All news: May 2021

The final attempt to climb Mount Everest this season has begun. The remaining climbers, who survived two prolonged cyclones, went out to storm the summit. Among them is the small group of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-2". Ekaterina Kalabukhova and guide Artem Rostovtsev have already climbed the South Col. With them are high-altitude Sherpa porters. If everything is in order, the exit will take place on the evening of May 31, in order to reach the top on June 1. We believe and wait! Good luck!

Vladimir Kotlyar, the 7 Summits Club guide from Nepal: Hello everyone! The Lhotse group is back in Kathmandu! Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the summit. We tried for a long time to catch the weather window, but have no luck. Now we will rest in the capital of Nepal, in the comfortable conditions of the Hayat hotel. The whole group was worthy of the summit, but unfortunately I did not guess with the weather. I will draw conclusions and prepare for new heights and adventures…

Boris Yegorov, the 7 Summits Club guide:  Today, our micro-team "Clever Beauties" climbed on the Western peak of Mount Elbrus! The blitz climb (only 3 days long) wasn't easy, but they did it! Congratulations to Larisa and Lilia on such a wonderful achievement!

Alexander Abramov, the head of the expedition of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-Lhotse 2021" sent some photos and video clips illustrating the decisive days of climbing the highest mountain in the World. The photos were taken in Camps 2, 3 and 4 on the slopes of Mount Everest.

News from the expedition of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-Lhotse 2021".  The Lhotse group, due to the weather conditions, decided to go down to Camp 2 (6400) and wait for the weather window there. So far, the ascent is planned for May 29. Part of the group (Irina Zisman and Igor Smirnov) decided to cancel their attempts to climb and return to the base camp. The Everest-2 group is also still in Camp 2, and is also waiting for the weather. They plan to climb on the night of May 29-30. All members of the expedition are in good health.

The May holidays were traditionally considered not the best time to climb Kilimanjaro. However, the last two years have proved that this is not the case, or is no longer the case. Perhaps something has changed in the weather, but the ascents of the 7 Summits Club team are just wonderful. Everything, including good weather and an equatorial rainstorm, was in abundance. And now is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro coming. Our summer is winter in Tanzania. It is dry period. Tanzania is one of the very few countries that has practically not restricted tourism due to the pandemic. There are no political or epidemiological risks, simple logistics, reliable service. A trip to Kilimanjaro is a great playground for photo artists. A variety of views, colors, moods, the contrast of tourists with the local population, and you can also add legendary animals on safari and the exoticism of Zanzibar. Get inspired by the photos of our May ascent participant Alexey Lavrinenko and join our regular groups!

The group "Everest-1" of the expedition of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-Lhotse 2021" descended to the base camp. In the evening, the award ceremony for the Everest climbers took place there. As already reported, five members of our expedition reached the highest peak in the World on May 23.  Three of them (Daniel Wolfson, Eduard Kubatov and Georgy Shulepov) received from the hands of Alexander Abramov a memorial sign specially made by the 7 Summits Club. Two of the heroes (Mikhail Mikheev and Anna Permilovskaya) did not take part in the event, as they had already left by helicopter for Kathmandu.

The weather conditions today were quite heavy, it was snowing with a strong wind. The Lhotse group and the Everest-2 group continue to stay at Camp 3 at an altitude of 7,100 meters, hoping for a new weather window.

Group "Everest-1" - almost all participants descended yesterday to the Camp 2 (6400 m), where they were met by doctor Sergey Larin. And there they spent the night. Two participants Mikhail Mikheev and Daniel Wolfson went down only to the Camp 3 yesterday. This morning they already came to the Camp 2.

 Yesterday, the following participants reached the summit of Mount Everest:

Daniel Wolfson (Israel);

Anna Permilovskaya (Russia);

Mikhail Mikheev (Russia);

Georgy Shulepov (Russia);

Eduard Kubatov (Kyrgyzstan).

 Alexander Abramov turned down, not reaching the top, with participant Dmitry Livanov, who did not feel well. Now Dmitry is in the Camp 2, waiting for a helicopter to evacuate to the hospital in Kathmandu.

 The “Everest-2” and “Lhotse” groups are now climbing from the Camp 2 to the Camp 3 (7,100 m). The summit assault is scheduled for the night of May 26. However, the weather is very unstable. There is another cyclone from India... But the team is hoping for a weather window.

 Now the group "Everest-1" begins the descent to the Base Camp. Everyone should be at the base by evening.

According to information from Lena Abramova, from the base camp: the group “Everest-1” reached the top of Mount Everest. The descent begins. The weather is a bit windy, but generally normal.

As part of this team, the first woman from Israel and the first ethnic Kyrgyz stood at the top of World.

Information from the expedition of the 7 Summits Club "Everest – Lhotse 2021" from the base camp from Lena Abramova:

The Everest group under the leadership of Alexander Abramov has now climbed to camp 4 (8000) in full. At about 10 pm today, they will start for the summit assault. The weather has improved. All participants feel good.

The other two groups, Lhotse with Vladimir Kotlyar and Everest with Artem Rostovtsev, went up to Camp 2 today.

The "Everest-1" group of the 7 Summits Club:

Alexander Abramov (Head);

Danielle Wolfson (participant, Israel);

Anna Permilovskaya (participant, Russia);

Mikhail Mikheev (participant, Russia);

Georgy Shulepov (participant, Russia);

Dmitry Livanov (participant, Russia);

Eduard Kubatov (participant, Kyrgyzstan).

The Lhotse group led by Vladimir Kotlyar, which

today successfully reached Camp 2 (6400m). Tomorrow they plan to move to camp 3 (7100).

Vladimir Kotlyar (head);

Alexey Lonchinsky (guide);

Irina Zisman (participant, Russia);

Daniel Briman (participant, Russia);

Igor Smirnov (participant, Russia).

Group "Everest-2", which today also moved to Camp 2:

Artem Rostovtsev (guide);

Sergey Larin (doctor);

Ekaterina Lipka (participant, Russia).

 Elena Abramova, the manager of the base camp, gave the following information about the position of the groups of the expedition of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-Lhotse 2021»:

 The group "Everest 1", Alexander Abramov plus six participants (Daniel Wolfson, Anna Permilovskaya, Mikhail Mikheev, Georgy Shulepov, Dmitry Livanov, Eduard Kubatov), today climbed from Camp 2 to Camp 3 (7100 m). Tomorrow afternoon, the plan is to move to Camp 4 on the South Col (8000 m). And in the same evening, around 21.00-22.00, start of the summit assault.   If the weather permits.

 The group "Lhotse 8516", guides Vladimir Kotlyar and Alexey Lonchinsky plus three participants (Irina Zisman, Daniel Briman, Igor Smirnov), today climbed from the Base Camp to Camp 1 (6000 m). Tomorrow, according to the plan, we will move to Camp 2 (6400 m). May 23th move to Camp 3 (7,100 m). May 24^th climb  to Camp 4 (7900m). On the night of May 24-25, the summit of Lhotse assault. If the weather permits.

 The group "Everest 2" Artem Rostovtsev and Ekaterina Lipka (Kalabukhova) today moved to Camp 1. Then in parallel with the group Lhotse. May 24^th – an ascent to the South Col and Everest summit assault is May 25. If…

Alex Abramov:  "Today the Everest team spent the whole day in Camp 2, as there was bad weather. About half a meter of snow fell. The groups that went to Camp 3 yesterday were not able to move up or down from it today. Now the sky has cleared and the South Col  is visible. Tomorrow, the Everest team plans to go to Camp 3. The summit assault is scheduled for the 23rd.

Today, the participants of the team "Lhotse 8516" have prepared things, collected backpacks and are planning to go to the first camp at night. Everyone has a fighting spirit. But the weather is still playing hide-and-seek with us.

News from the Everest team led by Alex Abramov. The group decided not to go down, not to lose altitude, and stayed overnight in camp 2 (6500m). They'll wait out the weather there. Today, they held another oxygen class to eliminate all surprises at the summit climb. The group members walked to the Lhotse Wall and back with additional oxygen. In a day, it is planned to go to the third camp and then to the summit. Alex Abramov decided to abandon the oxygen-free ascent, because more it is important the success of the entire team, which he leads. The Lhotse group and part of the Everest group are at the base camp, today they walked down the valley. The schedule of their start on the ascent will also be determined by the leader of the expedition, depending on the weather situation and the forecast.

 The team Everest of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-Lhotse 2021" expedition  led by Alexander Abramov spent a day in Camp 2 (6500m). The participants ' conditions gets only better. But, unfortunately, in the coming days, a favorable weather window for reaching the summit is not promised. The plan for tomorrow is to go down a little -  to Camp 1 and monitoring the weather from there. And to plan the start of climbing, based on forecasts and the current situation.

Olga Rumyantseva, a guide of the 7 Summits Club:  Hello everyone from Bolivia! Yesterday, our group climbed Mount Huayna Potosi. It wasn't easy, but we tried very hard.

On the way to the summit, our group finally found a name and now it is not just "the group on Huayna Potosi", but "Bulba pistols". Tomorrow, all the participants of the Bolivian adventure will fly home.

News from the Everest team. The first group, led by Alexander Abramov, climbed safely from Camp 1 to Camp 2 (6500m) today. They are planning a rest day for tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, climb to the third camp. All participants feel good.

The first Everest team under the leadership of Alex Abramov today safely passed through the Khumbu icefall and reached the first camp at an altitude of 6100m. Everyone feels well. Tomorrow they go to Camp 2.

Pictures from acclimatization rotation

Alex Abramov the expedition leader:

The first team of the Everest 2021 of the 7 Summits Club leaves tonight for climb of Mount Everest. We were able to save resources and sherpas. Seven participants under the leadership of Alex Abramov and 14 Sherpas will start now. Tomorrow, probably, the Lhotse team of 6 people also will go on the ascent. The second Everest team will wait for the next weather window, which may be around May 25.

Today we had training sessions with oxygen equipment. We also celebrated Ira Zisman's birthday. The main team is ready to storm the summit of Mount Everest on May 20

Climbing plan:

May 16 - Camp 1,

May 17 - Camp 2,

May 18 - Camp 3,

May 19 - Camp 4,

May 20-Summit of Mount Everest.

As I promised, this time I will try to make my 11th ascent of Mount Everest without additional oxygen. I can't promise that it will successful attempt. But I will try.

If I succeed, I will become the oldest oxygen-free climber on Everest. Now the record is 55 years old, and I'm 57. But I'm not going to make a record for the sake of a record. I'm going for myself. I want to expand the scope of my perception of the world. I'm not going to die!

I hope that my experience of 22 expeditions on 8,000 m will be enough to understand the moment when it is possible to safely abandon this complex and dangerous idea.

News from the Elbrus region. The group led by the guide Andrey Berezin yesterday climbed on the top of Elbrus. After several days of bad weather, the day of the ascent was clear and sunny. From the summit, we had a stunning view of the Main Caucasian Ridge and the surrounding area.

Alex Abramov, the expedition leader: The team of the 7 Summits Club expedition "Everest-Lhotse 2021" returned to the Everest Base Camp full of strength and health. Everyone is ready to go to climb summits even tomorrow! There is cold and lonely in the camp, with a strong wind. But the tents are chic, wind-water proof, in full height, with an insulated inner layer. Blankets are large, thick, pillows and beds with 6 legs. We also sleep with heater. Everyone is very happy to return to such tents after the cold mountain loggias.