Aconcagua 2017-2018

Season of the 7 Summits Club on Aconcagua successfully completed. Most of the participants of our two groups successfully reached the top, all of them came home alive and healthy. Working with our second group, our guide Vladimir Kotlyar led the regular video diary, which we combined into a single narrative:

Hello, Seven Summits! There's a broadcast coming in. We did it, we stand at the top. Valery Myasoedov, Svetlana Tatum and Vladimir Kotlyar are on the highest point of South America at the top of mount Aconcagua.

Weather is so-so. But nothing, we're going down now, slowly. Snow cover us a little, clouds sucked. But we are happy, glad, we did what we came here for. For me and Valera  it is a double celebration. We ended the season with a successful third ascent to this beautiful mountain. So, wait for us soon at home! All hugs, kisses, miss you and love!

Hello Seven Summits Club  and everyone who watches our video diary! Ku-ku! We are at the top of Aconcagua with Cyril.

The weather is perfect!

We caught this weather window.…

Five and a half hours and we're on top.

Kirill is an animal, simply. The fire horse.

Weather... I’ve never been in such weather on this mountain. Honestly word! Warm, no wind at all. I mean, we got the perfect window. Now we are going to go down, because in a few days I may make a re-ascent. We should get some rest tonight.

Hi, 7 Summits Club! We continue our diary of the ascent of Mount Aconcagua. Today is our day of rest and on this occasion we decided to prepare chicken soup by ourself.  We asked to the dining room to the local guys. They allocated us products allocated cooking place.

…

We rest slowly, we come off. Rest day - we need to recover. I'm gonna go ask how our group is doing. Now I am trying to find them…

 Tomorrow we plan to reach Nido de Condores, a high-rise camp at 5,400.  With overnight already.

Vladimir Kotlyar: Hello, 7 Summits! The group "Hussar ballad". We're doing great, the band's feeling good, we're up on the Plaza de Mulas.

 Svetlana, a member of the group, holds free acupuncture sessions…

 Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club: Good morning! The 7 Summits Club continues its season on Aconcagua. A new Group named "Hussar ballad" is in Mendoza, we are preparing to go to the mountains…

 Today the group "Hussar ballad" received permits and we are ready to move into the mountains. But on the border with Chile mudflow destroyed part of the road and now the traffic on the highway is difficult. We'll try to break through.

 Black caviar with champagne- it is a real hussar breakfast…

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club presented our medals to the members of the Aconcagua team. The group, which called itself  "How to catch a raccoon", climbed to the highest peak in South America on January 29.

Congratulations!

New heights, new summits dear friends!

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club: the group of "How to catch a raccoon" successfully climbed Mount Aconcagua! All members of the group and the guides reached the summit.

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, from the summit of Aconcagua: Aloha, Seven Summits! ....  The team "How to catch a raccoon" ... stands on the summit of Aconcagua! Further – emotions…

 Listen to the voice mail:

Aloha, everyone! This is Vladimir Kotlyar, Valeriy Myasoedov and the "How to catch a raccoon".  Raccoon we haven't caught, but successfully returned to Nido de Condores, 5500. Here we live and spend a night. Now we are preparing dinner, before that, we had a big lunch. Overall, the resort really is. But it is cold at this resort, Argentina. Deceive us. Tomorrow we will go to Colera, and far -  as God wills. Keep your fingers cross for us. Wish us luck!

Listen to the voice mail:

Everyone, good evening! This is Vladimir Kotlyar, Valeriy Myasoedov and the "How to catch a raccoon" group. Raccoon we have not yet caught one, but went up to Nido de Condores. It's height is about five and a half thousand metres above sea level. Here we have a small encampment of three tents, our own, and we live for two people in each tent. Today we will have the first high-altitude overnight stay for acclimatization. Tomorrow we plan the descent back to the base camp. So far, we're doing the classic "climbing saw" acclimatization.

We already ate tight, ate lunch and dinner, very nice. Fed and happy we went to the tents. Outside we have frost and the sunset.  A very beautiful sunset. We say Hello to everyone at Home!

Bye!  Being In touch!

Hello! Vladimir Kotlyar and group "How to catch a raccoon". Finally there is Internet, and we can share photos. We successfully made an acclimatization walking. We are now living in Plaza de Mulas tomorrow we go up and I will not call only via satellite. So today I throw a lot of pictures, sorry!

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club:

We got the permits and went into the mountains. We start moving from Penitentes to the foot of Aconcagua!

Vladimir Kotlyar, a guide of the 7 Summits Club:  So, the adventure begins! Today our season on Aconcagua began. I and Valery checked our equipment, then we went to the store to purchase food supplies. And our first member Irina Zisman (who arrived straight from Antarctica) actively helped us. In the evening there was no doubt that we need to raise a glass to a successful first day. Tomorrow we will meet the rest of the members of the expedition to the highest point in South America!

Viktor Ershov, guide of  the 7 Summits Club:

Hello Everyone! Ascent of Aconcagua was successful, but not to the top. We reached the height of 6456м by GPS, just above the hut of Independence. There we were at 14.30, then did not go far. Anna felt bad and impending storm, which later happened. So we turned down. Overall, I think for Anne it is a very cool achievement, to climb to the height of Mera Peak. She was pleased, now she wants to train hard and to come back to Aconcagua next year with 7 Summits! The weather was such as it should be for Christmas and New Year - fell more than a meter of snow for a few days, I was tired of trail. The local guides are in shock, for a long time such was not. And cold. But not very windy. In general,  we tired and very pleased with the result.

And now – for wine and steaks!!

A message from Victor Ershov from Aconcagua:

Hello! We spent two not the sweetest nights in the camp Nido de Condores and rose to acclimatize to camp Berlin at almost 6000m. Cold, windy, snowy... If you add mountain sickness with headache and nausea - this is about so we did! But now we have descended to the base camp, Plaza de Mulas, it's hot here and comfortable! A couple of nights, and then - only to the top!

Our guide Viktor Ershov reports with Aconcagua. We arrived at the village of Penitentes at 2600 m, climbed a small mountain on the opposite side. Height of about 3000 m. We feel good. Here blows strong  wind, a lot of the hot sun and the excellent Malbec (which I took with me...

 Happy New year!