All news: 2011

On November 7 of a 7 Summits Club team climbed the highest volcano in Mexico and all North America, Orizaba (5700m): All our members reached the summit.

So we met a holiday, which was once a day on November 7. By the way, Mexico - a country of the first victorious socialist revolution. In general, everyone is happy and healthy. Best regards !

We congratulate all the members of the expedition:

Vladislav Lachkarev

Olesya Lelyushkina

Roman Lerner

Sergei Pikkat-Ordynsky

Igor Pokhvalin

Olga Rumyantseva

The famous Russian traveler Fyodor Konyukhov was today a guest of the 7 Summits Club. He came to say goodbye before a long expedition to Ethiopia. In particular, Fedor and his team is going to climb all the highest points of this country. Alexander Abramov and Ludmila Korobeshko discussed with him a program of trekking to the foothills of Mount Everest in April and May 2012. Fedor wants to organize a group with participation of Orthodox priests.

Fyodor Konyukhov, who was the first Russian climbed Seven Summits and reached two Poles. They have discussed various travel ideas, tell each other about their adventures and climbs, about Antarctica and Mount Everest.

Previous information

http://7tops.com/newsarchive/all_1/date_2011_2_9_1/item_2270/

The season of 2011-2012 marks the centenary of Amundsen's and Scott's expeditions to the South Pole. Many expeditions have already started and many arrive to Punta Arenas and waiting for next flight to Antarctica. Almost all of them devote their travel to Amundsen's or Scott's Centenary celebrations, paying homage to the courage and determination of these great men and their colleagues. Among them two our travelers Victor Bobok and Igor Grishkov who take part in the South Pole Jubilee Expedition 1911-2011.

List of expeditions

 http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/news.html

South Pole Jubilee Expedition 1911-2011

Norwegian polar explorers Christian Eide and Borge Ousland have organized a South Pole Jubilee Expedition. The Jubilee teams will follow Amundsen's 700 km route up the Axel Heiberg Glacier, arriving at the South Pole by December 14. Along the way they plan to climb Mt Nansen, which has only had one previous ascent. In 2010 Christian Eide set the World record for fastest solo unsupported ski to the South Pole in 2011, while Borge Ousland completed the first solo Antarctic crossing in 1996 and was the first person to ski solo, with no re-supply to the North Pole.

Sørpolen 1911-2011

Sørpolen 1911-2011 will follow Amundsen's route from the Bay of Whales to the South Pole, covering the distance in the same number of days as the famous explorer. Led by Jan-Gunnar Winther, head of the Norsk Polarinstitutt, this expedition will showcase Norwegian polar history and spotlight current climatic and environmental challenges. The Expedition is part of the Nansen-Amundsen Year that honors both Amundsen's South Pole conquest and 150 years since the birth of Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen.

http://sorpolen2011.npolar.no/en/ (English)

The South Pole - 100 Years After

Asle Johansen crossed Greenland in 1988, one hundred years after Nansen, using period clothing and equipment. Now Johansen will celebrate the Amundsen Centenary in a similar fashion, with teammates Agnar Berg and Gaute Grindhaug. The three Norwegians will follow Amundsen's Axel Heiberg route from the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole using replica clothing and equipment to better understand Amundsen's journey. Johansen, a physician and researcher specializing in the body's response to extreme physical and mental stress, emphasizes that this is not just a replica expedition, but a scientific journey.

http://www.nansenamundsen.no/no/events/okt/asle-t-johansen-sorpolekspedisjon.html (Norwegian)

South Pole 1911-2011

Albert Bosch and Carles Gel from Spain will ski unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. They plan to arrive by December 14 and thus commemorate Roald Amundsen's historic feat.

http://www.albertbosch.info/en/minisite/29/

Hvitserk Ski South Pole

Norwegian Outfitter Hvitserk will lead an Anniversary South Pole Expedition. The team will follow the 'Messner Route' and ski unsupported to the South Pole, arriving by December 14 to join the Amundsen Centenary celebrations.

Steffen Dahl

Norwegian Steffen Dahl is skiing to both North and South Poles in 2011 to honor the achievements of Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Dahl reached the North Pole on April 11 and will ski alone and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole.

http://polfarer.no/ (Norwegian)

Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race 2011-12

Two teams. Two routes. Skiing unsupported to the South Pole. Six members of the British Army will re-trace Amundsen's and Scott's routes to the South Pole, in a tribute to the courage, determination and pioneering spirit of these great explorers. The Amundsen team, led by Henry Worsley (Shackleton Centenary Expedition 2008) will depart from the Bay of Whales, cross the Ross Ice Shelf and ascend the Axel Heiberg Glacier. Mark Langridge (solo to the Pole 2008) will lead the Scott team from Cape Evans, across the ice shelf and up the Beardmore Glacier. Both teams expect to cover their distance in about 70 days, arriving at the South Pole in early January.

http://scottamundsenrace.org/

One Call Wintercamp

Nine Norwegian skiers will ski and kite-ski from 88° 30'S to the South Pole. The expedition celebrates Roald Amundsen's dream to achieve something many believed was unattainable.

http://www.onecall.no/wintercamp2011/ (Norwegian)

Ski Last Degree Expeditions

A number of Antarctic enthusiasts, including the Norwegian Prime Minister, will ski shorter distances to the South Pole in celebration of the Amundsen and Scott Centenaries. Many of the groups will ani ski last degree, the last 60 nautical miles, taking from 7 to 10 days to complete their journey.

Other Antarctic Crossing and Ski South Pole-Return Expeditions

Kaspersky ONE Transantarctic Expedition

Felicity Aston (2009 Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Expedition Leader) is heading back to Antarctica - this time solo. Felicity will make a 1700km, 65-day journey, becoming the first woman in the world to cross Antarctica alone. The documentary film about Felicity's 2009 expedition will be screened at the Banff Mountain and Dijon Adventure Film Festivals this November. But don't expect to see Felicity there!

http://www.kasperskyonetransantarcticexpedition.com/

Aleksander Gamme

Aleksander Gamme will ski solo from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, then turn around and ski solo back to the edge of the Antarctic continent. Inspired by Amundsen. Gamme admits to feeling "humble" when he thinks about the physical and mental challenges of being alone in the icy wilderness for so long.

Mark George

Explorer and motivational speaker Mark George plans to ski solo and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, then return by kite-ski to the coast, for a total of 2,300 kms.

http://www.searchingforsanta.com.au/

Crossing the Ice

Two Australians Justin Jones and James Castrission will trek from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, without assistance of any kind. Their expedition will raise funds for You Can, a fundraising campaign to build specialized youth cancer centres across Australia.

http://casandjonesy.com.au/expeditions/crossing-the-ice/

South Pole and Back - Ski and Kite

Polar explorer and speed-record holder Richard Weber will lead a 35 day, unsupported trek from the "Messner Start" on the Filchner Ice Shelf to the South Pole. From the South Pole the team will kite-ski back to Hercules Inlet at the edge of the continent.

http://www.weberarctic.com/

Ski South Pole - Messner Start and Hercules Inlet

ANI Ski South Pole Messner

ANI guide Hannah McKeand holds the record for most ski expeditions from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole - and this year she will again cross the icy continent. McKeand and fellow ANI guide Charlie Patton will lead two ANI Ski South Pole - Messner teams to the South Pole.

Pole to Pole Run

When endurance runner Pat Farmer starts his Antarctic expedition, he will already have run two marathons every day, no days off, for almost a year and clocked nearly 13,000 miles through 14 countries. This is the last leg on an incredible trek from the North Pole to the South Pole to raise $100 million for the International Red Cross.

http://www.poletopolerun.com/

Mark Wood

"The North South Solo expedition has been classed as the toughest expedition on the planet." But this is exactly what polar explorer Mark Wood plans to undertake. He will ski from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. Then next spring, head to the Canadian Arctic to ski solo to the North Pole.

PolarExplorers Ski South Pole - Hercules

This guided expedition will traverse from Hercules Inlet at the edge of the Antarctic continent, to the South Pole.

Thompson Reuters Eikon South Pole Expedition

It's about challenge and proving greener technologies for Polar exploration, says their website. This expedition will attempt to beat the overland record to the Pole in a specially-built, efficient, bio-fuelled vehicle. They will use solar panels to further reduce their carbon footprint and real-time GPS Satellite communications and tracking.

http://thomsonreuterseikon.com/south-pole-expedition/

Counterterrorist operation (CTO) in the Elbrus and the part of the Baksan regions of Kabardino-Balkaria canceled on November 5. The head of the Kabardino-Balkaria Arsen Kanokov said that the CTO regime will be off to the beginning of winter ski season. The CTO regime throughout the Elbrus and the Baksan areas of Kabardino-Balkaria was introduced February 20, 2011.

«…because of continuing threat of subversive and terror acts, the republic keeps all its mountain resorts near Elbrus closed for tourists. In order to prevent possible threats to life and health of people, being guided by Article 11 of the Federal Law 'On Counteracting Terrorism', during a counterterrorist operation (CTO) regime, it was prohibited to let tourist groups and individual tourists to the ski resort near Elbrus, which is inside the CTO area,"

Welcome !

Elbrus - is invaluable pride and property №1 among the main miracles of Russia. The greatest mountain of Europe! One of the seventh of most magnificent highest tops that hold a firmament on different continents of our planet.

The material has been made during small travel to Caucasus and ascension to Elbrus from February till March, 2011. Despite heavy weather conditions, we still were able to embody some beautiful fragments of life of this wonderful mountain.

Enjoy viewing!

video from Vladimir Voychuk

Latest news from JSC "Northern Caucasus Resorts”

03.11.2011

THE AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW ABOUT SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES WILL ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTORS TO THE NORTH CAUCASUS

JSC "Northern Caucasus Resorts” agrees with the changes to the law on special economic zones, which were coordinated with environmentalists. On the November 2 The State Duma at the second reading passed thе version of the legislation that as far as possible ensures conservation of the reserved areas and at the same time privides conditions for the effective development of the touristic zones.

Earlier, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NCR Akhmed Bilalov was categorically against submitted to the Duma edition of the bill and insisted on its correlation with the views of influential environmentalists. "The tabled version of the law is presented as dictated by the needs of the North Caucasus tourism cluster. However, some officials have tried to put into this law all their problems which they did not want to solve for many years. We will ensure, that the changes will affect only those sites that are being developed within the special economic zones for tourism and recreation under strict government control”, - said Bilalov.

During further consultations a mutually acceptable version of the bill was developed. "The new version of amendments accordes with most of the claims of environmentalists," - said in a statement of WWF Russia. "We managed to find formulations that allow the development of environmental management in the biosphere ranges - that is their primary goal, but it does not entail damaging effects as the previous bill project, - said Igor Chestin, director of WWF-Russia.

Akhmed Bilalov expressed his confidence that the accepted amendments to the law on special economic zones will not harm protected areas.and will contribute to the effective development of the North Caucasus region will attract private investors to the tourism projects in the south of Russia.

"The bill provides tax deduction for residents of tourist-recreational SEZ for a period up to 2023, greatly simplifies the form of land use and technical regulations. The preferences, which are established by the bill are extremely attractive for investors ", - said Bilalov. He also reminded that the project of the North Caucasus tourism cluster will create in the region more than 300 thousand new jobs.

*** The project of the tourism cluster in the south of Russia in 2011-2020 involves the construction of five world-class mountain resorts: Lagonaki (Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Adygea), Arkhyz (Karachay-Cherkessia), Elbrus-Bezengi (Kabardino-Balkaria), Mamison (Republic of North Ossetia - Alania), Matlas (Republic of Dagestan). The planned total length of ski runs will be almost 900 km and they will have 179 ski lifts. The hotels with varying comfort levels will accommodate 89 000 people. Daily capacity of the resorts will reach 150 500 people and each year the North Caucasus tourist cluster will be visited by 5 to 10 million tourists.

The total cost of the ski project is estimated at 451 billion rubles. The project is financed by a public-private partnership. Government invests via "NCR" corporation 60 billion in transport and utilities infrastructure, private business is financing the facilities of resort infrastructure.

The Russian government is considering the inclusion of the coastal area of the Caspian Sea (Dagestan), Caucasus Mineral Waters (Stavropol Territory) and the Republic of Ingushetia to the North Caucasus tourism cluster project.

Hi all! This is Dmitry Ermakov from the expedition to Mera Peak. Today, almost all the members of our expedition has reached the summit of Mera Peak! Unfortunately, one of our participants couldn't reach the summit and stoped his ascent 200m before the top. All participants feel fine. Today we start the descent and then go back to Kathmandu. Everything is fine. Dmitry Ermakov.

The participants of the expedition:

    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader 

1.    Apal'kov Alexander
2.    Dmitry Barabanov
3.    Sergey Dmitriev
4.    Alexander Dubinkin
5.    Kirill Ants
6.    Andrey Podolyan
7.    Vitaly Simonovic   
8.    Alexander Sobolenko 
9.    Mikhail Filippov
   

10. 

The southern slopes of Mount Elbrus will be open to all visitors, probably from 1th December. Counter-terrorist operation is not canceled and may be even remain. However,  no special restrictions on the visit will be exist. Cable cars, damaged by terrorists, are fully restored. Hotels are preparing to meet skiers. In the spring we are waiting for ski tourists, then the race in Elbrus. We hope that next summer will be in normal.

Elbrus area qualifies as a backup venue for ski competitions of the Olympic Games in 2014. Authority promise a beginning  large-scale construction works in nearest future.

Fresh pictures from the Elbrus Regin (from risk.ru)

Mount Cheget - an extreme skiers paradize

Majestic Donguz-Orun

Meanwhile, Olympic Organizing Committee announced plans for the torch relay....

Author: Stefan Korshak.

Relay runners will for the first time carry the Olympic flame to the North Pole, Russian organizers of the 2014 Winter Games said on Tuesday.

 Dmitry Chernyshenko. Archive picture: Yuri Kochetkov

"The most ambitous relay race" ever attempted with an Olympic flame will also take the fire into space and across a 5,000 metre mountain, Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of Russia's Olympic committee, told the news agency Itar-Tass.

A trip for the flame into space, possibly involving the International Space Station (ISS), will be a major challenge, as will be taking the fire to the summit of the 5,642-metre-high Mount Elbrus, Russia's tallest mountain and the highest peak in Europe, Chernyshenko said.

The Olympic flame is scheduled to arrive in Moscow from Athens in October 2013 and then to travel in relays just under 9,000 kilometres to the Pacific port Vladivostok.

In the remaining 123 days until the Olympic Games, running from February 7 to 23, the flame and its carriers will follow a route of more than 40,000km through all 83 major cities in Russia's regions, Chernyshenko said.

More than 30,000 volunteers will participate in the flame relay, he said.

The 22nd Winter Olympic games are scheduled to be held from February 7 to 23, 2014, in the Black Sea port city Sochi and in the adjacent Caucasian mountain resort Krasnaya Polyana.

Independent, Ski visit into Krasnaya Polana

Nid d’Aigle should re-open only in spring 2013. Following this summers closure of the last segment up to the Nid d’Aigle on the Tramway du Mont Blanc, it has now been announced that this stretch of the line will be remain closed until spring 2013.

Important safety work needs to be carried out to protect the track whilst new tracks are to be laid. With this in mind, the final leg of the tram track will not be open to the public.

Mountaineers planning to climb Mont Blanc will be able to carry on to Mont Lachat, between Bellevue and Nid d’Aigle. The Tete Rousse should still be accessible on foot via the Chemin des Rognes and Les Ruines, allowing alpinists a safer route around the danger zone.

Hi all! This is Dmitry Ermakov from Lukla. After a long delay due to weather conditions and congestion of air traffic, today we arrived in Lukla.  But, nevertheless, at 17 o'clock we were at the right place. Today we decided to stay in Lukla, as tomorrow will be a very big move and we decided to enjoy another day comfort, good coffee, delicious pastries and the internet. Today we decided to stay in Lukla, because tomorrow we have easy day. We decided to enjoy another day of comfort, good coffee, delicious pastries and the Internet. Tomorrow we're moving in the Putang  village and the day after tomorrow we leave on our first pass. All members feel very good, weather is wonderful.  Bye everyone!

The participants of the expedition:

    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader 

1.    Apal'kov Alexander
2.    Dmitry Barabanov
3.    Sergey Dmitriev
4.    Alexander Dubinkin
5.    Kirill Ants
6.    Andrey Podolyan
7.    Vitaly Simonovic   
8.    Alexander Sobolenko 
9.    Mikhail Filippov

Hi, 7 Summits! This is Dmitry Ermakov from Kathmandu. Today we have met the remaining members of our trekking, checked in to the hotel, after that everybody had a great tour around Kathmandu, and visited the main attractions. Andrey Padolyan and Dmitry Barabanov went bungee jumping, they all turned out well and got a lot of emotions.
Now we are in the famous restaurant Rum Doodle celebrating beginning of the expedition. Tomorrow, early in the morning, we all take off at Lukla and begin tracking part of the expedition. Everybody feel   very well. Buy everyone!

The participants of the expedition:

    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader

1.    Apal'kov Alexander
2.    Dmitry Barabanov
3.    Sergey Dmitriev
4.    Alexander Dubinkin
5.    Kirill Ants
6.    Andrey Podolyan
7.    Vitaly Simonovic   
8.    Alexander Sobolenko 
9.    Mikhail Filippov

Today, October 21, starts new program of the 7 Summits Club in Nepal - ascent to Mera Peak! Previously, all our groups sought closer to the Everest - at Kalapatar or Island Peak. In this program the expedition will go in the opposite direction to the summit of Makalu, climbing in quite wild places. So many nights  our group will spend in tents.

The head of the expedition Dmitry Ermakov flies in Nepal today. Dmitry will have to finish the last preparations for the arrival of the group and host a banquet in the legendary Rum Doodle  which honored our club, which included a large number of climbers to the Everest.

The participants of the expedition:

1.    Dmitry Ermakov - guide, expedition leader
2.    Apal'kov Alexander
3.    Dmitry Barabanov
4.    Sergey Dmitriev
5.    Alexander Dubinkin
6.    Kirill Ants
7.    Andrey Podolyan
8.    Vitaly Simonovic   
9.    Alexander Sobolenko 
10.    Mikhail Filippov

As many people all over the world the members of 7 Summits Club were shocked at receiving the tragic news on Steve Jobs death.

To honor the memory of this outstanding person we decided to organize an expedition to Nepal in spring 2012. Our team will climb one of the nameless peaks in the Himalaya and will name it after Steve Jobs. As well known he was a buddist hence the choice of the region.

We invite everybody to take part in this expedition. You will have a chance to get to the summit where no one has been before and thus honor the memory of Steve Jobs.

The tentative dates of the expedition

Join us!

Hi everyone!
Almost all the guide and managers of 7 Summits Club comes in the Crimea, and not just relaxing, but also to gain new knowledge and skills of the profession of mountain guide. But let’s start from the very beginning!

On Saturday evening we arrived in the glorious village of Simeiz.

Of course, in the first day we did not have lessons, but staged a night swimming in the Black sea. Honesty to say, not all the guides of 7 Summits ventured on it's, but those who has found the forces in itself for this were satisfied and happy:)

In Sunday we started with lectures about medicine in the mountains, from our friend, Dr. Igor Pokhvalin. Igor gave us a short course about a typical disease in the mountains, the psychological aspect in the work of a mountain guide and about the specific of high-altitude ascents.

After this, despite the rain, we went to practice our skills on the rocks. Our team was split up into two groups, with one works instructor - Denis Saveliev, on the other Igor Pekhterev.

The first trainee on the rocks

Judging by the exhausted, but still pleased faces of our guides, all have a lot of enthusiasm for learning, and working hard receiving new knowledge.

Our instructor Igor Pekhterev and the doctor and mountaineer Igor Pokhvalin. Experience exchanging

 Instructor Dan Saveliev shows how Canadian guides makes the ancors

On Monday we continued our training, learning to properly work with the client in short rope, walking with him on the rocks, and much more. On the same day we were joined by our chef - Alexander Abramov.
These are the routes we climb.. for warm-up)))

On Tuesday, we plan improvement of skills of work on a rocky terrain, and certainly a lot of new and interesting things!

Buy everyone, the Team of the 7 Summits Club!

We just received the long-awaited message from Alexander Abramov. THE WHOLE GROUP! climbed successfully  to the top and now goes on to the Caspian sea celebrate the victory. We congratulate all the members of the expedition and looking forward to read the detailed report about the events of summit day.

Hello, Alexander Abramov speaking from the expedition to Damavand. Today, all the group in a single impulse has made an ascent on the top of the Tuchal mountain, 3990m. The peak and climb were very interesting. Now we have moved to Reineh village where we will spend the night in a stylized house. Tomorrow we leave at 8 in the morning, and at 9 we will begin the ascent to the mountain hut 4200 m, from where the day after tomorrow we will start climbing to the top of Mt. Damavand. Good-bye.

Hello! Today our team visited a very beautiful palace of Iran. Then we had dinner and drove in the direction of our mountain Tuchal 3990 m. Then began our climb to the hut. It it usually takes about 3-4 hours.But it was very hot,  so we walk longer, about 5 hours, stayed often, but, in general, all climb, everyone is happy.

We came to the mountain hut.  It is nice four floors shelter, almost the hotel. Here is the dining room, rooms, there are no beds, but on the floor are placed mattresses, blankets and pillows and all this on the Persian carpets that is all very cool.

Nearby there is a river, a waterfall. It is very beautiful place. All is very hospitable.

Tomorrow, we are planning the first in the history of our team of climbing a mountain Tuchal 3990 m. It is planned that we start about six in the morning and at 12 o'clock we have to be in the summit. Here we have such plans, everyone is happy, everything is fine. Tomorrow, hopefully from the summit, I call once again.

"We are at height of 3800 m. Early morning. We are ready to start climbing. I've just measured indicators of oxygen at all participants. It's ok! We continue the ascension. Everything is ok. Everybody feel good. We hope for good weather in day of our ascension. Bye!"

"Everything is ok. Yesterday we have risen on height 3700м, today we continue our ascension. Everybody feel good (even in spite of the fact, that people are in mountains at first time). Our company is cheerful. We hope, that further all also will be good. Good luck, Bye!"

Bobok Victor sends the message from slopes of mount Kilimanjaro: "Last night I have met the group. All guys are nice. Everything is ok. All of them have never been in mountains. Even Swisses, who live in highland, never went on ascensions. Now we go to Kilimandjaro National Park. And soon we'll leave on a route. All greetings, Bye!"