Australia & Oceania

On October 13, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. local time, Evgeny Staroselsky reached the summit of Carstensz Pyramid as part of an international team. For him, this was the final summit of the Seven Summits program. Evgeny became the first Cypriot citizen to climb the highest peaks on all continents. In 2019, he climbed Everest as part of our 7 Summits Club team.

The 7 Summits Club super guide Artem Rostovtsev reports from Papua:

 Greetings, Seven Summits, from the expedition team on New Guinea! This morning at 6:30 AM, we stood at the summit of Carstensz Pyramid. Slowly, without fuss, without stretching, we reached the summit quite quickly. The descent back was slow, as the good weather kept us from descending. Now, in the pouring rain, we're running between tents through streams and swamps. We're really hoping for a helicopter ride down tomorrow morning.

The 7 Summits Club guide Artem Rostovtsev reports from Papua:

 Hello, Seven Summits! This is the Carstensz Pyramid expedition. We all arrived safely in Timika (the closest civilization to the mountain). Our flight down the mountain was slightly delayed, just a day. We decided not to spoil you with any news and photos. So, the first decent news is from base camp, where we arrived this morning. We immediately headed out to the rock wall to refresh and strengthen our skills. We were doing so well that we were already considering a summit attempt today. But current mountain regulations prevent this. We finished the acclimatization and educational walk, had a snack, and had our health checked. We're waiting for rain so we can retreat to our tents for a nap, with a break for dinner. We plan to set out for the summit early in the morning.

The 7 Summits Club Guide Artem Rostovtsev, from the road:

Hello 7 Summits! One of the rarest expeditions in the Seven Summits program, an ascent to Carstensz Pyramid, is beginning. Our small team is currently en route to New Guinea, where we'll all meet. Wish us luck!

 Photos from previous years

Greetings to everyone from faraway Papua New Guinea from the "Huli Team"! Well, all adventures must come to an end! Yesterday we left Betty Lodge and returned to Mount Hagen!

That evening, at a gala dinner, we presented our participants with certificates for climbing Wilhelm Peak! We spent 10 days in PNG, and this trip was absolutely action-packed! We climbed Mount Giluwe and Wilhelm Peak, met more than 10 local tribes and learned about their traditions, and most importantly, each participant made new friends on this trip. After all, mountains are about people, and every member of our team made this trip unforgettable!

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

September 24. Hooray! THE SUMMIT! The entire 7 Summits Club "Huli Team" summited Peak Wilhelm (4,509 m)! We left our base camp at 3,600 m and set out at 2:00 AM. It rained all evening, so we set out in rubber boots, which have become second nature to us during this trip.

The route initially follows the river, then emerges onto the cliffs. At 5:20 AM, the sky began to lighten, and we enjoyed an incredibly beautiful sunrise until 6 AM! The sky was a riot of color!

At 9 AM, we stood at the summit of Papua New Guinea's highest summit—Peak Wilhelm! The weather was so pleasant that we spent about an hour there, chatting and drinking tea above the clouds!

 On the descent, we were caught in the rain. We descended to camp at 2 PM, had lunch, repacked, and quickly ran to our cozy Betty's Lodge, where a hot shower and delicious dinner awaited us!

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

September 23rd. Greetings from the "Huli Team" in Papua New Guinea! In the morning, after a hearty, delicious breakfast, we met the team of local porters and guides, loaded up our bags, and headed to Wilhelm Peak Base Camp.

The trek is short, only 8 km, but very scenic! The scenery here is unlike anything we'd seen in Mount Hagen. We first walked through the jungle, then reached an open viewpoint, and then a waterfall.

As we approached the camp, located on the picturesque shore of a lake, we were caught in a rainstorm that continued all night. But by 11 PM, the weather cleared, and the sky was dotted with a scattering of twinkling stars! We set off for the ascent at 2 AM.

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

September 22nd. Greetings from Papua New Guinea! We saw the main part of our group off at the airport, and with two other members, we continue our program.

We moved to Kundiawa and checked into Betty's Lodge – the coziest place in PNG, in our humble opinion. It's a wonderful lodge, everything is done with such care and love that it's truly heartwarming!

Lodge owner Betty has a place here. We have our own trout farm, a huge blooming garden, goats, and chickens. Everything we serve is grown here.

That evening, we had a delicious dinner and mapped out our plans for tomorrow. In the morning, we set out for Wilhelm Peak Base Camp. We'll be without communication for a day and a half.

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

September 21st. Greetings from faraway Papua New Guinea from the "Huli na Giluwe" team!

Yesterday we visited one of the local "Mudmen" tribes, whose inhabitants decorate themselves with clay and wear huge clay masks. Afterwards, we checked into a hotel, where a celebratory dinner and awards ceremony awaited us that evening.

All participants were awarded certificates and medals for their ascent of Giluwe.

Over these six days, we lived a unique life filled with humor, mutual support, help, understanding, and, of course, exciting adventures. Nine completely different people, each unique, gathered on the other side of the planet and over the course of a week became a true team.

The most important words that were spoken were: "7 Summits Club, you make people happy!"

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

September 20th. Hooray! The summit! The entire 7 Summits Club "Huli na Giluwe" team summited the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania, Giluwe, at 4,368 meters! We left base camp at 5 a.m. It was cloudy at first, but by dawn the clouds had cleared, opening up views of the summit.

The climb took four hours, and by 9 a.m. local time, the entire team stood on the summit!

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

September 19. Giluwe. The "Hulu na Giluwe" team completed the trek to Giluwe Volcano Base Camp. We arrived at the entrance to the national park early in the morning and set out at 7 a.m. Ahead of us lay 13 km of jungle trekking, then we entered the swamp zone.

The weather was excellent, which is rare in these parts! We reached Base Camp in five hours. We settled into our large, comfortable tents, had dinner, and played Mafia and Elias in the evening.

The team is fantastic and already very close-knit. We held an evening briefing, and tomorrow morning we set off for the mountain! Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

 Greetings from Papua New Guinea! Our team has been renamed "Huli na Giluwe" (the first word is the name of an indigenous people in Papua, by the way). Today was a day packed with cultural activities. After breakfast, we headed to Paya Village, where a tribal festival was taking place! About 10 different local tribes had gathered there today, each decorated in their own unique way: bright feathers, headdresses, and painted faces. They put on a real show with music and skits.

 Afterwards, we tried the traditional dish "mumu"—pork baked with sweet potatoes in banana leaves in a pit. After lunch, we moved to Magic Mountain Lodge, had dinner, had an evening briefing, and decided on the next day's itinerary.

We're heading into the mountains in the morning! We're climbing Mount Giluwe! We'll be out of contact for almost two days, so don't lose us, wait for us!

Guides: Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

Greetings from Papua New Guinea! Today, our group has assembled in full force in Mount Hagen, the starting point for the Giluwe climb! Our team includes quite a few members eager to complete the increasingly popular "Seven Volcanoes" project. For many, Giluwe will be their fifth volcano!

Today we checked our gear, got to know each other better over a celebratory dinner, and each participant shared a little about themselves. Tomorrow we set off for the mountain lodge!

The 7 Summits Club Guides Svetlana Kotlyar and Georgy Bushuev.

Hello everyone from the other end of the planet! After two days and four flights, the team of guides of the 7 Summits Club reached Papua New Guinea!

 Today we went to a mountain lodge at an altitude of 2000 m, checked and prepared the equipment for the arrival of our group. In the evening we met with our partner, we were invited to Paya Village for a traditional dish Mu-mu (a pig baked with sweet potato in banana leaves in the ground). Today the locals prepared it in honor of tomorrow's big holiday - Independence Day of Papua New Guinea from Australia. This year is the 50th anniversary, the city is decorated with flags, the locals wear bright clothes in the colors of PNG, everyone is getting ready for the holiday.

And tomorrow we are already meeting the first participants of our program!

Guides: Sveta Kotlyar and Zhora Bushuev.

The 7 Summits Club guide Boris Egorov reports from Papua New Guinea:

In the meantime, long-awaited news from Papua New Guinea. The remaining parts of the "Descendants of Miklouho-Maclay" group climbed the highest point of the country, Peak Wilhelm! We stood at the summit with the first rays of the sun. It was very beautiful! And it had not yet struck noon, and we were already celebrating the ascent in our wonderful lodge.

News from Papua New Guinea. Today the "Descendants of Miklouho-Maclay" team in full force climbed to the top of the Giluwe volcano 4368m. We agreed with the weather, so the clouds passed us by, and we admired the views to our heart's content. We descended calmly, and the rain covered us only on the last, forested section of the descent to the road. At sunset, we tidied ourselves up in the lodge and exchanged impressions. Tomorrow is another final excursion day. And in the evening we celebrate: we hold an award ceremony for climbers of the highest volcano in Australia and Oceania.

Guide Boris Egorov.

Hello everyone from the other side of the Earth, from distant Papua New Guinea! Today, all members of the 7 Summits Club group reached the starting point of our expedition, the town of Mount Hagen. Everyone met, rested and prepared for the first adventures. And even came up with a name for the team in advance: "Descendants of Miklouho-Maclay".
Tomorrow we will climb a little higher into the mountains and visit the first village on our way.
Group guides Boris Egorov and Olga Startseva.

Hello everyone from Papua New Guinea! Today our group in full force climbed Wilhelm Peak - the highest mountain in the country. We were a little unlucky with the weather. Almost the entire ascent, right up to the summit, we were accompanied by freezing rain. But on the descent the sun appeared and there were beautiful views. This is where the sports part of our program ended.

Group guides Valery Myasoedov and Olya Rumyantseva.

Greetings from Papua New Guinea! The "Nepromakaemye" group continues the program in this picturesque country. Today we moved from Mount Hagen to Wilhelm Peak in the neighboring province. Stops to taste exotic fruits, local coffee and colorful landscapes pleasantly complemented our journey. The last hour and a half of the road to the village of Kegesugl were a real test, but we endured everything steadfastly. And our reward was accommodation in a magnificent lodge with a trout farm. Fatigue disappeared in an instant. Tomorrow we leave for the base camp under Wilhelm Peak. Guides Olga Rumyantseva and Valery Myasoedov.

Greetings from Papua New Guinea from the group Nepromokaemye! The program of stay on Giluwe has ended. It was fleeting, but very eventful. Yesterday we visited several villages of local tribes, each of which stands out with its unique outfits and rituals. Who wasn't there to scare or surprise their neighbors - ghouls with clay heads, walking skeletons, colorful characters who would be among the best even at the Brazilian carnival. A colorful and emotional spectacle!

In the evening, according to tradition, there was an award ceremony for all participants on Giluwe. Unfortunately, part of the group is leaving us, but most of them are staying and today they are moving under Wilhelm Peak. The second part of the program begins. So don't lose sight of us, we will let you know about ourselves. Guides Olga Rumyantseva and Valery Myasoedov.