Antarctica, dec. 2009 - jan.2010

Program “Seven volcanoes”, it is climbing the highest volcanoes all continents over the world, Club Seven Summits organized in early 2011 the first mountaineering expedition to the highest volcano in Antarctica Mt. Sidley. Head of expedition - Alexander Abramov. Among confirmed participants: Dmitry Moskalev, Italian Mario Trimeri (who can become the first person climbed the seven volcanoes), Romanian climber Crina Popescu, which in December will celebrate 16 years (she also ends the program "Seven of the Volcanoes").

Mount Sidley is located in the mountain massive Executive Committee Range. This is chain of volcanic mountains in Antarctica, called the Marie Byrd Land. The thickness of the ice cover in this part of the continent achieves two kilometers. In the case of complete disappearance of the ice covered at this site will be an archipelago of volcanic islands such as Japan.

The height of the Mountain Sidley - 4,285 meters, the foot of the volcano has an altitude of about 2500 meters. Coordinates: 77 ° 02 'S 126 ° 06'z. E..

Mt. Sidley - a gigantic volcanic massif, a huge bulge dominates the uniform ice surface of the surrounding area. One side of the mountains form a huge caldera crater with a diameter of 5 km, its walls towering about one km altitude. And there may be found difficult climbing routes. On the other side there is only a gentle slope and the path to the summit can be maid on skis. However, the question with the highest point is still not fully clear. There may be several points in the ridge

We will have to check several points in the long summit ridge, with GPS, make sure a correct climbing line for next climbers. So we have to climb with the elements of a full exploration, as we have no high-quality report from first climbers.

 American base in 2000 and Mt.Sidley

The mountain was discovered by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd on an airplane flight, November 18, 1934, and named by him for Mabelle E. Sidley, the daughter of William Horlick who was a contributor to the 1933–35 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Despite its lofty status, the volcano languishes in obscurity due to its extremely remote location. It is little known even in the mountaineering world compared to the far more famous Mount Erebus, the second highest Antarctic volcano which is located near the U.S. and New Zealand bases on Ross Island. The first recorded ascent of Mount Sidley was by New Zealander Bill Atkinson on January 11, 1990, whilst working in support of a USAP scientific field party.

For the first time the foot of the volcano Seeley was reached by scholars of the American Antarctic Expedition ATV in the season 1958-59. The leader of expedition a Scottish glaciologist John Pirrin climbed up its slope nearly to the top, but to the highest point is not reached.

Under the program of studies US-ITASE American scientists visited the volcano area Seeley in 2000. Then they have a large collection of rocks and minerals, which enabled them to reconstruct the geological history of the volcano.

The route of our ascent involves a standard flight Punta Arenas - Patriot Hills on the big plane and then to the base camp on Mount Sidley on a small plane. What is the ascent to the summit, we can only guess. But we hope that our expedition will go down in history in many ways. And above all, accurately establishing the route, identifying the highest point of the ridge, taking pictures of all this and widespread throughout the world of information.

Russkaya station at Cape Berks on coast of Marie Byrd Land worked in ten years (1980-1990), it is only 300 km from Mt. Sidley.

Today January 12 morning Victor Bobok came to Moscow from Antarctica. And already at lunch time he appeared in the office of 7 Summits Club. Victor told fascinating stories about his adventures on the White Continent.

Recall that in last 45 days Victor Bobok made:

- With the first group (Dmitry Moskalev, Vladimir Lande, Yuri Taydakov, Igor Grishkov) go skiing more than 100 km and reach the South Pole

- With the second group (Igor Grishkov, Andrew Filkov, Patrick Sain and Noel Hanna) ascended to the highest point in Antarctica - Vinson Massif (4897m)

- With the third group (Noel Hanna and Dr. Derrick) went skiing more than 200 km from Vinson at sea level (Hercules Inlet).

- And then traveled two days by bus through the entire Argentina (from Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires), harrying  to fly home.

Just two weeks later Victor again fly to South America in order to lead an expedition 7 Summits Club on Aconcagua.

Seven Summits Club group has climbed the highest point of Antarctica - Mount Vinson.

Today we received a sat call from the 7 Summits Club guide Victor Bobok. The whole team stood on the highest point of Antarctica.

This call was so much joy and emotion. Everyone laughed and cried!

Later he told the details of ascent:

The weather was not perfect, so the guys had to go very quickly. At the top they made the necessary phone calls and photos (visibility less than 100 meters) and run down to the Camp 3.

We warmly congratulate all the climbers! We wish them a safe journey home!

Message from the participants of the expedition 7 Summits Club on the highest point in Antarctica - Vinson Massif:

December 21 23:40 GMT Once again, hello! Group successfully "returned" to the Camp 3. The next day we planned assault on the highest point of Antarctica.

Forecast assumes clouds and a slight increase in wind. But, for now, guys do not care. They say that it in acceptable limits.

We wish them - good luck!!!

News from January 20.

23:50 GMT guys went to the Camp 3, left there part of the food, tent and equipment. Tomorrow without luggage they will back to the camp 3. Today transition to the third camp is part of the acclimatization. The weather is still great, which may allow to think that the ascent to the summit of December 23-24

To the third camp

Continues 7 Summits Club expedition to Vinson Massif. Now all members of the expedition are in the second camp (2900 m).

00:03 GMT Message from the climbers. We walked from 3 PM "local" time. Now we establishing Camps 2  and tomorrow we are going to drop off goods in the camp 3. The weather so good that adjusts to the idea that we should go on and on until the weather is accompanied, until luck with us.

At Patriot Hills met the second group of Seven Summits Club Antarctica expedition. Their goal is climbing the highest point in Antarctica - Vinson Massif (4 897 m).
Group is international.
Here are our climbers:
Victor Bobok - guide - Russia
Igor Grishkov - Russia
Andrew Filkov - Russia
Noel Hanna - Ireland
Patrick Singh - Canada
 Patrick and Noel are well known in our club on the ascent of Everest in an expedition 7 Summits Club Everest 2009.  That's where they got the idea not just to climb the highest point of Antarctica, but set a world record, after ascent having passed  on skis along the ocean more than 300 kilometers.
Now all members of the expedition arrived at the base camp of Vinson Massif where they will acclimatise.
We wish all participants good luck, good weather and the benevolence of the mountains and the icy continent.

News for 18 December.
 
Weather was excellent, warm like in Moscow, the guys acclimatized to the Base Camp and preparing the next day to move to the camp N 2.

December, 14. 7 Summits Club team reached the South Pole.

We had a call by satphone from our team. They were very tired, but totally happy.

We are already celebrating the victory and congratulate all of you who organized the project and gave the boys a chance to reach the Pole!

During the trip participants had skiing more than 100 kilometers. At the South Pole, they visited the American station. The next day the group flew to Patriot Hills.

We heartily congratulate the 7 Summits Club team with the successful completion of the expedition to the South Pole.

Victor Bobok - guide and expedition leader now is waiting in t the second group of 7 Summits Club in Antarctika, which will depart on the ascent of Vinson Massif.