All news: May 2025

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, Head of the Everest expedition:

The Everest-2025 expedition is ending successfully. It was a difficult expedition, unstable weather. Many expeditions have not been without tragedies. Everything is consistently good with us. In 3 hours we are flying to Kathmandu. We will celebrate the victory.

And prepare for the production of the film "Space Everest".

The 7 Summits Club guide Alexander Dorojukov sends from the Elbrus region:

 Greetings from the Elbrus region! The "Don't panic" gang-team sends greetings from the top of Elbrus! We did it yesterday! The weather was perfect and allowed us to climb and return with good time. There was a light breeze, the views were gorgeous.

The 7 Summits Club guide Dmitry Semenov sends from the Elbrus region:

   Greetings from the Elbrus region! Our super team "Be Healthy" climbed Elbrus at the same time as our second group "Don't panic". Two groups of the 7 Summits Club stood together on the highest peak of our Motherland and all of Europe. The group's condition and the weather contributed to a successful ascent.

Message from the head of the Everest expedition Alexander Abramov:

 At 9:30, Hero of Russia, cosmonaut Sergey Ryazansky, cameraman Luis Lopez and 4 Sherpas of the 7 Summits Club ascended the summit of Everest. Their condition is good. They are starting their descent to the South Col. Where 3 more Sherpas are waiting for them.

7 Sherpas and 2 participants will begin their descent from the Col together. This is important for Safety.

Sergey Ryazansky became the first cosmonaut to reach the summit of Everest!!!

He is now the closest person on the planet to the stars.

We are filming a movie.

Watch the movie "Space Everest" on screens across the country in the fall of 2025.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, Everest expedition leader:

 I would like to briefly comment on the situation with high-speed ascents to Everest, which are now being discussed as a miracle.

 Previously, expeditions to the Himalayan eight-thousanders lasted 2-5 months. The team set up camps themselves, carried loads, acclimatized on the route. It took a month just to set up 4 high-altitude camps. Then - a week of rest and the assault. Only those who retained their strength reached the summit.

Gradually, they began to attract more and more Sherpas.

In 1993, our team had 9 people and 0 Sherpas.

In 2000 - 12 people and already 3 Sherpas.

Now - 2 Sherpas per participant and the expedition duration is 35-40 days.

 And now - a revolution.

While the Sherpas spend 3 months preparing the route, the "speed climber" acclimatizes at home - in a hypoxic tent or with xenon. Then he flies to the base camp by helicopter and quickly goes to the summit along the "ready route" with oxygen, accompanied by Sherpas.

As a result, the assault takes everyone 5 days, but before, it took months. Now - "artificial acclimatization" and a week-long hike.

 Is this good or bad?

It doesn't matter. Everyone has their own goals. Before, in order to run around the stadium, they built it themselves. Now - come, buy a ticket and run.

Perhaps it's time to reconsider the approach: if the participant does not participate in the preparation of the route, then it is not necessary to sit in the mountains for a month. Let him come when everything is ready - and in a week to the summit.

 But on one condition: preliminary acclimatization must be competent and safe - under the supervision of specialists.

 On the investigation of the "xenon" team in Nepal.

 Yes, it is true - an investigation has begun in Nepal regarding the use of xenon. Xenon is officially recognized as doping and is banned in sports competitions. But climbing Everest is not a sports competition, and from this point of view it is not entirely clear what exactly to accuse the British team of.

 On the other hand, it is unethical to announce a record, openly proud of having used doping. It is the same as publicly promoting psychoactive substances: "Expand your consciousness and conquer the peaks!"

I did it - and that's fine.

Personally, I do not think that this is a reason to seriously punish athletes. Moreover, I assume that all this hype is an excellent PR move by the organizers. I do not rule out that next year there will be even more xenon clients.

President of the 7 Summits Club, Everest expedition leader Alexander Abramov in Camp 2 at an altitude of 6,500 meters talks about the successful ascent of the first group and the unfortunate failure of the second. After analyzing all the factors involved, it was decided that the second attempt at the ascent would be made by Sergey Ryazansky, accompanied by cameraman Luis Lopez and four Sherpas. Due to the lack of oxygen supplies and their health, the remaining participants have descended or are currently descending and are heading home. And the expedition continues. The weather forecast is good, we hope that this time it will come true.

The 7 Summits Club guide Alexander Dorojukov reports from Elbrus:

Greetings from Elbrus! The "Don't panic" gang-team went for a walk to Pastukhov Rocks yesterday. It was a windy day. We only got to the bottom of the rocks, then we were blown away by a wind of about 50 km/h. In general, we got some fresh air yesterday. Today is a rest day before the final day.

All participants of the successful ascent of Everest by the 8000 Club group (leader Viktor Volodin) have descended and are safe. Now we can finally congratulate them on their outstanding personal achievement, on the fulfillment of their dream - the ascent to the highest peak of our planet. Congratulations! We wish you a quick recovery after the most difficult test, which was the finale of this expedition. New summits and new achievements, peace and prosperity! We will be waiting to meet you in Moscow!

 On May 19, the members of Viktor Volodin's group stood on the summit of Everest!

 Dmitry Pilshchikov - at 06:28

Andrey Kravchenko - at 08:30

Natalya Bryukhovetskaya - at 09:00

Valery Zaitsev - at 09:40.

The super-guide of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Dorozhuk sends from the Elbrus region:

Greetings from the Elbrus region! The gang-team "Don't panic" continues its acclimatization on the slopes of Elbrus. Today our group climbed to the National Park camp. After checking in, we walked to the Shelter of the Eldest. There we held snow and ice training. We figured out how to use an ice axe, what a carabiner is, crampons and everything else. We had a delicious lunch, rested, while a strong wind outside shook our carriages. Everything is great, let's keep working!

The leader of the Everest-25 expedition, President of the 7 Summits Club Alexander Abramov from the slopes of Everest:

On May 19, our first team in full force climbed to the summit of Everest. On the 19th, the second team climbed to the South Col in a strong wind. By evening, the wind had increased to 70 km/h. Having spent the night in jumping tents and the morning in tents with a torn vestibule, we decided to descend. Thus, we postponed the attempt to climb Everest to May 25 or 26.

 Now the team has descended to the second camp at 6500. And with the words "it was a good training session", we went to bed. In total, this year the 7 Summits Club has 12 permits for climbing, four of which have been realized.

Dmitry Semenov, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, reports from the Elbrus region:

 Greetings from the "Be Healthy" group from the slopes of Elbrus! More precisely, from a height of 3800 m, where our high-altitude camp National Park is located. Today we climbed and settled into our cozy trailers and went to snow training in the area of the Refuge of Eleven at a height of 4070 meters. There we worked on moving along a snow slope and a fixed rope, and also mastered the skill of self-arrest with an ice ax. After the training, a very tasty lunch from our cooks Zulya and Alla awaited us.

Unfortunately, a sudden, contrary to the preliminary forecast, increase in wind to a storm thwarted the attempt of Alexander Abramov's group to climb Everest. And the team of the Club 8000 led by Viktor Volodin, who had gone a day earlier, got into a tough time, especially on the descent. It remains to be hoped that the participants of the 7 Summits Club group will have enough strength and energy for a second attempt. And that the conditions will be ideal, or close to ideal.

 Latest news from the highest peak on the planet:

 Viktor Volodin's group

On May 19, the following were on the summit of Everest:

— Andrey Kravchenko and Dmitry Pilshchikov — at 08:30

— Natalia Bryukhovetskaya — at 09:00

— Valery Zaytsev — at 09:40

At the moment:

— Viktor Volodin and Natalia Bryukhovetskaya are already in Lukla, on their way to Kathmandu

— Dmitry Pilshchikov, Valery Zaytsev and Andrey Kravchenko continue their descent to Base Camp.

 Alexander Abramov's group:

— Alexander Abramov, Vasily Taradin — on the descent to Camp 2 (6,500 m), where they plan to wait for weather conditions for the second attempt at the ascent

— Sergey Ryazansky, Dmitry Demchuk — in Camp 2, where they plan to wait for weather conditions for the second attempt at the ascent

— Roman Sklyar is at the base camp.

 We are following the developments and sending strong support to all participants!

The 7 Summits Club guide Alexander Dorojukov reports from Elbrus:

Greetings from Elbrus! The new gang-team "Don't panic" began their acclimatization on the slopes of Mount Cheget. In the morning it rained, and in the afternoon a cold breeze drove us to lunch. In the evening we rented all the necessary things, tomorrow we are going further to the slopes of Elbrus.

The 7 Summits Club guide Dmitry Semenov reports from Elbrus:

Greetings from Elbrus! Today our new team called "Be Healthy" climbed the slopes of Mount Cheget to the famous cafe "Ai" (2700m) on the first day of acclimatization. There, in a comfortable environment, we drank mountain tea and tried chebureki with lingonberries.

Dramatic live broadcast from the South Col of Everest. Alexander Abramov from a tent at an altitude of 8000 meters. The strongest wind, it is not possible to go on the ascent. All members of Volodin's group climbed the summit of Everest and descended at least to Camp 4.

The 7 Summits Club has set another record! This time we held a live broadcast, in which the head of the Everest expedition, Alexander Abramov, was telling his story from Camp 3, at an altitude of 7100. Watch and listen, this has never happened before in history. And a continuation is promised - tomorrow a similar session, but from an altitude of 7900, from the assault camp located on the South Col of Everest. And then - from the summit. If we're lucky, of course.

Today, the 8000 Club team led by Viktor Volodin climbed to Camp 3 on the slopes of the "Lhotse Wall". Tomorrow they will climb to the South Col (7900), Camp 4 and set out to storm the summit. Alexander Abramov's team (7 Summits Club) moved from Camp 1 to comfortable Camp 2. And will spend the night at an altitude of 6500. So far, everything is going according to plan. Good luck to the climbers!

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Evgeny Fedyunin reports from the Elbrus region:

Hello everyone! The "Sneg i Volya"  (Snow and Will) group of the 7 Summits Club climbed to the top of Western Elbrus 5642m on May 16!!! The weather allowed us to enjoy the views of the Main Caucasian Ridge!

During the festive dinner, the participants received their well-deserved awards. And, starting with this group, the climbers will receive an additional numbered honorary badge for climbing Elbrus from the Russian Mountaineering Federation to our awards!

Guide Evgeny Fedyunin.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Dmitry Semenov sends from Elbrus region:

  Greetings from Elbrus region! Our super-team "Krasavchiki" made a successful ascent on the highest peak of our vast Motherland, as well as all of Europe, Mount Elbrus (5642 m). The weather for May was excellent, the condition of the group is excellent, ready for new challenges. Group guide Dmitry Semenov.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Viktor Volodin reports from Nepal:

A Nepalese namaste from the slopes of Everest to everyone! Information from the Everest-25 expedition. Today, the group of Alexander Abramov (7 Summits Club, VIP) left Base Camp for Camp 1 at the crack of dawn. By two o'clock in the afternoon, all participants had successfully reached the overnight location at 6100. The group of Viktor Volodin (8000 Club) had a good rest in Camp 1 and slowly went to Camp 2. The weather is hot and we all also safely reached our second camp. There is complete comfort here, including the Internet, which is only available at the 7 Summits Club and this is at an altitude of 6500. Tomorrow we leave early and move to the third camp at 7200. I hope everything will work out for us.