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Alex Abramov flies to prepare a big expedition on Carstensz Pyramid

Carstensz Pyramid. Today, Alexander Abramov went to the Papuans. He is the guide of an expedition to the Pyramid Carstensz and President of the 7 Summits Club.  Alex started a few days earlier the entire group to thoroughly prepare for this difficult ... read more

Today, Alexander Abramov went to the Papuans. He is the guide of an expedition to the Pyramid Carstensz and President of the 7 Summits Club.

 Alex started a few days earlier the entire group to thoroughly prepare for this difficult expedition.

 

 

And the rest of the participants will arrive at the point of collection - Bali - 21 October. And eating seafood and having been filled with the sun, they will go deep into the island of Papua New Guinea adventures. The team gathered this times numerous - 10 PAX.

 

The Group of Olga Rumyantseva is moving home in the jungle of Papua

Carstensz Pyramid.   Hello everyone! This is Olga Rumyantseva from an expedition to Carstensz Pyramid. As I said, the day before yesterday we all by our friendly team in quite difficult conditions climbed (Pyramid) Cartenzs. Igor Stolyarov completed the ... read more

 

Hello everyone! This is Olga Rumyantseva from an expedition to Carstensz Pyramid. As I said, the day before yesterday we all by our friendly team in quite difficult conditions climbed (Pyramid) Cartenzs. Igor Stolyarov completed the Seven summits program, what made him for the second day very happy...

We are now on the way home, already nearly reached the third camp. So hopefully soon we will be in Sugapa. And go to Bali, it is time - some participants became similar to the Papuans, speak their language, eat their food, chew red poppy, etc... Bye!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olga Rumiantseva from Papua: the group climbed the Pyramid Carstenzs and descended to base camp....

Carstensz Pyramid. According to a guide of 7 summits Club Olga Rumyantseva, today's climb was successful. The whole team descended to base camp. Tomorrow they begin the return journey through the jungle. We congratulate all participants and leader! And ... read more

According to a guide of 7 summits Club Olga Rumyantseva, today's climb was successful. The whole team descended to base camp. Tomorrow they begin the return journey through the jungle. We congratulate all participants and leader! And especially, that is, separately, we congratulate Igor Stolyarov with successful completion of the program 7 summits!

 

Igor Stolyarov - on the right

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News of the expedition to the Pyramid Carstenzs: today summit bid is possible

Carstensz Pyramid. We received two messages from the head of the expedition to the Pyramid Carstenzs (Indonesia, the island of Papua New Guinea) a guide of 7 summits Club Olga Rumyantseva. Sunday 12 April: "We came to camp 4. On the way we enjoyed the ... read more

We received two messages from the head of the expedition to the Pyramid Carstenzs (Indonesia, the island of Papua New Guinea) a guide of 7 summits Club Olga Rumyantseva.

Sunday 12 April:

"We came to camp 4. On the way we enjoyed the beautiful views. After he arranged the camp and had lunch, we held a technical training with elements of the jumar ascends and Tyrolean traverse (that's all we will meet very soon on the ascent"

Monday 13 April:

"We got to base camp. All is well. And if the weather permits, today we will go on summit climbing"

 

 

 

A few photos from past expeditions

Beautiful views on the way to and from base camp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base camp

 

 

 

Tyrolean traverse

 

Our guide of the Pyramid Carstensz Pyramid Olga Rumyantseva reports from the jungle of Papua

Carstensz Pyramid. Guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva: "We reached the second camp and passed on. All is well, just wet and cold."     Illustrations from past trips:   Numerous flying bridges on the way to camp 2 at the camp 2   ... read more

Guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumyantseva: "We reached the second camp and passed on. All is well, just wet and cold."

 

 

Illustrations from past trips:

 

Numerous flying bridges on the way to camp 2


at the camp 2

 

 

 

The next our expedition to Carstensz Pyramid is planned for autumn, and this time - with famous Valery Rozov.

Watch the program>>>>>>>

Group at Pyramid Carstens met our guide Olga Rumiantseva in Bali

Carstensz Pyramid. Guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumiantseva reports: Hello everyone! Today, all the members of our expedition to the Pyramid Carstenzs gathered in Bali. It's five members of expedition coming from different cities of Russia and abroad. So ... read more

Guide of the 7 Summits Club Olga Rumiantseva reports:

Hello everyone!

Today, all the members of our expedition to the Pyramid Carstenzs gathered in Bali.

It's five members of expedition coming from different cities of Russia and abroad. So the company is to be very fun and varied.

For Eduard this will be the first mountain at all and the first mountain experience. But Igor (Stolyarov) in the case of a successful climb will complete the 7 Summits project .

Tomorrow night we plan to fly to Papua. And if everything will be in order, we immediately put forward to the beginning of the trek.

 

 

 

Carstensz Pyramid - 2014. Expediton impressions. PHOTOS

Carstensz Pyramid.   The 7 Summits Club expedition to the peak of Carstensz Pyramid under the leadership of Sergei Larin guide the club ended successfully. Even more, super successfully: with the establishment of a new world age record. Dmitry Tertychny ... read more

 

The 7 Summits Club expedition to the peak of Carstensz Pyramid under the leadership of Sergei Larin guide the club ended successfully. Even more, super successfully: with the establishment of a new world age record.

Dmitry Tertychny became the world's youngest climber to Carstensz. That is If you take those who made approach through the jungle from Sugapa. His age is 13 years 6 months. Jordan Romero was on top at the age of 13 years 4 months. However, he flew with the team to the base camp by helicopter.

 

Fully gallery here (83 picture)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New record on Carstensz Pyramid! There was a 13-year-old Russian boy on the summit!

Carstensz Pyramid. The 7 Summits Club expedition to the peak of Carstensz Pyramid under the leadership of Sergei Larin guide the club ended successfully. Even more, super successfully: with the establishment of a new world age record. Dmitry Tertychny became ... read more

The 7 Summits Club expedition to the peak of Carstensz Pyramid under the leadership of Sergei Larin guide the club ended successfully. Even more, super successfully: with the establishment of a new world age record.

Dmitry Tertychny became the world's youngest climber to Carstensz. That is If you take those who made approach through the jungle from Sugapa. His age is 13 years 6 months. Jordan Romero was on top at the age of 13 years 4 months. However, he flew with the team to the base camp by helicopter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carstensz Pyramid - view from the beginning of the route ...

 

 

Summit photo. Our Indonesian friends procured posters for all occasions.

 

 

Father and son ...

 

 

The youngest climber to Carstensz Dmitry Tertychny

 

Team of Sergey Larin finished the trek and went to the village Sugapa, tomorrow flight to Bali

Carstensz Pyramid.   Sergey Larin: Hello Seven Summits! Information from Irian Jaya. The active part of our program is over. Today we went to Sugapa. Tomorrow on a small single-engine aircraft we fly to Timika and then to Bali ... We all good, everything ... read more

 

Sergey Larin: Hello Seven Summits! Information from Irian Jaya. The active part of our program is over. Today we went to Sugapa. Tomorrow on a small single-engine aircraft we fly to Timika and then to Bali ... We all good, everything goes according to plan ....

 

 

 

 

SUMMIT. 13-year-old at the top of the Pyramid Carstensz

Carstensz Pyramid. Hello! Today, November 3, 10 hours and 30 minutes of local time of the Seven Summits team stood a top of Ngugi Ngugi, as the locals call Carstensz Pyramid. Now we are at the base camp and have a lunch. I remind our composition: Father ... read more

Hello! Today, November 3, 10 hours and 30 minutes of local time of the Seven Summits team stood a top of Ngugi Ngugi, as the locals call Carstensz Pyramid. Now we are at the base camp and have a lunch. I remind our composition: Father Alexander, his son Dmitri, Konstantin and yours truly - Sergei. As for Dmitri, his birthday is April 11, 2001. Our guide Poxy says he had led a 12-year-old American in August of 2009 *. But they did not go a trek and reached base camp by helicopter. So there is cause for reflection. Finally congratulations we will take when we were in Timika. This is approximately a Saturday. The return trip will also not fast. But we have already formed a new goal - is Bali. By! Sergej Larin.

* Jordan Romero climbed to the top of the Pyramid Carstensz September 1, 2009 at the age of 13 years and 40 days.

 

 

 

Start of a new Pyramid Carstensz expedition

Carstensz Pyramid.   A guide of 7 Summits Club Sergei Larin head a new expedition to the Pyramid Carstensz. Three members, one of which is a boy of thirteen, will try to climb the highest peak of the Australian continent. Now they came to Sugapa ... read more

 

A guide of 7 Summits Club Sergei Larin head a new expedition to the Pyramid Carstensz. Three members, one of which is a boy of thirteen, will try to climb the highest peak of the Australian continent. Now they came to Sugapa village...

 

 

 

Denis Provalov from Papua: we reached successfully to the beginning of the trekking route

Carstensz Pyramid. Dear friends! You listen to the guide 7 Summits Club Provalov Denis.... Now I will briefly try to explain where we are. With my friend Charles Nuzum (from USA) we plan to climb the highest peak in Australia and Oceania, the peak of ... read more

Dear friends! You listen to the guide 7 Summits Club Provalov Denis.... Now I will briefly try to explain where we are. With my friend Charles Nuzum (from USA) we plan to climb the highest peak in Australia and Oceania, the peak of Carstenzs. Its height 4884 meters, nearly five thousand meters. For this purpose, we met up with Charlie, who specially arrived from the States, in the famous resort of Bali. There is sun, sea, swimming... But we were busy buying the necessary equipment, and products. And yesterday....

 

 

So, today we start from the village Sugapa further into the jungle, will break.....

 

 

Official information: Carstensz Pyramid Expedition September 2014

Morning 01.50 team flew on the route Denpasar - Timika airline Garuda Indonesia. Arrived in Timika in 06.15. From Timika flew at 10.15 in the village of Sugapa. Reached it at 11.10. Then continued the journey by motorcycle and stopped for the night in the village Suanggama. Next, the path goes walking...

The guides of group:

- Raymond from Manado

- Hatta from Manado

www.carstensz-expedition.com

 

 

The best pictures from our Carstensz expedition

Carstensz Pyramid. 25th and 26th of September, by two part, our team of ten Russians summited Carstensz Pyramid. It was made in the hard weather conditions: every day’s rain, upstairs - snow, fog. The team: Mikhail Turovsky, Vadim Nadvodnyuk, Sergey ... read more

25th and 26th of September, by two part, our team of ten Russians summited Carstensz Pyramid. It was made in the hard weather conditions: every day’s rain, upstairs - snow, fog. The team: Mikhail Turovsky, Vadim Nadvodnyuk, Sergey Dmitriev, Olga Rumyantseva, Igor Demjanenko, Liana Chabdarova, Jamila Murtazina, Vitaly Simonovich, Elena Gorelik and Alexander Abramov. And also, two Indonesian guide. Bisides, Lena Gorelik, Vitaly Simonovich and Mikhail Turovsky completed the program 7 Summits with variant Carstensz Pyramid.

 

Full galery is here >>>>>>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trek is completed, our group has successfully descended to Sugapa

Carstensz Pyramid. Hello! Alexander Abramov informed of the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid. Today, the day was again hard: rain, mud, slippery. But we went through the final part of jungle. In general, our expedition is over. The entire team gathered in ... read more

Hello! Alexander Abramov informed of the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid. Today, the day was again hard: rain, mud, slippery. But we went through the final part of jungle. In general, our expedition is over. The entire team gathered in Sugapa and tomorrow we fly to Timika. That is, we will be at the international airport. We'll probably spend the night at the Sheraton. The next day -Bali. Celebration ... and so on and so forth. In general, all must be soon in Moscow. Here, we just brought the whiskey! Hurry, that is finish. Bye!

 

 

 

The first part of Alex Abramov's team reached the top of Mount Carstensz

Carstensz Pyramid. Alexander Abramov from the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid: the first part of group climbed the top of Carstensz Pyramid. The weather was not bad, some rain, snow and fog. We congratulate Mikhail Turovsky (from Piatigosk) who finished the ... read more

Alexander Abramov from the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid: the first part of group climbed the top of Carstensz Pyramid. The weather was not bad, some rain, snow and fog. We congratulate Mikhail Turovsky (from Piatigosk) who finished the program Seven Summits variant Carstensz. Tomorrow the second part will try to get the summit.

 

 

 

Mikhail Turovsky (in the center)

Alex Abramov's team reached the camp five at the foot of Mount Carstensz

Carstensz Pyramid. Alexander Abramov of the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid. Today might be called "happy day" or "day of the sun." In the morning the sun came out, and during the day it occasionally shone for us. But sometimes, however, was a little rain. ... read more

Alexander Abramov of the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid. Today might be called "happy day" or "day of the sun." In the morning the sun came out, and during the day it occasionally shone for us. But sometimes, however, was a little rain.

But compared to previous days, of course, this is great progress. We have dry tents, the first time from the beginning of trek.

Now we are on the high plateau. In the morning, we have seen an array of Carstensz Pyramid. This camp five, a day from the future base camp.

Hard way to Carstensz for a group of Alex Abramov

Carstensz Pyramid.   Hello! Alexander Abramov sends information from Irian Jaya, aprovinceofPapua. We're going to Carstensz Pyramid. Today the whole day we walked through the swamps, climbed the steep slippery slopes, clinging to the different roots. One ... read more

 

Hello! Alexander Abramov sends information from Irian Jaya, aprovinceofPapua. We're going to Carstensz Pyramid. Today the whole day we walked through the swamps, climbed the steep slippery slopes, clinging to the different roots. One of porters even lost one boot in the mud. In general, it's not easy, everything is pretty hard ... Above that, Nikolai Stepanenko was sick of some unknown illness, and now we have sent him back. He went down with the accompanying and will try to fly home. Now we set up the tents right in the swamp, getting ready for bed, as well as to receive an evening meal. But, in general, we have all the good spirits. To Carstensz we should spend five more days of this path. And about five days on the way back. But we like this adventure. It is still not so bad. Goodbye!

 

 

 

Start of Carstensz expedition for a group of Alex Abramov

Carstensz Pyramid. Hello! Alex Abramov sends information from Irian Jaya, aprovinceofPapua. We're going to Carstensz Pyramid. We rested a couple of days inBaliand today, with morning departures from Denpasar, we arrived in Timika. This is already the area of ... read more

Hello! Alex Abramov sends information from Irian Jaya, aprovinceofPapua. We're going to Carstensz Pyramid. We rested a couple of days inBaliand today, with morning departures from Denpasar, we arrived in Timika. This is already the area of Irian Jaya. From Timika in just a few hours we flew to thevillageofSugapa. Sugapa is already known to me for the past journey, which took place in 2008. Of course, a lot has changed in 5 years ... but not too much. Tomorrow we start our trekking route.

 

Start of a global expedition: Fuji, Giluve, Carstensz

Giluwe.  Our group led by Alex Abramov landed in Tokyo. The weather is typical for Far East: rain. But the mood is great. We plan to climb Mount Fuji. Then fly to New Guinea for the tallest volcano - Mount Giluve. And at last - to climb the ... read more

 Our group led by Alex Abramov landed in Tokyo. The weather is typical for Far East: rain. But the mood is great. We plan to climb Mount Fuji. Then fly to New Guinea for the tallest volcano - Mount Giluve. And at last - to climb the Carstensz Pyramid.

 

 

 

The first day in Tokyo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collectors of Mountains: Seven Summits and more….

Carstensz Pyramid. UAE-based adventurer scales Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania. DUBAI: The UAE-based adventurer Suzanne Al Houby, a Palestinian, has returned from her latest expedition with another world record as the first Arab woman to scale Carstensz Pyramid ... read more

UAE-based adventurer scales Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania.

DUBAI: The UAE-based adventurer Suzanne Al Houby, a Palestinian, has returned from her latest expedition with another world record as the first Arab woman to scale Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya), the highest mountain in Oceania, peaking at 4,884 metres.

Al Houby is famous for becoming the first Arab woman to climb Mount Everest last year and with this latest climb she has now officially conquered six of the Seven Summits — the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Compared to previous expeditions, Al Houby has embarked on a pursuit of her goal, Carstensz Pyramid, located inPapua,Indonesia, which offers its own set of unique challenges.

The approach for this climb is known as the most difficult in the world.

The area is extremely inaccessible, with the journey beginning in a multi-hour flight acrossIndonesia, with as many as six stops, before landing on theislandofPapua, where the mountain is located.

From there, Al Houby and the rest of her expedition made a gruelling six-day trek across steep terrain through rainforests, swamps, mud slides and rock walls just to get to the base camp.

The expedition was supported by tribal porters from the Dani tribe, a people who live outside of modern civilisation and who have practised cannibalism well into the 20th century.

During the trek, the expedition had to pay sums of money to tiny villages as they passed through for fear of animosity towards them.

 

 

 

“The weather conditions were really bad because of continuous heavy rains,” says Al Houby.

“We were wet all the time and the rain made steep sections difficult to cross.”

“The continuous deterioration in weather affected the health of some of the climbers.

“This made me develop a nasty lung infection that began to make me weaker each day until we reached the base camp,” she said.

After reaching the base camp and taking a day’s rest, Al Houby pushed through on her attempt to the summit.

“I climbed the vertical rock walls until we were high up on the summit ridge. There we stood in front of one of the highest mountain obstacles in the world: a 12-metre gap between two rock pinnacles with hundreds of metres drop in between.

Along with Al Houby on the expedition was another Arab climber, the Jordanian Mostafa Salameh.

“This was the first time I’ve ever had another Arab climber in the team with me and the camaraderie was just amazing.

“We had a great time and we crossed the most challenging section higher up together,” she said.

Besides being the first and only Arab woman to ever climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth at 8,850 metres, Al Houby was also the first Arab woman to climb Mont Blanc, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Vinson (the highest mountains in Western Europe, Europe, South America and Antarctica), in addition to Kilimanjaro and Toubkal, the highest mountains in Africa and North Africa respectively, amongst others.

 

The summit of Mt. Everest

 

 

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Everest hero Mostafa turns attention to charity and poles hikes

 

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/everest-hero-mostafa-turns-attention-to-charity-and-poles-hikes-1-2659648

 

Mostafa Mahmoud

By David O’Leary

A FORMER city hotel worker who quit his job to climbMount Everesthas become the first Jordanian to scale the highest peaks on each of the world’s continents.

Mostafa Mahmoud Salameh, from Bruntsfield, resigned from his job as food and beverages manager at the Sheraton in 2004 to embark on the life-altering challenge of scaling the world’s highest mountain.

 

 

Not content with just reaching the 8850m summit, however, the 42-year old has gone on to complete the Seven Summits challenge and become a Jordanian national hero into the bargain – he has been knighted by the Middle Eastern state.

Last Friday, the Queen Margaret University graduate reached the summit of the Carstenz Pyramid in Indonesia, finishing an eight-year odyssey which has seen him scale Everest along the border of Nepal and Tibet/China; Mount McKinley in Alaska; the Vinson Massif in Antarctica; Aconcagua in Argentina; Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mount Elbrus in Russia.

He said: “It’s a relief to finally complete them all. I head toJordannext week to hand the flag back to the king ofJordan. It was easily the toughest trek I’ve ever done, just getting to the mountain through dense Indonesian jungle was an ordeal.

“It would take us a whole day just to complete 200 metres, there are also about 50 different tribes living in the area and we would have to stop and trade with each one.

“Everest base camp was a walk in the park in comparison.”

He added: “After weeks with no shower, eating rice for breakfast lunch and dinner, I finally made it to the top of a giant, jagged rock, raising the Jordanian flag on the last of my Seven Summits.”

The intrepid explorer still callsEdinburghhome, though, and regularly returns to the city.

He said: “Edinburghis my base and I return every couple of weeks. The next time I’m back I will go to a few schools and give some talks. My wife is pregnant at the moment and we are going to have a second child in four weeks time so this will be my next summit.”

Following the birth of his child, Mostafa will begin training for his next adventure in January and is planning a 60-day hike to the South Pole before flying toNorwayto begin a journey to the North Pole.

He added: “If successful I will become one of only 25 people in the world to complete both the Seven Summits and both poles. My plan is to complete the South Pole in November 2013 and finish the North Pole in April 2014.”

Next April, Mostafa will also lead 20 Jordanian celebrities to Everest base camp to raise more than a million dollars (?625,000) for the King Hussein Cancer Foundation.

 

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Blind climber receives Hillary grant for Seven Summits

 

Blind runner Neelusha Memon and helper Olly Marshall finish the Coast to Coast race at Sumner

 

 

News Pursuit leads to Hutt drugs, weapon bust Auction decides fate of family's farms Licence suspension rescheduled around tournament Kapiti killing accused appears in court Rare whisky remedy memorable, says doctor Post mortem for burnt-out car death Officers' actions played role in prisoner's death Wellington Santa Run raises cash for kids DOC hikes Kapiti Island fees to increase returns.

Legally blind adventurer Neelusha Memon’s dream of conqueringSouth America’s highest peak is one step closer thanks to a Hillary Expedition Grant.

Today it was announced she was one of seven teams to receive a Hillary grant, which provides funding from Sport New Zealand for Kiwis to undertake outdoor challenges.

The 28-year-old Wellingtonian has set out to summit the seven highest mountains across the seven continents, starting with the 6960m-high Mt Aconcagua.

Ms Memon said she was thrilled to receive the grant, which would help to fund her ascent of the Argentinian mountain with support guide Gavin Lang.

‘‘I didn’t think it would ever really go ahead, based on the fact we couldn’t get funding, so to get this grant is a massive thing for me.’’

The worldwide expedition was a personal challenge for Ms Memon, the ‘‘ultimate test’’ of her physical and mental endurance.

But she was also hoping to set an example for others to follow.

‘‘I’ve got impairments but I’m still able to complete my dreams, with the right support.

‘‘Once they realise it, pretty much everyone is limitless in what they can do.’’

When she was 16, Ms Memon lost 70 per cent of her vision after a post-viral autoimmune response caused her to fall into a four-month coma.

She also lost her sense of balance, and had to learn how to walk, talk and swallow again.

A lifelong fan of the outdoors, Ms Memon has been setting herself adventure challenges since 2010, when she climbed Mt Aspiring in the South Island.

 

 

In February this year, she became the first legally blind runner to complete the Coast-to-Coast race.

She hopes people will track her fitness, balance and altitude training as well as the November 2013 ascension of the peak on the Hillary Expedition website, and will be inspired themselves.‘‘I wantNew Zealandto come along on the journey with me, and be part of this – to encourage people to get out in the outdoors.’’

After reaching the summit of Aconcagua, Ms Memon planned to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Carstensz Pyramid,Denali, Vinson and Everest, over the next five years.

THRILL-SEEKERS

- Sarah Wilson will complete a Cook to Cook multi-sport expedition, climbing Mt Cook, cycling to Picton, then kayaking acrossCook Straitin January 2013.

- Brothers Nathan and Nigel Watson will climb 21New Zealandmountains over 2000m in 21 days in February, in theNelsonLakesNational Park.

- In April, Rob Frost, Ben Dare, Andrei van Dusschoten, and Scott Blackford Scheele will attempt to be the first Kiwi team to summit Himalayan peak Anidesha Chuli, also known as the White Wave.

- Kayaking team Jordan Searle, Barny Young and Shannon Mast will make a record-breaking attempt in April for the first kayak descent of the Grand Canyons of theChimbuRiverinPapua New Guinea.

- In May, Mayan Smith-Gobat will free-climb ‘‘The Nose’’ wall inCalifornia’sYosemite Valley, and will try to break the current speed record of 2 hours 26 minutes.

- Christine Burke will attempt to become the firstNew Zealandwoman to reach the summit of both the  Gasherbrum1 and 2 mountains on the Pakistan-China border, in June.

 

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To be the first sevensummiter in Colombia

 

Colombian climber Manolo Barrios prepares himself for one of the biggest challenges of his storied career: climbing the tallest mountain inAntarcticaby himself, reported local media on Tuesday.

In 2001, Barrios became one of only four Colombians to ever reach the top ofMount Everest. Such a feat would usually be the peak for any adventurer, but for Barrios it was not enough.

"What now?" Barrios asked after scaling the world's tallest mountain.

The idea of 'The Seven Summits' originated after Barrios and others scaledMount Everest. The idea is simple -- reach the highest point on every continent.

"We climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount McKinley in Alaska, Aconcagua in Chile and Elbrus in Russia. But in my case," said the 55-year-old Barrios, "I need only this mountain [Antarctica's MountVinson] and one in New Guinea."

Located on the Ronne Ice Bank 1,200 miles from the South Pole,MountVinsonis 15,256 feet above sea level.

Barrios plans to climb the ominous peak in December, when the weather can be even more unforgiving than normal. Sunlight shines 24 hours a day and winds can reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. In addition to the hurricane winds and the unyielding brightness, Barrios will have to deal with the cold and the solitude.

"It is one thing to talk about it, it is another to live it," as Barrios put it.

If all goes according to plan, Barrios will make it to the top of Mount Vinson, the sixth of his 'Seven Summits', by the end of December and will plant the first Colombian flag onAntarctica.

But as Barrios himself admitted, summiting the mountain is dependent on one thing.

"The mountain will decide when I turn back."

 

On Everest

 

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Abkhazia declared a climbing war to Georgia

 

Mount Aconcagua (6962 m altitude) in Argentina become a theater of a climbing war between Georgians and Abkhazians. December, 20 four Abkhaz mountaineers (led by specially invited to this project famous Swedish explorer Johan Ernst Nilson) starts an expedition to conquer the tallest summit of America. Abkhazians want to plant on the top a flag of their country, Georgia's breakaway autonomy. Before the first trip to the Andes, the Abkhaz climbers have already set flags on Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m).

 

 

Abkhaz Foreign Ministry has decided to support the project with public funds and businessmen of the republic.

 

In January 2012, the well-known Georgian climber and politician George (Gia) Tortladze planted on a top Akonkagua not only Georgian flag but a banners with the words "Georgiawithout occupation." Later, in April, he climbed Mount Everest (8,848 m), setting on the highest peak in the world similar exposition with an extension, which added the words "Russiaget out from Georgia!".

- Due a weather conditions any flag or banner do not stay long on the tops, the main thing - to capture it all on film - George Tortladze told to the newspaper "Izvestia". - Then show it on different channels - this is a great response.

Tortladze criticized Swedish climber for taking part in the Abkhaz ascent.

 

Influential politician - George (Gia) Tortladze. Two times Everest Summiter

 

- I think he will get big money for this expedition. And if he did take part in the promotion of separatism, I put this in the world of travelers. Nielson will regret - said Tortladze.

Tortladze also continues his sports-political exploits. With the Georgia flag and an anti-Russian banner, 52-year Georgian plan to climb the fifth summit of planet - Makalu (8485 m) in the Himalayas. This will be in spring with an international team of 10 climbers.