Antarctica 2014 - 2015

Antarctic Expedition of Russian entrepreneurs  "Antarctica Club leaders 2015"  reported on his trip to the sixth highest continent of the Earth in the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society.

The expedition members spoke on the studies, organized a teleconference with President Putin, snowstorms, frostbites and treacherous American weather balloon, which appeared likely not a coincidence, and left the expedition without communication.

Deputies of the State Duma Alexander Sidyakin and Oleg Savchenko, with their friend Alex Bulavin and ANI guide Josh Hoeschen successfully climbed to the summit of Mount Vinson.

"During the descent the weather prevented us to quickly descend into Low Camp, because it was the strongest winds and very low temperatures. But all is well and now we are back down, I hope that today we will be in the "Base Camp".

Alex Abramov from the Vinson expedition: 
Hello! It's four o'clock in the morning. We got to the advanced assault camp. Right now we boil water and tomorrow are going to climb the summit of Mount Vinson. First sleep and then - climb. The weather is bad ....

Hello! It calls Alexander Abramov. Last night we made theclimb from the base camp to low camp. It was not easy, we walked for 10 hours. But all the members did it, well done. Late at night we set up the tents, at 3 o'clock went to bed. Today we woke up, we had a day of rest, a day of acclimatization. The approach under the fixed ropes part - the team is practicing how to climb with. It is not so simple. And tomorrow we have a plan to exit in the Upper camp, and descend. Then, all members are alive and healthy. So everything goes according to plan, everything is fine. The weather is perfect. We wish to all Happy New Year! We hope January 1th, to reach the summit of Vinson. By!

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov from Antarctica. Yesterday it was a very hard day. We spent the night in 15 kilometers from Union Glacier. We've got a separate camp in a very beautiful vast field, with views of the mountains. By morning the wind grew stronger. Just at this time we have had a contact with Moscow, a video conference with the President. Almost all the whole night we did not sleep, getting ready, excited. At 7 am already it was a live interview with Moscow and the President wished us luck. There was a small conversation, but I think that on TV it showed everything.

Then we immediately gathered the camp, returned to Union Glacier. There we had lunch, got on the plane and flew to the base camp of Vinson massif. Established camp, long enough to have established, because the tents are many, many people. Had a dinner. The mood is all excellent. We went to sleep. The weather yesterday was good. Today morning we woke up in a fog. Cold. And today we must make a walk to the camp 3200, so-called Low camp, about 6-8 hours to go. With a heavy sledge. This may be one of the most physically heavy days of our expedition. But, in General, the mood is good, we hope to be January 1th, on the summit of Vinson. By!

A group of Russian businessmen, members of the Leaders’ Club, set off for the Antarctic on December 20. One of their goals is to draw attention to Russia’s studies of the Antarctic and to test Russian-made communication equipment in extreme conditions.

Expedition participants also intend to hoist the Russian flag at the highest spot of the Antarctic and conduct a series of medical and biological studies. The expedition involves some 200 people and 34 research organisations.

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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon. Can you hear me?

LEADERS’ CLUB PRESIDENT, AGENCY FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES NEW BUSINESS DIRECTOR ARTEM AVETISYAN: Yes, we can hear you. The Leaders’ Club expedition welcomes you to the vast expanses of the Antarctic.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Thank you. Hello, everyone.

I remember you were telling me about this expedition in Moscow, and bearing in mind that your expedition is of a national scope, I would like to recall that our compatriots Faddey Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev pioneered Antarctic exploration.

Besides, next year, I believe, we will be marking 60 years since the first Soviet expedition to the Antarctic. Thus, overall we have significant experience in this exploration. This is a very interesting, unique part of the planet.

Unfortunately, not everyone who wanted to take part in the expedition managed to do so. Only yesterday, I spoke to my aide Andrei Belousov. He is disappointed he could not join you because of his workload, though he had the necessary training.

I am glad that you have managed to bring this expedition to fruition. I know you have planned many events and many people are taking part in this work.

Could you please remind us of what you intend to do, including the testing of Russian-made radio and video communication equipment.

ARTEM AVETISYAN: Mr President, we are actually testing the equipment now. This is the first ever TV link-up between Moscow and the Antarctic. Nobody has ever done it before.

This was made possible thanks to Russian engineers. A large part of the equipment we are using was made in Russia.

We have set camp here, 16,000 kilometres from Moscow, and tomorrow we are setting out to the highest peak of the Antarctic to hoist the Russian flag there.

We have representatives of medium size businesses here from various sectors of the economy, and our goal is not only to hoist the Russian flag, but also to test Russian equipment at the peak.

We will also conduct a series of medical and biological experiments to study human sensitivity to hypoxia at high altitudes. We also plan to collect water samples from the highest peak of the Antarctic. They say it is the cleanest water in the world, and we believe it can extend human life.

Also, it is no secret that for a year now the Leaders’ Club has been making sample purchases. Now we have made a sample purchase here in the Antarctic and found a discrepancy: tourists here are taken around by Russian pilots on board legendary Russian Il-76 craft. However, the travel agencies are foreign, and the aircraft servicing companies are also foreign, while the number of tourists is significant – around 6,000.

We would like to create Russian tourist infrastructure to popularise Antarctic travel in our country. If you do not mind, Mr President, we would like to discuss this with you in Moscow, and if you support the idea, the Leaders’ Club is willing to take on the job.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Fine, let us do that.

Naturally, wherever you go you always find areas where you can apply your creative and business-like approach. I never had any doubt about that. See, you have found something even in the Antarctic. How are you planning to see in the New Year?

ARTEM AVETISYAN: We should be at an altitude of some 4,000 metres on New Year’s Eve, so we intend to contact Russian entrepreneurs in all the remote areas of Russia. That is actually why we brought all this equipment. We have a Russian-made radio station that we will also be testing. And we will be wishing everyone a happy New Year.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: I see.

I would like to wish you good luck and all the best in the New Year, success in your work and in reaching the peak. Please pass on my best wishes to all the expedition participants.

I know that about 200 people are involved in your work and 34 research organisations have been supporting it in one way or another.

Please convey my best wishes to the marine and aircraft crews. I wish you all the best. Happy New Year!

ARTEM AVETISYAN: Thank you, Mr President. Happy New Year to you!

VLADIMIR PUTIN: All the best! Good-bye and good luck!

December 19, 2014 the All-Russian Union of Entrepreneurs Leaders Club starts an expedition to Antarctica. On New Year's Eve the Russian entrepreneurs will effect an ascent of Mount Vinson - the highest peak in Antarctica.

14 people take part in the expedition. Four members of the ascent are women. The head of the expedition is Artyom Avetisyan, chairman of the club. Ivan Dusharin, vice president of the Russian Mountaineering Federation also participates in the expedition. It was under the leadership of Mr. Dusharin when in 1992 the team of climbers hoisted the national flag of Russia on Everest for the first time in the history.

Artur Chilingarov with the expedition members

On the eve of the departure at the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society the participants spoke about the upcoming expedition.

Alexey Martynov, radioman of the expedition

- For the first time in our history, Russian businessmen climb to the highest point of Antarctica - says Alexei Martynov, radioman of the expedition. - We do this in the first place, to show that we can do pretty much. And secondly, to test unique Russian radio equipment. We will be the first ones to do it at such altitudes and at such low temperature.

On New Year's Eve, from the top of the peak of Vinson, we plan to hold sessions of radio communication with Russian polar stations at the North Pole. This also has not been done before. We will contact Russian icebreakers plying the waters of the Arctic Ocean and off the coast of Chile, and the astronauts in orbit - we will speak with the International Space Station. We have done this during our previous expeditions - from the summit of Mont Blanc. So this time we are looking forward to the success ...

In addition to this technological mission Leaders Club together with the Innovation Centre of the Russian Olympic Committee will hold a series of special studies. So, Dr. Irina Zelenkova plans to develop a method of preparation to stay in hypoxic conditions of high mountains.

Prelaunch press conference

The expedition will leave Moscow on Friday, December 19, and will travel to the Chilean city of Punta Arenas. Then IL-76, equipped to land on the ice will go to the intermediate camp in Antarctica located on Union Glacier and then light aircrafts will deliver the participants to the camp near the Vinson Massif. They will effect an ascent of it - 4897 meters high - in three non-stop stages.

Each member will bear an expedition backpack of 70 liters, and using belt clips will carry sleds of 120 liters (weight load for each participant will be distributed individually). As in extreme cold temperature conditions batteries run down quickly, they will be placed on the body under clothing. The expedition will be ecological and the participants will not leave debris in their path - all waste will be packed and carried away with them.

Bishop of Naryan-Mar and Mezensky blesses travelers

Travelers were admonished by First Vice President of the Society Artur Chilingarov and blessed by Bishop Naryan-Mar and Mezensky Iakov.

The return of the expedition is scheduled for Jan. 8. Updates will be published on the site of IA REGNUM.

Hello! Alex Abramov from Antarctica, from the highest point of Mount Vinson. The weather is beautiful, light breeze. Our entire team is standing on the top. Of course, it's cold. We wanted to strip topless and take pictures with the flag, but the temperature is lower than minus thirty. Therefore, while we could not find volunteers. Well, in general, this is summit! Congratulate us! Today it was hard for all, but it's already over.

Next connection will be, when we reach the base camp. Goodbye!

Hello! This is Alex Abramov from Antarctica. Today we plan to start to the High camp. We turned almost all their tents, collected products and so on ... packed as horses. And now, after half an hour we will begin to climb in the upper camp, High camp. From which tomorrow, about 9:00, we should start to climb for the summit. Weather is good, favorable ... so all is well. Goodbye! Next link will be .... It is not known when. So Long!

Hello, this is Alexander Abramov from Antarctica. Today we have a day of rest after a hard days work. Yesterday we went to the High Camp, we have brought some of our products, and gasoline. And now we have decided to make a day of rest. We went down to the Lower camp at an altitude of 3200 meters and decided to arrange a day of rest, a day of joy. Tomorrow we will be out with a heavy backpack to the upper camp. The next day - the summit bid and ascent and fastest descent. We have a flight on 19th and today is 14th. In general, there is still time. The weather permitting. There is so beautiful in Antarctica, there are beautiful view and clouds. Yesterday the team got out on top on the upper camp, of course, were stunned. Such refraction of the sun! It's just a completely different planet, with its own laws and their orders. So I'm going to cook. We need cooking for three times. Everyone wants to eat. Goodbye!

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov from Antarctica. The situation there is approximately the same as yesterday. While we have not yet flown to the base camp of Vinson. But we hope never leaves. For the next 36 hours we were given a forecast that in the mountains there is a strongfog. And fly, of course, impossible - the plane could crash. So while we are still sitting in the beautiful Union Glacier camp. We eat great food, play cards. The only thing we could do today - it's two hours walkl along the trail ...

Alex Abramov sent some pictures from Punta Arenas

The whole team of the 7 Summits Club Antarctic expedition gathered at last. Everybody is happy and joyful. It is obvious that everything will continue to be well and good!

Tomorrow it will be a busy day, we have to pack up all things and go to the Island Magdalena to communicate with the penguins.

Today we walked to Punta Arenas:

Alex Abramov,
Dmitriev Sergey,

Kharazova Irena,
Belkovich Vladimir,
Merkulov Ivan,
Merkulov Evgeny,
Tommas Pelland,
Utvenko Alexander,
Janczarski Pawel,
Zimin Youri,
Kravt Evgeniy...

Alex start of a new season in Antarctica. He is flying to Punta Arenas for its preparation. It will be three groups of the 7 Summits Club...