All news: 2015

Pictures and text by our friend, a guide Andrey Almazov 

Andrey Filkov completed his collection of climbing the highest volcanoes of the world. He made a successful ascent to the highest volcano of Asia Mount Demavend. We heartily congratulate him!

Our great friend, a member of the 7 Summits Club, fellow numerous expeditions, Andrey Filkov reached his next peak. It all started with a crazy idea - to climb Mount Everest a simple, sporty and wealthy man ... and went and went. Andrey - a serious and consistent man, a graduate as a physicist (!), a successful businessman. So he quickly learned how to behave in the mountains. His success is no surprise. Although we are still a bit surprised that Andrey over the years has become a real climber who goes beyond challenging routes program. And just as they say, from climbing motives.

List of Seven Volcanoes

 Orizaba, 02/05/2007

Elbrus, 19/07/2007

Kilimanjaro, 23/10/2007

Ojos del Salado, 02/13/2013

Giluwe, 10/21/2013

Sidley, 12/28/2013

Demavend - 09/20/2015

The Seven volcanoes program is successfully completed by not so many people, six climbers. Except for one, all are ours, from the 7 Summits Club.

What do wish Andrey? New challenges, new horizons to be achieved, a new dream!

Photos from Facebook of our hero:

More than ten participants gathered for this autumn trip on rocks. By the way, we plan to make it as a tradition. Most of the participants - are active members of our club and constantly involved in our expeditions.

The Captain of Club Alex Abramov leads the program personally. Early this morning he flew to Simferopol. Most of the participants were already at that time in the Crimea, they arrived a little earlier. Alex was delayed due to the participation in the demonstration of the film "Everest". Immediately upon arrival, he began his work, immediately went to the rocks with the guys to train, train and train again!

Some pictures from our previos Crimea training sessions:

Director General of the project Snob Marina Gevorgyan participated in the expedition 7 Summits Club on Everest in 2015. As is known, the expedition was aborted due to a strong earthquake. Marina hopes to return to Everest next year ....

Those who are trying to become the same height as the mountain, the mountain will prove your strength by many of ways. Especially if you are a woman who dare to embark on this path.

April 25th. Rongbuk Monastery, Everest Base Camp. Earthquake

In the morning a part of our expedition team is starting to the second acclimatization outing, now to the advanced base camp ABC at the altitude of 6400 m. I go with the TV crew of Valdis to visit the old monastery Rongbuk. From here until the destruction of the monastery in 1974, all successful and tragic Everest expedition went up the mountain. Rongbuk now is partially restored, there live some monks. The crew installs the equipment on a small platform at the top of the monastery, prepare shooting. Valdis notes that descends from the slopes of a herd of mountain goats. I'm going with a friend in the prayer room of the monastery. I was offered to go down to the cave. May be it was an animal instinct - I refuse.

Within seconds the ceiling above us begins to shake, the floor out from under his feet. We have run out of the room, a meter away from us is crumbling walls of the monastery. It comes the realization: Earthquake! I have experienced similar, so quickly guided. Female Tibetan women, picked up on the hands of a pretty adult daughter for a few seconds escapes from the height of the monastery. We also run down the track. However, where we have been ten minutes earlier, lies a huge boulder. We have to traverse virtually fly head over heels. Then we were waiting for the film crew. It takes an incredibly long ten minutes. Everyone in the group is alive, everybody went down, even the equipment is not damaged. They continued to shoot. We return to the camp

Most of the expedition had already gone up, there is no communication with them. I call home, managing to talk to my mother before she heard the news of the devastating earthquake in Nepal force of nearly eight points. Alexander (Alex) Abramov goes up the valley for the group. We pray for them and all those who is at this moment up at the narrow paths and glacier. By the end of the day we feel a few new tremors. There is no panic, we read news on internet, one becomes aware of the scale of the disaster. In the evening, Alex reported that the group is together , all are alive. None of the other groups, too, was not injured. The night was without sleep because of the uncertainty and experiences of those at the top. We understand that in this area we are now in the most successful place in tents on the plateau.

Read all in Russian

Night photo of advanced base camp ABC on Everest

No words.... The group of 25 clients and many guides (Alex Abramov as a leader) climbed the peak in harsh conditions...

Alexander Abramov continues to work with a large group of corporate customers under the special program ....

Hello! This is Alex Abramov from Kazakhstan, from the mountain camp Tuyuk-Su. Today our team with guides, in the amount of 25 people, made a successful ascent to the peak of Chimbulak. The climb was not as simple as we thought. We walked in ropes, wearing helmets on a quite ruined ridge. The height of the peak is about 3500 meters. All members did it, although for some it was quite hard. Today we spend the night in Tuyuk-Su and at night we go out on the ascent to the peak of Molodejny (Youth), which will take us probably hours 12. After that we will go down in Alma-Ata. All are doing well. Also today we had a lecture about a command formation...

Listen to audio message:

Photos by Alexander Abramov and Andrey Almazov

The film is based on real events on the Everest expedition in 1996. About this tragedy has been written a lot. I think almost all person related to mountaineering read a book of Krakauer or Bukreev, partially representing the two different points of view. And it was interesting how it will be present the events of those long years.

In Russia as for whole World, the official premiere is scheduled for September 24.

Now, there were screenings for the press, private screenings for experts in climbing ...
So yesterday evening there was an event organized by the Mountaineering Federation of Russia special for climbers before the premiere of the film, and the presentation of a new book by Ivan Dusharin "Stalkers of highlands."

Ivan Dusharin as always been smart, cheerful and happy, signed autographs and took pictures.
We barely managed to distract him for a photo session.
And here we are - mountain guides related to Everest, if not direct, then to commercial mountaineering. Four of the seven – many times climbed Mount Everest. While we were with Dennis, and Artem not spoiled the statistics, we counted 11 Everest climbs for four.

And now about the film ...

Heavy film. It's not entertaining humorous "Vertical Limit", not the usual Hollywood action.

Yes, there were certainly hacks. Not going to climb to eight thousand for half an hour. For half an hour that only for shoes lace does. Yes, there are some inaccuracies in gear and clothing. But the general that does not change the main.

In the film, there is no good and bad persons, there are no heroes and villains. There are the organizers of commercial climbing Everest, guides, Sherpas, the clients and the mountain, which does not care about all these human ambitions.

The film does not answer the question "Why". Rather, as the options are three different answers from the participants of expeditions: because there is a project of the 7 Summits, and it remained as the last; because at home it's not nice, but here is a happiness; because one realizing his dream you could inspire children in a small town ...

I think all this is nothing and explains nothing.

The film simply shows how it all happens. The streets of Kathmandu, mountain slopes, narrow hanging bridges - we have all seen it, the way it is. It shows how Buddhist flags fluttering in the wind; How is the snow; as people move jumars along the rope barely moving the legs. How to crawl to the top; how guides sign his own death warrant, choosing between what they must do and the desire to bring the person to the top. How does a man become a rag doll, unable to take a step; those who were at the bottom, understand everything, but can not do anything; and how, in the end, to die: at one point making a wrong move or slow freezing ...

It shows all the way as it is.

The company 7 Summits Club, where I work - one of the few in the world that has for decades organized annually commercial ascents of Everest.
Over the years I have seen a lot of things. People who have never been in the mountains, in two or three years carried out their dream to climb Everest. Adventurers who have asked to take them on an expedition without any experience. And this annual tension in the two days of climbing: how is it? did it? no? went down? what is the prognosis?

And there were those who died during the climb. And those who were miraculously saved. And the guides who did everything that people were on the top. And the same situation when climbing continued despite the fact that all the possible time limits have been exhausted.

This film is about us. About what all this could turn. Yes, normal companies are now much more seriously organize the expedition. More guides, sherpas, enough oxygen, fixed ropes. But the man - only a small dot on the mountain ... It is only here, on the plain, all of us - the universe. And there, on Everest - a speck of dust. The wind blew, and there was no man ...

Of course, it will be interesting to know opinions of people that are far from the mountains, after watching this movie.
On the evening there were mostly mountaineers. And if in the beginning, everyone was cheerful and animated, after watching they left the hall in silence and a bit depressed.

And I ... I had a strong desire for the next call, "Hello, I want to go to Everest" answer: "What? You are crazy? Do not go there ..."

Alex Abramov: Today guides of the 7 Summits Club Alex Abramov and Anastasia Kuznetsova and project participant Natalia Matusowa, arrived in the city of Alma-Ata ... We do not even know how much we have friends in Almaty ... they are much more than we expected . .... I have been not here about 30 years. Everything had changed, but the mountains remain the same. ..

First, we went to the ski resort Chimbulak with our friend Maksut Zhumayev. This place became about the level of good European resort.

Then we need to say a big thank to Yaroslav Sabyrbaev who met us, showed the city, fed dinner ...

In the evening, we were the center of attention at the pre-premiere of the film Everest. We were together with the leading climbers of the country. Among them, our friends on the expedition in 2007 Maksut Zhumayev and Vasily Pivtsov.

Tomorrow a group of corporate clients arrives from Moscow and we will begin our work in the mountains.

 September 12th  it was the culmination day of our trip to Poland.

At 3 a.m. a guide of the 7 Summits Club Artem Rostovtsev started on 100 km!!!

At 10 a.m. Nina Smirnova (the daughter of active members of our club Igor and Natalya and the participant of ascent on Olympe last year) started in special female running.

At 11 a.m. the main group came for start of running in 10 km:

- Konstantin Lavrentyev (active clubman of the 7 Summits Club)
- Igor Smirnov (active clubman of the 7 Summits Club)
- Sergey Larin (guide of the 7 Summits Club)
- Olga Rumyantseva (guide of the 7 Summits Club)
- Lyudmila Korobeshko (director of the 7 Summits Club).

At 15.00 for the most cheerful start (Smirnov' family came Fun Run - fancy-dress running).
(Igor, Nina and mother Natalya as support and with a requisite).

All runnings ended well. All of us received medals (and some on two medals)

And, of course, Artem who ran 100 km in 10 hours 58 minutes got the main congratulations and entered the first 15 people from nearly 1000 participants of running.

Pang Zygmunt Berdykhovski participated in Iron Run (these are about 7 runnings within 3 days, including a marathon and 64 km). Our Zygmunt is real Man of Iron!
And between runnings he even found time in short breaks to meet us:)))

September 17th, 2015 at the cinema Moscow park "Krasnaya Presnya" will be held a special screening of the film Russia Today «Three and Kilimanjaro." The film tells the story of young people with disabilities, who are trying to do something that sometimes can not afford many perfectly healthy people - to conquer the highest African peak, moving on prostheses.

Pokhil'ko Sasha, Sasha Shulchev and Vanya Gorbatenko with volunteers of charities had five days to climb to an altitude of almost 6000 meters. To learn how they managed to do it, and to hear about all of the guys you could on September 17 at 19:00 at the Summer Cinema Park Krasnaya Presnya. Entrance to the show is free. After viewing it will be a meeting with authors and characters of the film.

Authors of the film: Artem Vorobey and Alexander Avilov.

In June, 2014, Alex D'Jamoos and Sasha Pohilko climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro on prosthetic legs. With 11 companions, representing four charities the team made the the six-day journey to the summit of Africa's tallest mountain. D'Jamoos and Pohilko received their prosthetic legs through the "I Want to Walk" program, which helps orphaned children get life-changing prostheses and make their first steps towards independent life. The trip was organized by Happy Families International Center to bring attention to people in need and challenge the conception of what it means to have a "disability".

Trailer

Full film

http://www.rt.com/news/191316-orphans-kilimanjaro-disabled-charity/

Terrifying, inspirational: RT documents

disabled orphans’ Kilimanjaro climb

Three former orphans with severe disabilities attempt to make the grueling ascent to Africa’s highest peak to help Russian orphanages, in a new RT documentary.

“We’re trying to prove the disabled can do something healthy people consider impossible,” said Aleksandr Pokhilko, a Moscow art student who has staged four exhibitions, despite being born with no hands, as well as no legs.

The three men who took on Kilimanjaro met when they were still teenagers in an orphanage near Moscow, after being given up by their parents as babies due to their severe medical conditions.

“Many kids brought up in orphanages lack willpower to receive a decent education and find a proper work. They grew up seeing the world as if through a small window. When they leave the orphanage, it’s as if they’ve come from another planet,” said Pokhilko.

The three men went their own separate ways as adults, with one, Ivan Gorbatenko, reuniting with his parents, and another Alex D'Jamoos, now a student at Texas University, after being adopted by an American family.

For them, it was not just a chance to do good, but also to renew bonds.

But as the men began the four-day 26 mile ascent to the Uhuru Peak, located 5,895 meters above sea level, reality refused to co-operate with the storybook narrative.

Within hours D'Jamoos, who has no legs and severely restricted hands, realized that it was too slippery to use his prosthetics. He simply bandaged his feet, and put boxing gloves over his fingers, using them to slowly hop up treacherous terrain. When he encountered rocks, he was forced to simply crawl.

Ivan Gorbatenko, who suffers from severe scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, developed a fever, and was diagnosed with bronchitis by the team doctor. He had to be driven to a hospital from Horombo Camp, 3720 meters above sea level, before being discharged.

“Of course, I am gutted. But if I had the chance to do this again, I would say no,” a dejected Gorbatenko told the RT crew.

For Pokhilko, the end to the journey also threatened heartbreak. At Gilman’s Point, less than 200 meters short of the summit, the local guides told him that they would not risk his health by ascending with him.

“I could almost see the finish line, but I was spent, and thought I might collapse right here on the mountain,” said Pokhilko.

But together with D’Jamoos, he managed to reach the top, though even though both admitted that they were “glad it was all over.”

“I did it for our friends who weren’t able to come to the end. I promised I would, and I did! I dedicate my ascent to all those who are insecure and look for their place in the world. All I can say is, have faith in yourselves!” said D’Jamoos.

The men raised thousands for charities on both sides of the Atlantic and after what for two of them was the second attempt to scale Kilimanjaro, and will now face new challenges. While, Pokhilko plans to pursue his ambitions as an artist, D’Jamoos, who has been a prominent activist for orphans’ causes, will carry on campaigning for disabled rights and opportunities in Russia.

ROMAN REUTOV: It’s not a secret that this spring, we have organized an expedition to mount Everest from the North side, in conjunction with «7 Summits Club», «RD Studio», «RedFox» and «Yandex». The expedition was stopped in the middle, due to an earthquake magnitude of 8 – We were lucky that nobody from our Expedition was hurt. We were forced to evacuate. Despite this, we managed to create a panorama of a 19km route on the way from Base Camp (5100m) to Advanced Base Camp (6500m).
For the First Time everybody can pass this scenic mountainous route without exposing themselves to any danger.
Panoramas are published in advance of the film "Everest" coming out in cinemas on 24 September 2015.

A special page dedicated to panoramas is located at – http://yandex.ru/promo/everest.

Panoramas themselves you can easily find using this link – http://maps.yandex.ru/-/CVgTfJ3G.

Special blog link - http://blog.yandex.ru/post/98038/

It was the best season in our history. How many groups? It was planned - 23. It is clear that much more than in any previous season. The reason of success is simple: the excellent work of our Elbrus office and our guides. This summer, they have shown a true labor heroism and deserve admiration ...

7 Summits Club traditionally finishes each season (summer and winter) by gala evening. It took place August 25, 2015 in the area of the glade Cheget.

Author of clip: Faith Pisarenko.

A lot of photos here >>>>>>

Here are a few of them

Hello! It says Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the Seven Summits Club. I close the season. This time, I think, it is true. There was a final group ... for this season. The team was very good, a big one - fifteen people ... We went down from the mountain today. Warmed ... A little bit, we have not reached the summit of Elbrus. The weather did not let us. But we fought to the last ... Guys - handsome ... well done. Now we sit in Terskol and celebrate our successes and our familiarity with the harsh mountain Elbrus. It is sometimes so severe.

All are alive and well and everyone is happy - I can see it on the faces. … People! To say hello! Sounds: HELLO !!!
So: Adios! Till the new season!

Alexey Ovchinnikov wrote on Facebook: "The screening film "Everest" for a hall full of the press was a great success. In the end - there were deserved applause for Trofimich (Dusharin), Sania Abramov and Vladimir Nikolaevich Shataev. And, the Universal responded to our request and included in the final credits a large photo Bukreeva description of his achievement.

My personal assessment of the film - a solid four. Good movie, looks with interest, unusual for Hollywood open final with no happy ending. Climbing life is shown authentically, without gross distortion.

The film tells about a successful climbing expedition to the highest peak of North America Mount McKinley (aka - Denali). Team 7 Summits Club, June-July 2015. Leader: Lyudmila Korobeshko. Excellent filming, beautiful design, the right music. Thanks to the authors! Vladislav Lachkarev earned promotion from 7 Summits Club ...

Today, September 9th, the 55th anniversary of Zygmunt Berdychowski - our dear friend, a member of several expeditions of the 7 Summits Club. In our team he climbed the most significant peaks from The Seven: Mount Everest and Vinson McKinley. By the ascent to the highest point in North America in early July pan Zygmunt fulfilled his dream - finished the program "Seven Summits".

Zygmunt Berdychowski

We are proud of friendship with such a person: a prominent politician, entrepreneur, organizer of the largest economic forum and no less significant Running Festival, a marathon runner, climber, just a man of great culture and a great soul.

Berdychowski Zygmunt was born in 1960 in Krynica Zdroj and now faithfully serves his native region. He graduated from the Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Law, was active in Solidarity. He was a member of parliament of two convocations, he worked in the Ministry of Agriculture. In recent years, he is engaged in development of the resort of Krynica Zdroj, economic and energy forums and festivals of running in which we (7 Summits Club) will participate for the second year in a row.

Today, a team of our Club, made up of office workers and partners of Zygmunt on expeditions fly to Poland, to congratulate the hero of the day. And to take part in the grand Running Festival, which is held only by the will and organizational abilities of Zygmunt Berdychowski.

Sto lat! As they say in Poland. This refers, of course, another 100 years!

Guides and members of groups of 7 Summits Club were able to observe the difficult struggle power lifting athlete from Murmansk area Andrey Rodichev with himself, weight barbell, rarefied air, etc ... He raised the bar weighing 75 kilograms day after day, all the above. And he achieved his goal! Without any exaggeration this man is a real hero. His ascent he wanted to draw attention to the development of weightlifting in his region.

The barbell is left on the top, is now some souvenir lovers must to roll it down. It's easier than raise, but not too simple.

"- September 6th at exactly 12:15, I reached a top of Mount Elbrus, 5642 meters, - said the athlete. - Every day I practiced two or three times to be in a form suitable for such an arduous conquest of Mount Elbrus. When climbing, I saw only my shoes, it was very hard. Every day it was heavier than the previous one, but I went ahead. I even got eye burns, partly loss of sight. While I forced to be in dark glasses, but after 2-3 days it should OK. "

"- For Andrey it is much more difficult to climb the mountain than a common man - said Alexander Sukharev, a professional climber who helped Rodichev in the climb.- Mountain climbing and powerlifting - the two most incompatible sport. The less weight - the easier ascent. Andrey had to feed his huge muscles with oxygen, which is in the mountains in very short supply. "

Russian Mountaineering Federation September 17 (Thursday) organizes mountaineering evening.
Location - Moscow, Novy Arbat, 24, a cinema "October", the beginning - 19.00

The evening program:
- Meeting friends
- Presentation of the book "Stalkers highlands" and autograph session Ivan Trofimovich Dusharin
- Pre-screening of the film "Everest" (IMAX).

Tickets for film session - 500 rubles.

Collected at the party funds will be used to help the families of the dead climbers.
Number of seats in the theater is limited.
Pre-registration and booking tickets - alpfederation@gmail.com
We are grateful to Universal Pictures for the opportunity.
The official website of the film - www.everestmovie.com

Partners in the evening:
RED FOX
VENTO
GORE-TEX
7 Summits
CLUB LEADERS
HIGH MOUNTAIN SCHOOL

Hallo! It is Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the climbing Elbrus program. Apparently, this is my final team this season. Next - a little well-deserved rest. Program we started yesterday, we went to Cheget for acclimatization. And today we are in the LeapRus. We had lunch, and at the moment are going to acclimatization in the Shelter of the Eleven. In order to get to great heights, as well as fro training in the snow. A group is big, 16 people. The band's name, we have not yet invented. I have to give the job the guys. Maybe they will come up with something. All the best!

Hello! It is Vladimir Kotlyar, the program Climb Elbrus. Today it was not the usual climbing, today member of our group, namely the leader of the "Latvian Riflemen", Oleg Pimenov have a birthday. He celebrated it right! On the whole, two tops, two summits of Elbrus. We brought up a watermelon, two bottles of champagne. In general, it was fun, very fun. Now we are already in Terskol, we are restig and prepare for the holiday dinner. We must also continue to celebrate a birthday! Happy Birthday, Oleg!

Oleg Pimenov collected a friends group from Latvia, which on arrival in the Elbrus region was called "Latvian riflemen". He calculated the trip so as to be at the top of Elbrus on his birthday, September 3th. And he did it! Moreover, he managed to reach in one exit two peaks (Western and Eastern) of Mount Elbrus. And in the afternoon they all went down to Terskol!

Thrice congratulate Oleg! We wish you happiness, good luck, the weather in the mountains and to climb Mount Everest next year!

Oleg Pimenov began to travel with the 7 Summits Club a year ago. And he started just with Elbrus more than a year ago. Then he successfully went to Cho Oyu in the team of Alexander Abramov. And the nex was a successful expedition to Aconcagua in January 2015. It was all as preparation for Everest. This year, the ban of the authorities and common sense stopped our expedition on Everest. So that goal remained for next season. This summer, Oleg already visited the Crimean rocks, went to Mount Kazbek and now at two summits of Elbrus!