Preparation course for Everest, Denali and Vinson - 2021

Alexey Lonchinsky, coach, guide of the 7 Summits Club from the Elbrus region: Good afternoon! Our team successfully spent last night at the refuge, and Igor Kamynin spent that night in a comfortable snow cave made by us day before! In the morning, we continued training on snow, and mastered the skills of building wind protection snow walls. In the afternoon we went down to the Azau Glade. At this point, all the tasks of the preparation courses for climbing Mount Everest, Denali and Antarctica can be considered successfully completed!!!

The new group arrived in the Elbrus region for training courses preparation for climbing Mount Everest, Denali and in Antarctica. Today we had an introductory and preparatory day. We learned how to set up tents, how to use burners, and also practiced climbing on fixed lines. In the afternoon, there was a lecture about the use of oxygen at eight-thousand meters peaks. After that, we started preparing equipment for the next day's trip to the glacier. The group guides Alexey Lonchinsky and Andrey Berezin.

Alexey Lonchinsky, coach, guide of the 7 Summits Club from the Elbrus region: The 7 Summits Club is completing the second group of training courses for climbing Mount Everest, Denali and  in Antarctica. All the days on Elbrus, the weather conditions were difficult. A lot of snow fell, avalanche danger appeared. However, the entire program was executed.

The course participants practiced on technical snow climbing skills and belay on snow slopes, basic skills of climbing on ice in crampons, organization of belay on ice screw, climbing with fixed lines. The participants learned how to set up a tent camp in the snow, build protective wind walls from firn blocks, tear off and equip snow caves.

Alexey Lonchinsky, guide of the 7 Summits Club from the Elbrus region: Yesterday, the second group of training  preparation courses for climbing Mount Everest, Denali and Antarctica arrived. Yesterday I checked the equipment, today we had a lecture on the use of public equipment (sledges, kitchen, tents). Then we went for a walk on snowshoes, set up a tent camp, and studied the operation of a gasoline burner. Then we repeated the movement on fixed lines and other techniques of working with the rope.

The first group of courses of the 7 Summits Club in preparation for climbing Mount Everest, Denali and in Antarctica has completed its work. On the final day, the team made an attempt to climb to the top of Elbrus. Due to the poor weather forecast, it was decided that it would be possible to limit the ascent to an altitude of about 5000 meters. The strong wind made reaching the summit too risky, and the conditions were quite harsh. See what the participants say about the course.

 The 7 Summits Club completes the first part of the preparation course for climbing Mount Everest, Denali and Antarctica. Under the guidance of the Club's President Alexander Abramov and our other experienced guides, the course participants completed a series of practical exercises in the conditions of almost winter Elbrus. In particular, classes were held on technical snow climbing skills and belay on snow slopes, basic skills of climbing on ice in crampons, organization of belay on ice screw, climbing with fixed lines. The participants learned how to set up a tent camp in the snow, build protective wind walls from firn blocks, tear off and equip snow caves. All participants of the training camp were delighted with the program.

Alex Abramov from Elbrus region:  Today, the participants of the school of preparation for climbing Mount Everest, Denali, and Antarctica enthusiastically practiced all the necessary survival techniques on these mountains. These are: climbing on fixed ropes, pulling from crevasses, walking in snowshoes, setting up and protecting tents, cooking food. In the morning, all the girls, except for flowers and sweets, were given a snow shovel by the guides. In the evening, we celebrated the holiday on March 8 with champagne. Tomorrow, according to the plan, there will be an exit with tents on the glaciers of Elbrus for 2 days. We will learn how to set up a bivouac, build snow walls, heat snow and cook food, and even go to the toilet in bags. The day after tomorrow we will continue, we will have ice classes on real crevasses.

Training courses for Everest, Denali and Antarctica climbs have started in the Elbrus region. Today, the guides and some of the participants conducted a survey of the place of classes on Elbrus. We went on snowshoes on the glacier, dug caves. We prepared equipment:  sledges, ropes, oxygen, snowshoes, tents, food burners, and much more. The main group arrives tomorrow. The participants will have a fantastic adventure, a lot of unique knowledge and ascent on Elbrus.