All news: 2016

Traveling on the program "Baikal ice" included in the list of the best in the world - "30 of the most memorable trips” by the magazine National Geographic Traveler

 This unforgettable landscapes of Lake Baikal ice, ice caves and hummocks, ice  on the rocks, ancient rock carvings, beautiful rocky beaches, fantastic sunset Baikal, dense Siberian taiga and transparent ice.

You will be able to touch the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment at Ogoy Island visit Olkhon Island and Sandy Bay.

Come with us to Lake Baikal!

Tour on Lake Baikal - "Baikal ice." Program (in Russian)

Vladimir Kotlyar, the guide of the 7 Summits Club: Early morning, the altitude of 5500 m.  Wind plays with colorful prayer flags, the sun begins to peek out shyly from behind Everest, painting in soft pink snow-capped mountain ranges and peaks. I'm sitting on top of Kala Patar in the nest of the check boxes and backpacks. Frosty morning air is pleasant tingling skin. How is it beautiful!

 The group went to the Kala Patar and  in the base camp. Today we spend the night in Dingboche.

 Please find some photos from our summit day. Carstenzs expedition 2016 led by Alex Abramov.

Vladimir Kotlyar, the guide of an expedition of Club of 7 Tops on Island peak:

 Hi, friends! We are in Pheriche! Competitive spirit, excellent weather (very fie). Views are tremendous!!!

Vladimir Kotlyar, the guide of the 7 Summits Club, an expedition on Island peak:

The “Hot Size” group came in the capital of Sherpas of Namche-Bazar. Thanks to the photographer of our team Andrey for tremendous, colourful and atmospheric photos!

Vladimir Kotlyar, guide of the 7 Summits Club: Morning began with a joke and presented a name to our group. Having arrived in Lukla, our men sat down in the territory of Sunny garden loggia, waited for me. We ordered a breakfast and so far made it for us, Andrey went to market disorders, to buy to himself socks.

   Having chosen socks, he asked the grandmother-seller in English: What size? The grandmother smiles, nods and repeats: What size? Andrey repeated: I ask you, what size? The grandmother smiles, nods and repeats: what size, what size. So proceeded until Andrey didn't understand that for the grandmother the question what size sounds as a greeting or a wish of good day. And she just repeats it as a reciprocal wish, smiling and nodding.

  It very much amused us also all day while we were on route from Lukla to Modzho, we cheerfully greeted passersby the phrase of "What size". We went without hurrying, enjoying beauty, as required always stopped to take pictures, told jokes, and nodding each other, said What size and with laughter continued a way. On the way to Modzho we saw snow-white Tamserku in all beauty. I just adore this track! Snow-white peaks, coniferous forests, the turquoise river with white foam of thresholds, deep gorges, suspension bridges, caravans of yaks and the blue deep sky over the head!

   All this begins from the first day of a track at the exit from Lukla and comes to an end with return to this town. By the evening the joke about what size turned into the name of the HOT SIZE group. Such here interesting transformation!

Dear Friends,

 It’s not a secret that this spring, we organized an expedition to mount Everest from the North side, in conjunction with «7 Summits Club», «RD Studio», «RedFox», «Yandex» and «Toyota». The expedition was stopped in half way, due to an earthquake magnitude of 8 – We were lucky that nobody from our Expedition was hurt. We were forced to evacuate.

Despite this fact, we managed to create a panoramic view of our 19km route, right from Base Camp (5100m) to Advanced Base Camp (6500m).

The Panoramas were published before the release of the film "Everest".

In the autumn of 2015, inspired by the many positive responses from your side, we decided to finish the job and began to organize an expedition in 2016.

May 20, 2016, we managed to reach the summit (8848м) and completed the full route whilst picturing everything in 3D panoramic views from base camp to the summit. May 22, 2016, we returned to base camp uninjured and safe.

Early June 2016 when we returned to Moscow, we started going through all the raw materials and then commenced our work to ensure it was of the highest standard. We created a special interactive page dedicated to the climb. Now, because of our project, everyone will be able to travel our full journey right from base camp (5100m) up until the summit of Everest (8848м). You will be able to pass this scenic mountainous route without exposing yourselves to any danger. 

We wanted to make such beauty more accessible and wanted to share with you this joy and positivity.

And yes – we were the first in the world to do a full 3D panoramic view of route to highest point in World – Everest Summit!

Thanks to all of those who participated in the project. We really appreciated your support. We appreciated your selfless dedication and inspiring enthusiasm.

Special thanks to:

- Anatoly Topol and Konstantin Lysenko from Yandex team – without your enthusiasm and faith, this project would not have taken place

- Olga Bolotova from the team Neq4 – as the most energetic team member of our project

- RD Studio team, and personally to Valdis Pelsh, Kristina Kozlova, Alexander Kubasov, Vladimir Kudinov – for your support in the mountains – with you there was never a boring moment

- expedition team and to Alexander Abramov – for the excellent organization of the expedition and the feeling of tranquility

- Vladimir Kotlyar and Vlad Moroz – for their selfless help during the expedition, faith and dedication

- Max Shakirov, project partner – because you were always never far behind

- colleagues, to team and to management – thank you very much for the opportunity you gave ma and fot believing in me

- parents, relatives and friends – for their support

- and, of course, to the Toyota team – for «Always a better way»

Together we make the world better – thank you.

---

"I want to share with you the inspiring beauty of the world we live in."  Roman Reutov

Vladimir Shataev ascended to the summit of Kilimanjaro at 9:30 November 3, 2016, in company with another great friend of our Club Alexander Sobolenko. They left the last camp to Barafu at 01:30. The climb took 8 hours. Vladimir Shataev is 79-a-half years old, he was born May 1, 1937. It is a national record of age ... but only for men. The absolute record belongs to our compatriot Angela Vorobyova – 86 years!

Despite the fact that early November is considered the end favorable for climbing season, the weather was quiet. Snow (about 2 cm) fell only to assault the camp Barafu.

According to Vladimir, trekking to the summit on the Machame route is a much cooler than Marangu, on which he has been climbing two times. The route seemed much more beautiful, varied and difficult. Climbing on Marangu and Machame is 2 different mountains. It was a pleasant discovery!

Kilimanjaro from Machame route is really beautiful.

Alexander Sobolenko plans had to prepare for the next climbs and to lose weight. According to him, the second paragraph failed, because he was very well fed.

Nadezhda Nikitina is back from Nepal, where she made one of  the most famous Nepalese trekking route - "Around Annapurna". Journey under the leadership of our Nepalese guide was organized by 7 Summits Club. On return, a Nadezhda shared with us her impressions and photos. She said that the local guides worked perfectly, that the country is a wonderful and there you have to return again and again

Fully gallery here:

Our Indonesian partners are famous for their trademark technique - inscribed flags on top of the mountain and certificates. Therefore, the awarding   procedure can be regarded as the end of the expedition. Though it may be, we still have to go home. But  to leave heat in South-East Asia for the cold of Russia is not very desirable.

1. Our group guided by Maxim Bulahovsky successfully climbed the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro - Uhuru peak via the Machame route. They made it 2 days ahead of schedule! Now they are down to the Millennium camp and then to the exit of the National Park. Their plan: go on a Safari early in order to see more animals.

2. The group of Artem Rostovtsev has also reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. So they celebrated the birthday of Pavel Altukhov. We also congratulate Paul with summit and birthday!

3. Another group is now in the assault camp Barafu and preparing for the most important moment - the exit to the summit bid.

4. Well, Alex Lagun (St. Petersburg) is off to Tanzania to meet the adventure, to make my first ever climb (photo)

Alex is planning for the first time to try yourself as a climber and to experience all of what have long told fellow climbers...

PHOTOS BY ARTEM ROSTOVTSEV

Our team on the Pyramid Carstensz returned to the paradise island of Bali, to relax and to heal the wounds. Mission accomplished - passed through the jungle, met with the Papuans, climbed to the top. Now  we have memories and stories for a lifetime. But so far only photos:

Svetlana Nuzhum, guide of 7 summits Club:

Hello Everyone! The last 3 days we had a communication problem, and we have so much news! The 30th of October we reached Gorak Shep, had a bite and immediately went to the base camp of Everest. The march took about 3 hours there and back. And yesterday morning, the 31st of October, we stood on the summit of Kala Pattar (5550м). Weather, as a fact, throughout  all the track, stood great – no cloud and no wind. The views are super! In general, we are all happy. Today we dropped 1000 meters and get warm in Deboche. Tomorrow we will descend to Namche.

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club: 

 "Tube" did as he could! Victoria and Alexander Perig reached 6100 m,  Ivan - 5800, Alexander Logachev – the top! He was on the summit in the company of me, Vladimir Kotlyar. All - well done! About Perig couple I want to say that this is their first encounter with the mountains! Before this adventure they did not go any tracks or weekend trips, or climbed the rocks. Therefore, the height of 6,150 meters - more than decent result !!!

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov, from the base camp of Carstensz Pyramid. Today, our team (all members) climbed to the top. We climbed in record time, 5 hours from base camp to the summit. We were very lucky with the weather.

One of our members, all of you know, Irena Kharazova thus completing the Seven Summits project. And we lost another customer. LAUGH!

In general, everything is fine, we are now sitting in the base camp. We went down, the weather is beautiful, everyone is happy. We send greetings to family and friends! ...

Details we write tomorrow when we shall be on Bali. Now we are waiting for the helicopter. Bye!

The President of the 7 summits Club Alex Abramov has long sought to complete the programme Grand slam (seven summits plus two poles).

... So it turns out that the short season of traveling to the Pole coincides with a slightly longer, but also strictly limited, to the duration, season of Everest expeditions. And Alex is the head  Everest expeditions each year since 2003. Everest Expedition is  the most important event of the year for the 7 Summits Club, so it stands in the foreground.

 Therefore, in 2017, the leader of the expedition to Everest will join his team later than usual. He will  be a leader of  our program  at the North Pole that ends on April 16th.

 Now there's a real possibility for any person to reach the North Pole in various ways. We know the best, the optimal way.

It is our Last degree ski program.

 The last degree is a really difficult test, a test of endurance, character, struggle with the cold and struggle with the drift, this is a real danger of falling into ocean water in ice-holes and cracks a chance to meet the polar bear.... But the victory will be ours! It has always been, it always should be!

 The last degree route is changing from year to year. In theory it is about 110 km. However, near the Poles, there is always the strong drift that is difficult or even impossible to predict in advance. Therefore, in the process of movement on skis you can just take it back and have to go a greater distance.

 Camp Barneo (Russian: Лагерь Бaрнео) is a private Russian temporary ice base established annually since 2002 on an ice floe relatively close to the North Pole used largely for tourist excursion purposes.

 The first Ice Camp Barneo was established in 2002. Since that time, the camp has been rebuilt from scratch every year because of the constantly drifting Arctic ice. For example, in 2007 Ice Camp Barneo was located at about 89°31.5′N 30°27′W. However, northerly winds caused the Ice Camp to drift towards the southeast at a speed of 0.8 kilometres per hour (0.5 mph).

 The ice camp works under the patronage of the Russian Geographical Society and normally lasts for the month of April.

 Ice Camp Barneo should not be confused with the sequential Soviet/Russian "North Pole" drifting ice stations established by the Russian Academy of Sciences Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).

 From 2002 to 2016, the starting and final point of all expeditions to Barneo has been Longyearbyen, the capital of the Svalbard archipelago of Norway. The city has necessary facilities including an airport, hotels of different levels, restaurants, a post office, a bank, and a supermarket.

 In 2016, following military exercises by Chechen paratroopers on Barneo, Norway enacted a flight embargo, which it later lifted. As a result, the 2017 event is expected to take place with a base in Russia.

The couple have fulfilled their plan, and for just two days climbed to the highest point of Morocco and North Africa, Jebel Toubkal. The weather was sunny, which made it possible to enjoy the panoramic views during the climb and do a lot of photos.

Now Lyudmila and Mikhail meets a beautiful Moroccan city, the ancient Marrakesh. Tonight, they are scheduled to go back to the hotel on the beach, where you can calmly reflect on everything that happened...

October 29^th  a group led by a guide of the 7 Summits Club Vladimir Kotlyar reached the village of Khare. Here, at an altitude of 4950 meters, the team will hold one day, they will relax and adapt to the altitude. The trek was  on a very beautiful places and they could  made excellent photos. The team, which was named "Tube", is ready for the ascent of Mount Mera Peak.

Almost at the same time four our groups went to Africa to climb the highest peak of the continent. They have different routes, but the main goal is the same - Kilimanjaro! The two groups will work with Russian guides.

  Artem Rostovtsev leads the group, which aims to celebrate the birth of one of the participants at the summit of Kilimanjaro. This is their main goal! They go by the classic route Marangu.

 A group guided by Maxim Balakhovskiy will climb by another popular and also classic route - Machame. Immediately after the descent from the mountain they have to fly to the Serengeti National Park, where they will wait for safaris and hot air ballooning over the savannah.

 Two other individual groups will make the ascent with local guides. They also go by two different routes - Machame and Marangu.

PHOTOS by Artem Rostovtsev

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov from Papua Province, from the 7 Summits Club expedition to the Pyramid of Carstensz. This morning the weather was beautiful, which is very rare in these parts of the World. We were ready to start, but it turned out that the porters did not want to go. And they had a very long meeting, it was all due to our yesterday's meeting with the armed guerrillas.

 The porters were afraid to go out, but, nevertheless, at ten o'clock still started to collect things. We have lost time, so we had to go the whole day again. We got to the fourth camp very late, in darkness. This is the last camp before the base camp, tomorrow we will have a sufficiently long march climbing about one kilometer, partly over rocks.  And we must come to the base camp.

 Today we have a remarkable event. Today Evgeniy Kravt is 41. He put the bottle of whiskey, very good quality. And on the occasion, our Indonesian cooks and guides made cake, chocolate cake.

 Now the rain continues to pour. Everything is as usual, and by the morning rain subsides. We hope that this tradition will continue, and we will be able to start early in the morning.

 So far, all are good. Everybody is happy....