Makalu 2023

The head of the expedition on Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

All namaste from Nepal from the expedition on Makalu "Minions of Makalu". Today we woke up in Namche and saw that the entire Sherpa capital was covered with snow. But by the time we left, the snow had almost melted - we were walking to the sound of drops. The whole trip to Tiangboche pleased us with beautiful views of Ama-Dablam, Cholatse (where Valera Babanov is going now), Everest and Lhotse. We walked through thickets of yews and rhododendrons.

We could not pass by the famous Tiangboche Monastery - already, according to the good old tradition, the whole group made a cora around the monastery and went inside. We were very lucky - a very cool local lama was reading a prayer there. At our request, he agreed to bless our expedition on Makalu and tied a thread around each participant's neck and katu.

Now we are staying at the wonderful Rivendell Lodge (perhaps the best on the route). The owners of the lodge and their dog Shenki remember us well and welcome us very cordially. We washed with hot water, had lunch and rest.  We're going to Pheriche tomorrow.

The head of the expedition on Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

All Namaste from Namche from the participants of the expedition on Makalu! We started this morning cheerfully - with morning exercises.  After breakfast, we went out to acclimatize to the famous Everest View Hotel. In an hour and a half we gained 400m and sat down to drink tea with a view of Everest and Ama-Dablam (soon covered by clouds). After about 10 minutes, the snow began to fall. We danced in the hope of dispersing the clouds (it helped for 20 minutes) and through this window we rushed down to Namche.

Only three of the most advanced (Irina, Marina and I) decided to stay and try something new - yoga at the lodge at 3800. It was awesome! First the tuning, then stretching and asanas, at the end - shavasana with singing bowls and tea with rhododendrons.  While we were at yoga, bad weather raged, as soon as we came out, the sun came out. We quickly rushed down to Namche. We ran straight to the Sherpa Barista, where we had a great lunch with the whole group and even with Valera Babanov.

Here the weather has completely deteriorated. It's been raining and snowing for the fifth hour. We hope the weather will improve tomorrow. We have to go to the famous Tiangboche Monastery.

By the way, today we finally approved the name of our team – "Makalu Minions". Everything will be clear from the photo.

The head of the expedition on Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

20 April. News of the expedition on Makalu.  Namaste from Namche Bazaar - the capital of the Sherpas! We ran here together in 5 hours from Phakding today. And very timely - immediately after our arrival in Namche, it began to rain with hail. But we were no longer afraid - we settled in rooms with hot water and heated sheets.

At lunch in the most famous cafe in Namche - Sherpa "Barista" - we met with Valera Babanov. He and a friend were lifted to Namche  by Simone Moro by helicopter. The next 3-4 days our routes coincide with Valera.

Tomorrow we are planning a day of rest and a disco in a Japanese hotel with a view of Mount Everest.

The head of the expedition to Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

April 19. Greetings to all from the expedition on Makalu!  Today our team arrived in Lukla and started moving towards Everest.  This year there are new rules - now at the checkpoint immediately after Lukla, documents are checked for a long time and a special trekker card is issued.

Halfway to the Phacking we had lunch and at sunset we came to the Shangri la Resort Sherpa - a cozy hotel among the pine forest and overlooking the neighboring Summits.

Tomorrow we move to the capital of the Sherpas – Namche Bazaar.

The head of the expedition on Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

Greetings to all from Kathmandu from the expedition on Makalu! Today, on April 18, the last two participants arrived - Marina and Valery Babanov. We sent part of the cargo immediately under Makalu (in very beautiful bags). Then part of the group went to buy equipment, and the other part - to get acquainted with the culture of Nepal.

We visited several Hindu and Buddhist temples, saw the world's largest statue of Padmasabhava, meditated in the caves where Padmasabhava himself achieved enlightenment, made three koras around the largest stupa in Nepal.

In the evening we gathered for a gala dinner, which our Ecuadorian friend, Edgar Parra, unexpectedly shared with us. Tomorrow morning, according to the plan, we will start the trek to Everest Base camp.

The head of the expedition on Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

Hello everyone from Kathmandu!  Today almost all the participants of our expedition on Makalu gathered in Kathmandu! Almost all of them are Everest summiters, many of them have several eight-thousandth peaks behind them, there are two "Snow Leopards"!

Tomorrow we send some things straight to the base camp Makalu, we buy more equipment and the day after tomorrow we are on the road! Forward and Up!

The head of the expedition to Makalu Lyudmila Korobeshko reports from Nepal:

 Greetings from Nepal from the expedition on Makalu! The first members of our team finally began to arrive in the capital of Nepal. In the morning, Veronica and Lilia (climbers of last season's Everest) arrived. By the way, these brave girls are planning to make two ascents of 8000 at once - to Makalu and Lhotse.  In the late afternoon Israfil Ashurly arrived in Kathmandu, an experienced high-altitude climber (took part in a dozen expeditions to the eight-thousandth Summits) who is an assistant leader in our expedition.

In the evening we paid a friendly visit to the Everest expedition led by Alex Abramov. All the girls first of all ran to be photographed with the legend of Soviet mountaineering - Sergey Bogomolov. He is participating in an expedition to Mount Everest as a preparation for his main goal - K2 this summer. Early tomorrow morning, the Everest team will fly to Lukla, and we will meet the main part of our team on Makalu.

At the party on April 6, the team of the 8000 Club expedition to Makalu will be presented to the guests. Come and wish them a good journey! In this millennium, Russia has not yet been represented on this mountain by such a large and strong expedition. All the participants of the expedition have extensive experience of climbing, including eight-thousand meters. And Valery Babanov and Israfil Ashurli are recognized authorities in the world of sports mountaineering. Good luck, weather, health! Everyone come back with a victory!

We present the participants of the 8000 Club expedition on Makalu.

1. Irina Zisman. Moscow.
Experience: The Seven Summits project. Everest, Manaslu, Cho-Oyu. Ama-Dablam.

2. Lilia Kovalenko. Samara.
Experience: 6 Summits from the Seven Summits project, Everest, Manaslu. Plans 2x8000 - Makalu + Lhotse.

3. Veronika Zaripova. Ufa.
Experience: Everest, Ama-Dablam, Lenin Icon. Plans 2x8000 - Makalu + Lhotse.

4. Vladimir Belkovich. Moscow.
Experience: The Seven Summits Project, Everest, K2, Manaslu, Lenin Peak, Ama-Dablam. Plans 2x8000 - Makalu+ Lhotse

5. Igor Smirnov. Moscow.
Experience: 6 Summits from the Seven Summits project, Everest, Manaslu, Cho-Oyu, Shisha-Pangma, Ama-Dablam.

6. Vasily Kernitsky. Moscow.
Experience: Everest, Manaslu, Cho-Oyu, Korzhenevskaya Peak, Communism peak, Lenin Peak.

7. Yuri Lukyanov. Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
Experience: 6 Summits from the project "Seven Summits", "Snow Leopard", Manaslu.

8. Valery Babanov Valery. Chamonix.
The star of world mountaineering. New routes to the eight–thousand-meter Broad Peak and Dhaulagiri, twice winner of the international prize "Golden Ice Axe", the best ascents in the Himalayas - new routes to the Peak  Meru, Nuptse and Jannu.

9. Israfil Ashurli (assistant to the head of the expedition to Makalu) Baku. Azerbaijan.
Experience: The Seven Summits project, Everest, Manaslu, Broad Peak, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Snow Leopard.

Head: Lyudmila Korobeshko. Director of the 7 Summits Club. She has completed the Seven Summits project three times, visited the poles twice, three times Everest summiter, Cho-Oyu, Manaslu.