Everest 2022

Artem Rostovtsev, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Nepal:

Greetings to all from the group "Touching Everest"! We touched Everest very well today. It was both cold and hot. The team admitted that it was not easy, but very informative. We got a great experience for future ascents. Tried additional oxygen. All the participants have already gone down to the camp-2, tomorrow morning we are going down to the base camp.

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Nepal:

Over the past two days, the group "Touching Everest" has climbed from the base camp to the second high-altitude camp at an altitude of 6400m. Everyone passed the baptism of the Khumbu icefall steadfastly, they were almost not afraid. The move from the first high-altitude camp to the second was planned with the support of additional oxygen, but the group decided to test themselves and pass it without doping. We coped perfectly, although in the first part of the route strong gusts of wind were a little disturbing. Tonight, the participants will have the opportunity to restore their strength with oxygen before tomorrow's decisive exit to 7100 m.

Olga Rumyantseva works as a mountain guide in 7 Summits Club. However, in this expedition she is just a participant. After the first acclimatization rotation, she sent a large report, available in Russian. And 46 photos have been added to the report – a complete description of the Khumbu icefall in its current state.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

Late yesterday, until 12 o'clock at night, our team was returning from camp 2 6400m to the Base Camp. Therefore, it was not possible to congratulate on May 1 and send a report. All well done, everyone got to the place. It was snowing all day and even photos were difficult to take. Today, May 2, we wash, sleep, go for a massage. We eat the best mutton in BC from our Chef. By the way, a Russian guy named Sergey woke me up in the morning. He bought my book "The Height-Altitude Gene". And he brought it to the Base Camp, asked me to sign it. Such are our events.

We are resting until May 5th. Early on May 5, into battle again, with the aim of climbing to Camp 7300m.

Olga Rumyantseva, a member of the expedition: The Everest-22 team descended from Camp 2 at an altitude of 6500 to the base camp. And again we passed through the Khumbu icefall. For the next three days, we will all rest and sleep off. Well, I will have time to tell detailed stories just in these three days.

You asked if there is snow in the base camp. Compare with the photos of the days when we just arrived with today.

We came to Camp Two at an altitude of 6450 meters. Compared to yesterday, it is an easy walk along the plane and a gradual climb. But the height makes itself felt.

We have a very limited amount of Internet. Therefore, I will not abuse it. And for your patience, here is our beautiful morning view of the Everest - Lhotse traverse from the first camp.

 View of the second camp. Well, as experts suggest, this is the Valley of Silence.

Artem Rostovtsev, a guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Nepal:

The team "Touching Everest" reached the base camp. We spent the previous two nights in the town of Lobuche, recovering from a vigorous climb. Which was not superfluous at all. Now at the base camp we are preparing for the main event – the "touch" itself. Today we held rope classes on the ice, we felt confident, tomorrow we will repeat and fix it. And then – into the icefall!

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

News of the Everest 2022 expedition. Today our team held ice training sessions. All participants learned a lot of new things. How to walk with jumar. What is means of self-arrest and most importantly, how to walk up the stairs over crevasses. And there are a lot of crevsses on the Khumbu icefall this year. Many thanks to our team of Sherpas who prepared the traces and controlled the process!  Tonight we are going out for the overnight to Camp 1 6000m and then we will go up to camp 2 6400m and come back. This will be the first acclimatization rotation.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

Today was the opening day of the camp – Puja ceremony. The entire team of participants and Sherpas gathered in the center of our camp. There a monk was reading a prayer.

It started snowing. But we persisted in praying.

Artem Rostovtsev, super-guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Nepal:

Greetings to all from Periche from the team "Touching Everest". We are gradually gaining a foothold at new heights, today we spent the night at 4250m. We go according to the plan, along a beautiful path, in a good mood. Today we are moving to Lobuche.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

Today, the team of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-2022" reached the Base Camp, where they were met by a team of Sherpas.  First of all, the participants went to the bar, the traditional resting place of the team members. And then the participants were waiting for a great dinner from the chef.  Tomorrow there will be a celebration of the opening of the camp – Puja.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

 Today Alex Abramov and Elena Abramova reached the base camp, where we were met by our Super-Sherpas. And the Super Chef of La Sherpa restaurant.I still didn't understand how he can cook dishes of real Haute cuisine from ordinary chicken and ordinary pork.

Also, on the way, a historic meeting with the famous French climber, 70-year-old Marc Batard, took place in Gorakshep. He is making a new path to Everest, bypassing the Khumbu icefall. An exchange of views on this issue took place.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

The Everest-2022 team has successfully arrived in Lobuche 5030m.  On the way we visited the memorial to the lost climbers. There are also our friends there. Tomorrow Alex Abramov and Lena Abramova will go to the Base Camp to check its readiness. And the day after tomorrow the whole team arrives there. The weather is clear but windy.

Base camp

Artem Rostovtsev, super-guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Nepal:

News of the group "Touching Everest". Hello everyone from the scenic trail to the Everest base camp! This year it is loaded, there is a constant flow of tourists, and we are flowing with them towards the Big Mountain. After arriving in Lukla, the team reached Namche Bazaar in two days. Here we will rest for a day and then go further, or rather - forward, closer to our goal.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

Our team is confidently moving towards the Everest Base Camp. Today we are spending the night in Periche. The whole team has already become friends. We go, have fun, admire the views. We went to the Monastery of Tiangboche. Caught the service, left the money.  Everything is according to plan. Trekking to the Base Camp is the best part of our Everest expedition. This is the time to get a good acclimatization and make friends with the team.

Olga Rumyantseva, member of the expedition of the 7 Summits Club "Everest-2022":

Today is the most beautiful day of trekking: we moved from Namche Bazaar to Dingboche. First of all, we were shown Everest and my favorite Ama Dablam. Secondly, we walked in rhododendron groves, enjoying their exuberant color.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

There are many women in our 7 Summits Club team. But the most famous of them is Lhakpa Sherpa. She already has a world record among women: 9 ascents on Mount Everest. Now she has come with an American film crew to set a new World record for women: 10 times on Everest.

Artem Rostovtsev, super-guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Nepal:

The expedition of the 7 Summits Club team "Touching Everest" begins. All participants gathered in Kathmandu.  Today we spent half a day on local history, on excursions and tomorrow we will start our journey towards Everest. The group's program involves a trek to the Everest base camp and then an ascent to Camp 2 through the Khumbu icefall using additional ("artificial") oxygen.

Alexander Abramov, President of the 7 Summits Club, leader of the Everest expedition, from Nepal:

Today our team moved from Phakding to Namche Bazaar.  Here we settled in the best hotel in the town - Sherpa Land. Each in a single room with a shower.

Since we have all-inclusive meals on the trek, we really overeat delicious Nepali food.  On the way, the rain caught us and we were wet for the last 2 hours. The day ended with a visit to the Irish Pub, this is a tradition of our expedition. Tomorrow will be a day of rest. And we will sleep for a long time.

At five in the morning, very sleepy, we arrived at the airport. And flew to Lukla.

Everything turned out somehow quickly.  The hotel, the airport, the first flight was ours. We hand over our things and immediately go to the plane. A small plane for 15 people. Forty minutes of flight among the mountains, and now we are landing at Lukla airport. 

A short runway in one direction breaks off into an abyss, in the other - rests on the slope.  Very impressive.  Airplanes take off and land one after the other like fixed-route taxis. It is necessary to have time to make as many flights as possible before the weather deteriorates.

 Lukla Airport is considered one of the most dangerous. Takeoff and landing here require considerable skill.

 In Lukla we have breakfast and set out on our way. Today we are waiting for a short walk to Phading. Four hours of a simple walk.