    Master of Sports in mountaineering, "Snow Leopard", winner of two gold and silver medals of the USSR championships, three gold, three silver and four bronze medals at the championships of Russia, member 5-Himalayan expeditions

The team arrived yesterday at Everest Base Camp (5200 meters). All of us were dizzy from the gain of over 1000 meters from Shegar. However, we were welcomed with a great lunch, and then got busy finding our gear and unpacking for the move up to ABC in a few weeks.

 For some out there, Everest Base Camp is something very hard to comprehend. 5200 meters is higher than Mont Blanc, and the barometric pressure (oxygen level) is about 60% of that where most of us normally reside. Nights at base camp are warm in the group tents, and people think that with all the luxury provided on such an expedition that this is an easy undertaking. The truth is that we must all head back to our tents and sleep in sub zero temperatures for the next 40 days!

 The one great thing going for us is that we have Alex and his guides looking out for us. We have a good level of comfort. The food is well prepared and the corners are not cut here. There are two doctors with us and we are all being monitored closely. The program is well structured and the first rule here is all about safety.

 So what is base camp like to live in? Well, currently there are 100 people waiting and acclimatising. There is a LOT of gossip going around. The big talk this year is of the boy who wants to climb Everest. Some think it is a publicity stunt, some who know the family think it is pressure from the parents to pick up where they left off, and some really dont give a damn. In any case this is the story on the north side.

 During our time in base camp, we will go for short walks, eat, read books, watch movies and avoid getting ill. There will be much speculation as to what teams have the best acclimatisation schedule, when the weather window will come, and which team is strongest.

 Our base camp is pretty well up the Rongbuk, just below the morraine dam. This keeps us isolated well from both the fierce Everest wind as well as rumors. It also is a shorter walk up to IBC, which is a great benefit...

 In any case all is well and we are all settling in. I am sure that everyone in the team wants to thanks their friends and family for allowing them the opportunity to pursue this great dream. We are all thinking of you.

 Best regards from Everest Base Camp, Tibet, China,

Jamie (on behalf of the 7 Summits Club Team)

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James Wilde
Managing Director & Founder
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